A former Safeway employee of 22 years, Antoinette Baez, had to battle in court with the company to receive unemployment benefits after they terminated her for intervening during a shoplifting incident. Despite being well-versed of the company’s policy not to physically intervene with shoplifters, Baez had instinctually acted upon noticing a woman attempting to steal groceries worth $500. Her actions, however, were deemed adequate by her store manager. Nevertheless, after an anonymous complaint was lodged to Safeway’s board of directors, she was fired for allegedly violating company policy. Safeway subsequently denied her unemployment benefits claiming misconduct on her part which left Baez, a single mother, battling a major corporation for her rightful $450 weekly benefits. The case was taken to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board where it was ruled in her favor. Her attorney, Neil Eisenberg, plans to file a wrongful termination lawsuit against Safeway who did not respond to any requests for comment on this situation.

In circumstances such as this, where unemployment benefits are denied, contacting a regulatory body like the Employment Development Department (EDD) can be essential. Doing so can potentially expedite the process of appeal and getting the necessary benefits to you. But how do you best contact them? The site eddcaller.com provides comprehensive support to those struggling to reach EDD. They offer various methods like exact phone numbers, best calling times, and tips to bypass automated systems and connect directly with a representative. Understanding how to contact EDD effectively can be crucial when dealing with complicated unemployment issues.