Unemployment if you quit or were fired in Louisiana

Quit, fired or refused work

If you quit

If you quit, you are disqualified unless you left for good cause attributable to a substantial change the employer made to your job. Louisiana Works gathers facts from you and your employer and decides under the law.

Examples the state names:

• Leaving part-time or interim work to protect your full-time or regular job
• Leaving your job to move with your spouse, an active-duty service member, under an order of permanent change of station

If you were fired

You are disqualified if you were fired for misconduct connected with your work. The law defines misconduct as mismanaging your job by action or inaction, neglect that endangers people or property, dishonesty, wrongdoing, breaking the law, or breaking a rule meant for orderly work or safety. For a firing over illegal drug use, the employer must prove the drug use by a preponderance of the evidence, using tests done under a written drug policy. If the misconduct harmed the employer's rights, property or reputation, wages from that employer cannot be used for benefits.

If benefits are denied for the separation

If you are disqualified for quitting, misconduct, or refusing work, you must earn wages of at least 10 times your weekly benefit amount in later work, and not leave that work under disqualifying circumstances, before you can qualify again. After a disqualification for drug use, your benefits are cut by 50% for the rest of the benefit year once you requalify.

Refusing work

You are disqualified if, without good cause, you fail to apply for available suitable work, accept suitable work within the time in the offer, show up for a scheduled job interview, return to your usual self-employment, or take part in approved training when directed. Louisiana Works looks at risk to your health and safety, your fitness, training, experience, education, how long you have been unemployed, local job prospects and distance from home.

Law: La. R.S. 23:1601(1)-(3), (10)

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: 5

For new claims filed on or after January 4, 2026, you must do at least five work search activities each week and report them on your weekly claim. (Claims first filed before January 4, 2026 need three.) Activities include applying for jobs, interviews, registering with placement or staffing agencies, reemployment or training services, job fairs, and real updates to your resume or job profiles. People on temporary layoff, union members and people in approved training may be excused; the agency will tell you.

Records to keep

Keep a detailed record of your work search activities; you may have to show proof later.

Law: La. R.S. 23:1600(3); Act 151 of 2025

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

When you file, you must give your Alien Registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen. Louisiana Works checks immigration information through the federal SAVE program.

Free help

Call 1-866-783-5567. Legal aid and other free help in Louisiana → Official sources →