Unemployment benefits and settlement agreement: Your rights

Questioner

My international employer is leaving for London within a month. I have worked for this employer for 3 years and have a permanent contract, but I do not want to go to London. Am I now entitled to unemployment benefits? And what should I do if my employer does not cooperate with the settlement agreement?

Lawyer

You can apply for unemployment benefits. In fact, an employer cannot withhold the settlement agreement from you. I advise to include the transition payment and the reason for dismissal in the settlement agreement. With a wording that excludes culpable unemployment, you can start collecting that unemployment benefit. You will therefore also receive a transition payment.