Last week I attended a workshop on protesting unemployment claims put on by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). When you have been in Human Resources for a long time, it’s hard to believe you can learn something new about unemployment. After all like you, we have the same preconceived ideas about IDES.

They are:

They favor the employees

They believe employees are always right

They always grant unemployment, regardless of the circumstance

I have to say, after a three hour workshop, I have a new respect for IDES and learned a few things that will help me and my clients with them in the future.

What did I learn?

They are not determining whether or not someone should have been dismissed

They are making determinations based on “unemployment laws”

Employers as a general rule either provide not enough information or the wrong type of information

They make a determination based on the last incident

While this is what is done in Illinois, I would suggest you talk to your state office to determine if they follow the same rules. Better yet, attend a workshop in your city.

This also got me thinking about what other things do I have preconceived ideas about that may be wrong (in whole or part)?

We typically only see or experience one side of a situation – do those around us also have misconceptions of our actions?

Just like IDES what we need to do is – communicate. Show others what you see, hear and experience to get their understanding.

Share misconceptions of you or your business that you have encountered and how you overcame it.