Unemployment if you quit or were fired in Hawaii

Quit, fired or refused work

If you quit

If you quit without good cause, you are disqualified. DLIR's rules say good cause is a real, substantial or compelling reason that would lead a reasonable worker who wants to keep the job to quit, and you are expected to try reasonable alternatives first.

Examples the state names:

• A change in working conditions that harms your health, safety or morals
• A change in pay, position, duties, days or hours of work
• Illegal discrimination
• A change in your marital or domestic status
• You accepted a firm job offer that was then withdrawn, and your old employer will not rehire you
• Mandatory retirement under a union contract
• You or your child were a victim of domestic or sexual violence or stalking

If you were fired

You are disqualified if you were fired or suspended for misconduct connected with work. DLIR's rules define misconduct as willful or wanton disregard of the employer's interests, such as deliberately breaking standards the employer can expect, or carelessness so serious or repeated that it shows wrongful intent. Poor performance because of inability, isolated ordinary negligence, or good-faith errors are not misconduct.

If benefits are denied for the separation

If you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct, you are disqualified until you work again in covered employment and are paid wages of at least five times your weekly benefit amount. If you were suspended (not fired) for misconduct, the disqualification is for the week of the suspension and 1 to 4 more weeks, depending on how serious the misconduct was. To file a new claim after your benefit year ends, you must have earned at least five times your new weekly benefit amount in covered work.

Refusing work

Refusing a job offer or a referral to suitable work without good cause disqualifies you.

Law: HRS 383-30, 383-29(a)(5); HAR 12-5-47, 12-5-51

Official source: Source page

You usually must be unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states this means you lost your job because there was not enough work.

Able, available and looking for work

Job contacts per week: 3

Each week you claim, you must make at least 3 qualifying work search contacts, be able and available for work, and be legally authorized to work. Acceptable activities include applying for jobs that fit your skills, interviewing, reporting to your union hiring hall (if a member), and taking part in reemployment services. Viewing job listings without applying does not count. If you are on partial claim status confirmed by your employer, you do not need to look for work.

Records to keep

Keep a record of all your work search activities; they must be true and easy to verify. You can use the work search log in the claimant portal, which transfers to your claim certification.

Law: HRS 383-29(a)(3)

Official source: Source page

To be paid for a week, you must be able to work, available to work and actively seeking work.

Law: 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(12)

Noncitizens

What the state says

If you are not a U.S. citizen, have your alien registration number ready when you apply. You must be legally authorized to work in the United States to get benefits.

Free help

Call 1-833-901-2272. Legal aid and other free help in Hawaii → Official sources →