This has all the signs of nepotism but then that remains to be proven. Perhaps someone who works there has a family member or friend they wanted to place in that position. Why they chose to go the route they did is a mystery since unemployment is calculated on the amount of quarters you have worked. The short amount of time that you have worked would put you into a previous employer being assessed for the unemployment not the current one. Why they just wouldn't dismiss you thanking you for your service thereby letting you collect your unemployment speaks volumes to someone not knowing how unemployment works. Hang in there. They might have done you a big favor. My parents would call them "blessings in disguise.".