An employee must generally engage in serious misconduct to be disqualified from receiving unemployment compensation. See http://www.mass.gov/lwd/unemployment-insur/resources/questions-and-answers/claimants/eligibility.html. You have a right to a hearing if you are initially disquaified from receiving unemployment, as well as the right to be represented by an attorney. If you have an unemploment hearing coming up, you should immediately request a copy of your personnel file so you know everything your employer knows going into a hearing. You have a right to your personnel file per Mass. General Laws c. 149, s. 52C.
