Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a bill that would decrease how much unemployment benefits are being abused. | Adobe Stock
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a bill that would decrease how much unemployment benefits are being abused. | Adobe Stock
Pennsylvania's House of Representatives passed a bill in late October that discourages people from applying for jobs "in bad faith" by removing their eligibility to receive unemployment benefits from the state if they try to sabotage their opportunities to be hired.
"I've heard complaints from my colleagues and employers in my district many times about claimants who 'ghost' or do not show up to job interviews or take other actions to discourage their own hire," Rep. Shelby Labs (R-Plumsteadville) said, according to 8WGAL.
By doing such things, the job applicant essentially ensures that they won't be hired, thus allowing them to continue collecting unemployment compensation.
Rep. Shelby Labs
| Ballotpedia
The Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is already allowed to remove people from the unemployment rolls if they use such tactics to thwart their job search, but making it a state law would add support to the practice and would make it easier for employers to let the state know about such behavior by making reporting forms readily available.
"L&I does not have data that quantifies the frequency of this particular circumstance, but the department is aware of concerns about this issue and takes seriously its responsibility to ensure that UC (unemployment compensation) claimants are eligible for the benefits they receive," Department of Labor & Industry spokesman Alex Peterson told 8WGAL.
The bill is awaiting action in the Pennsylvania Senate.
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