Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

News & Analysis Policies & Forms Your Library Attorney Network
News & Analysis Policies & Forms Your Library Attorney Network

User account menu

Sign in Get Started
x

You're signed out

Sign in to access subscriber actions.

Does driving distance justify job refusal for receipt of unemployment benefits?

July 2020 employment law letter
Authors: 
Jason R. Mau, Parsons Behle & Latimer

Q         Can a person receiving unemployment benefits refuse to accept a job offer if it’s 25 miles from her home?

A   In Idaho, individuals who are eligible for unemployment benefits are required to be ready, willing, and able to take any offer of suitable work during each week a claim is made. Being “ready” to go to work means an individual is available for work, actively searching for full-time work, and isn’t placing unrealistic personal restrictions on available positions. Unrealistic restrictions include limiting the days or shifts an individual is willing to work or the distance she is willing to travel and can lead to ineligibility for benefits.

The locality requirement for availability is just one of many factors reviewed if suitable work was offered to an individual and she refused. The distance factor is determined by the distance normally traveled by other workers in the individual’s commuting area and occupation. Under Idaho’s administrative guidelines, eligibility won’t be disqualified if the travel distance to available work is excessive or unreasonable.

Continue reading your article with a HRLaws membership
  • Sign in
  • Sign up
Upgrade to a subscription now
to get unlimited access to everything on HR Laws.
Start subscription
Any time

Publications

  • Employment Law Letter
  • Employers State Law Alert
  • Federal Employment Law Insider

Your Library Reading List

Reading list 6
Creating List 7
Testing

Let's manage your states

We'll keep you updated on state changes

Manage States
© 2025
BLR®, A DIVISION OF SIMPLIFY COMPLIANCE LLC | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Footer - Copyright

  • terms
  • legal
  • privacy