SC Unemployment Director Discusses Tougher Rules

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ South Carolina’s unemployment agency is toughening rules for people drawing jobless benefits. Maj. Gen. Abraham Turner told a state Senate committee Thursday the policies take effect immediately. One policy requires people to accept job offers that pay incrementally less than their previous wages, eventually to minimum wage labor. Technology upgrades needed to implement that plan are expected to take six months. Another change reduces the number of weeks someone can receive unemployment benefits if they were let go for absenteeism, poor attitude, violating policies or poor work quality. The change means they can get a maximum of four weeks of state-approved benefits. Some senators say that doesn’t go far enough. Republican Lee Bright of Roebuck says he will propose legislation that would bar all benefits for someone fired for misconduct.