A telecommuter who worked from Florida for an office in Long Island is ineligible for New York unemployment benefits, the state's highest court ruled Wednesday.
In a unanimous decision, the Court of Appeals ruled that eligibility for benefits depends on where the worker is, not where the employer is.
The court said no other state or federal court appeared to have tackled the question of who should pay such benefits for interstate telecommuters.
In this case, the court said, New York should not pay because Maxine Allen did her work in Florida. Florida already turned her down for benefits.
Sounds like poor Ms. Allen is hosed. Details here from the AP. UPDATE: Law.com New York now reports the story here.