(Memphis) Call it a sign of the times.
Changes are on the way, again for recipients of unemployment benefits in Tennessee.
Labor department officials announced Thursday that if a person on unemployment gets a “suitable” job offer, they must accept it, or they’ll be disqualified from receiving benefits.
A new law changes the definition of “suitable.” According to the DOL, previously, the offer had to include salary and wages comparable to what the person was making. Under the new rules, the longer a person is on unemployment, their salary and wage demands must decrease.
Here’s how it works: (from Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
A job offer is considered suitable according to the following criteria:
- During the first 13 weeks of unemployment, an offer of 100% of the wages of the most recent work
- During the 14th through the 25th week of unemployment, an offer of 75% of the wages of the most recent work
- During the 26th through the 38th week of unemployment, an offer of 70% of the wages of the most recent work
- After the 38th week of unemployment, 65% of the wages of the most recent work