Legal Question in Employment Law in Illinois

The company does not pay unemployment out to employees. Unemployment benefits are paid BY the Illinois Dept. of Employment Security (IDES) and it is IDES that determines if you are eligible for such benefits. rIDES rules, you may be entitled to unemployment if your hours are greatly reduced. You also could be entitled to benefits if you leave the employer because of a drastic reduction in the hours. However, if you choose to leave you must do so in close proximity to the time you learn of the reduction. Courts have ruled that a substantial alteration in working conditions such as a drastic cut in hours is good cause to voluntarily quit. However, if you wait too long after you learn of the cut in hours, you are viewed as agreeing to the change and not eligible for unemployment benefits. Good luck!