(c) Work search activities may include, but are not limited to:

1. (1) Using employment resources available at the local career center, such as:

   1. (i) meeting with career center advisors;
   2. (ii) receiving job market information from career center staff regarding the availability of jobs for a particular industry or region;
   3. (iii) participating in skills assessments for occupation matching;
   4. (iv) participating in instructional workshops;
   5. (v) obtaining and following up with employers on job referrals and job matches from the career center.
2. (2) Visiting a job site and completing a job application in person with employers who may reasonably be expected to have openings.
3. (3) Submitting a job application and/or resume, in response to a public notice or want ad, or to employers who may reasonably be expected to have openings.
4. (4) Attending job search seminars, scheduled career networking meetings, job fairs, or employment-related workshops that offer instruction in improving individual skills for obtaining employment.
5. (5) Interviewing with potential employers.
6. (6) Applying for employment with former employer(s).
7. (7) Registering with and checking in with private employment agencies, placement services, unions, and placement offices of schools, colleges or universities, and/or professional organizations.
8. (8) Using the telephone, business directories, internet, or online job matching systems to search for jobs, get leads, request referrals, or make appointments for job interviews.
9. (9) Applying and/or registering for and taking Civil Service examination(s) for government job openings.

(g) The work search record must include:

1. (1) Names, addresses (mail, e-mail, or web address) and telephone numbers of potential employers contacted and, if available, the names and/or job titles of specific people contacted.
2. (2) Dates, contact methods used, and, if known, the results of contacts.
3. (3) Position or job title applied for or seeking.
4. (4) Date, location, and description of other work search efforts. Examples include meeting with an advisor at the local career center, attending workshops or a job fair at a local community college, searching online job listings at the local library, updating resume, etc.

(j) In relation to any failure to conduct a systematic and sustained work search or keep a work search record as discussed in subdivision (g) of this section, or provide a work search record pursuant to subdivision (h) of this section:

1. (1) If claimant has an established work search plan then these failures shall result in a determination of ineligibility for benefits.
2. (2) If claimant has no established work search plan, the claimant shall be required to report to their career center for the establishment of a work search plan as discussed in subdivision (l) of this section. Any failure to report to establish the work search plan shall result in a determination of ineligibility for benefits.

(k) A claimant is exempted from work search requirements on the following bases:

1. (1) A temporary layoff or seasonal loss of employment where the employer has given a definite return-to-work date of four weeks or less.
2. (2) A union member who must obtain work through the union. The union member must be in compliance with union membership and work search requirements.
3. (3) Participation in a training program approved by the Department of Labor, such as those approved pursuant to Labor Law section 599.
4. (4) Serving on a jury.
5. (5) Participation in a Department of Labor-approved shared work program.
6. (6) Participation in a Department of Labor-approved self employment assistance program.

7. (7) Any exemption required by State or Federal law.

   (l) Written work search plan.

8. (1) The Department of Labor will develop a work search plan with a claimant when:

   1. (i) in the department’s judgment, the claimant’s work search is inadequate or the claimant has failed to maintain or provide a work search record;
   2. (ii) the claimant requests a work search plan; or
   3. (iii) Federal programs require a work search plan.

9. (2) The work search plan shall include strategies and approaches which are tailored to the claimant’s specific skills, experience, training and circumstances. If a claimant is limiting his or her work search for any reason, the work search plan will discuss these restrictions. The Department of Labor will advise the claimant whether these restrictions will be a barrier to the claimant’s eligibility for benefits. If such a barrier exists, the claimant will be given an opportunity to remove the restriction. For example, these restrictions may include salary expectations, expectations regarding hours of work, or limits on work location.

   (m) Good cause.

10. (1) Unless the Department of Labor determines in its sole discretion that there is good cause, a claimant may not limit his or her work search. The standards for determining good cause for acceptable limitations on work search shall be consistent with the standards for determining good cause pursuant to sections 591(2) and 593(2) of the Labor Law.

11. (2) Good cause may include, but is not limited to the following:

    1. (i) Location or geographic area. A claimant may limit his or her work search to exclude employment which is at an unreasonable distance from his or her residence, or travel to and from the place of employment involves expense substantially greater than that required in his or her former employment.
    2. (ii) Number of hours, days of the week, or compensation. A claimant may limit his or her work search to exclude employment where the wages or compensation or hours or conditions offered are substantially less favorable to the claimant than those prevailing for similar work in the locality, or are such as tend to depress wages or working conditions.
    3. (iii) Interference with labor organization. A claimant may limit his or her work search to exclude employment which would interfere with a claimant’s right to join or retain membership in any labor organization or otherwise interfere with or violate the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.
    4. (iv) Strike, lockout or industrial controversy. A claimant may limit his or her work search to exclude employment where there is a strike, lockout, or other industrial controversy in the establishment in which the employment is offered.
    5. (v) Part-time employment. A claimant may limit his or her work search to exclude employment where the offer of employment is not comparable to his or her part-time work as defined in section 596(5) of the Labor Law.
12. (3) It is not good cause for a claimant to limit his or her work search to a specific position or type of work when suitable work is available to the claimant.