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NY firm can’t make workers waive unemployment

July 29, 2015

Workers cannot waive their right to receive unemployment benefits, the New York Attorney General’s Office said Tuesday. The office also announced a settlement to end the practice at On Location Education Inc., a firm that provides teachers to educate children on film sets, touring theaters and other venues.

On Location Education required teachers to waive their right to file for unemployment insurance since 2006, according to the Attorney General’s Office. On Location Education also recently brought an arbitration claim of $30,000 against a teacher for filing a claim.

The settlement with the Attorney General’s Office requires On Location Education to drop the claim against the teacher and remove waiver wording from its contracts.

“Unemployment insurance is such a critical safety net that the law does not allow workers to waive their rights to apply for benefits,” Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said. “My office will keep fighting to ensure that companies are playing by the rules when it comes to workers’ rights. Unemployed workers should not have to worry that an employer will sue them if their benefit claims are denied.”

On Location Education Inc. also required teachers to indemnify the company if they filed a claim for unemployment insurance and the claim was denied. That wording will also be removed from contracts, according to the Attorney General’s Office.