I live in the state of colorado. I quit my job as a debt collector to attend Nursing school. The job as a collector was dependent on the debtor being able to pay, which with the economy being so poor right now the debtor is out of work or there spouse is and can’t/won’t pay. And if the debtor doesn’t pay, you cant reach your goal. Which is a reason for termination. Before I was hired I informed them that I was a student. They informed me that they work around student schedules. They did work around my schedule from 11-24-2008 until 5-31-09. I did not attend summer of 09. The nursing program started 8/17/09. I asked my manager numerous times if I could change my schedule or work reduced hours while attending school and was refused. Finally, when every effort to keep my job was exhausted I began looking for night jobs to accomodate my school schedule which is not flexible in hours, but I could not find any alternate employment. I gave a weeks notice on 8/7/2009 and worked up until the 14th of August 2009 the Friday before the program started. The employer also informs all potential employees that he will work around their school schedules which he did at first. But refused when I was accepted into nursing school. I applied for unemployement but was penalized for 10 weeks. I have an appeal hearing and wanted to know if attending school was a good cause for quitting a job after exhausting all attempts to retain job while attending school.
Hi Anonymous,
Probably not, but I’ll be happy to refine your argument just a little.
Quitting to attend school is disqualifying.
Quitting because you cannot attain required goals for which you might be fired for is disqualifying.
So, although I’m not really sure what one reason has to do with the other .. I’ll speak to the reason of quitting to attend school.
If you accepted this job because the employer is amenable to accommodating school schedules for all employees, but for some reason became unwilling to do so in your case .. all you can do is present the strongest argument possible.
I’ll direct you to this page of the Colorado’s online reference library.
Although the statute references “written” employment contracts. The Wade v. Hurley decision suggests that an implied agreement could also exist.
The argument would benefit if you could provide statements and testimony from others either still working for this employer.
I know it may be difficult to obtain witnesses because they may fear for their jobs, but if they do lose their jobs over it .. that would be retaliation and the focus of their reason for getting benefits:)