04 NCAC 24B .0107 VALID JOB CONTACTS

(a) Each claimant who has registered for work and filed a claim for unemployment insurance benefits shall actively seek work and make the minimum valid job contacts per week as required under G.S. 96-14.9(e).

(b) For job contacts conducted on an employer's or employment website:

(1) a valid job contact is a submitted application for a position as defined in 04 NCAC 24A .0105(7);

(2) each separate and distinct position requiring a separate application, even if with the same employer, shall count as a separate job contact; and

(3) upon request by DES, each claimant shall provide verifiable proof of their job contacts, and such proof may include the claimant's record of the name of the employer, the URL or address of the website, the job title of the position for which the claimant applied, the date of submission, and the confirmation number or email.

(1) a valid job contact is a message sent to a valid e-mail address or facsimile number of an employer, or their designee, for the sole purpose of obtaining employment with that employer; and

(2) upon request by DES, each claimant shall provide verifiable proof of their job contacts, and such proof may include the claimant's record of the name of the employer, the e-mail address or facsimile number used for the contact, the name and job title of the person contacted, and the date of the contact.

(d) For job contacts conducted by telephone:

(1) a valid job contact is a verbal conversation with an employer, or their designee, for the sole purpose of obtaining employment with that employer.

(2) upon request by DES, each claimant shall provide verifiable proof of their job contacts, and such proof may include the claimant's record of the name of the employer, the telephone number used for the contact, the name and job title of the person contacted, and the date of the contact; and

(3) a message left on an answering service or a voice-mailbox shall not be a valid job contact for purposes of G.S. 96-14.9(e)(3).

(e) For job contacts conducted in person:

(1) a valid job contact is a meeting with an employer, or their designee, for the sole purpose of obtaining employment with that employer;

(2) upon request by DES, each claimant shall provide verifiable proof of their job contacts, and such proof may include the claimant's record of the name of the employer, the location at which the contact occurred, the name and job title of the person with whom the claimant met, and the date of the contact; and

(3) an in-person contact with an employer on a single day shall be considered a single contact for purposes of G.S. 96-14.9(e)(3), unless multiple applications are submitted that day for separate and distinct positions as described in Subparagraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this Rule.

(f) The following shall be considered invalid job contacts:

(1) Duplicative job contacts. A contact is duplicative when a claimant contacts the same employer regarding the same position or opening more than once during the same week with no change in the result of the contact. The following are examples of a change in the result of contact:

(A) a contact to or from an employer that occurs after an initial contact, involves scheduling an interview, and an interview is in fact scheduled; or

(B) a contact to an employer in response to a request for additional information.

(2) Contact with an employer for a job that the claimant would be unable to accept if offered. A "job that a claimant would be unable to accept if offered" means a position for which the claimant lacks the necessary knowledge, ability, or skill required for that job, as stated in the job posting or as required by applicable licensing authority.

(g) Initial registration via NCWorks shall be considered a valid job contact for the week during which the registration was completed.

(h) Union members.

(1) If a claimant customarily obtains employment through a union with a hiring hall, then weekly contact with the same shall satisfy the requirements of G.S. 96-14.9(e). Upon request by DES, each claimant shall provide verifiable proof of their job contacts, and such proof may include their union number, the address where they made contact as required by their union's reporting requirements, the name and job title of the person with whom they spoke, and the dates on which they made contact. Claimants who are members of a union with a hiring hall shall provide information about their union's reporting requirements to DES upon request.

(2) If a claimant is a member of a non-hiring hall union, then contact with the same shall be considered a single valid job contact for the week in which it occurred. Upon request by DES, each claimant shall provide verifiable proof of their job contacts, and such proof may include the claimant's record of the name of the union agent or applicable union, the address of the union or where contact was made, the name of the person with whom the claimant spoke, and the date of the contact.

(i) Longshoremen registered with their union satisfy the requirements of G.S. 96-14.9(e) by submitting on a weekly basis their union number, the address where they made contact as required by their union's reporting requirements, the name and job title of the person with whom they spoke, and the dates on which they made contact. Longshoreman shall provide information about their union's reporting requirements to DES upon request.

(j) An application to a blind job advertisement shall be considered a valid job contact for each separate and distinct position sought or employer contacted. In addition to the requirements set forth above in this Section, the claimant shall also retain, and provide to DES upon request, a copy of the blind advertisement. A copy of the blind advertisement shall be accepted by DES in lieu of the employer name, the name of the person contacted, and the job title of the person contacted if these are unavailable.

History Note: Authority G.S. 96-4; 96-14.9;

Temporary Adoption Eff. March 1, 2016;

Temporary Adoption Expired December 10, 2016;

Eff. April 1, 2017.