Florida Statute 443.031 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXI
LABOR

Chapter 443
REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

View Entire Chapter

F.S. 443.031

443.031 Rule of liberal construction.—This chapter shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purpose to promote employment security by increasing opportunities for reemployment and to provide, through the accumulation of reserves, for the payment of compensation to individuals with respect to their unemployment. The Legislature hereby declares its intention to provide for carrying out the purposes of this chapter in cooperation with the appropriate agencies of other states and of the Federal Government as part of a nationwide employment security program, and particularly to provide for meeting the requirements of Title III, the requirements of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, and the Wagner-Peyser Act of June 6, 1933, entitled “An Act to provide for the establishment of a national employment system and for cooperation with the states in the promotion of such system, and for other purposes,” each as amended, in order to secure for this state and its citizens the grants and privileges available under such acts. All doubts as to the proper construction of any provision of this chapter shall be resolved in favor of conformity with such requirements.

History.—s. 231/2, ch. 18402, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 4151(488), 4151(507); s. 2, ch. 20685, 1941; s. 14, ch. 29771, 1955; ss. 1, 8, 9, ch. 80-95; s. 15, ch. 2003-36; s. 2, ch. 2011-235.

Note.—Former s. 443.20.

F.S. 443.031 on Google Scholar

F.S. 443.031 on CourtListener

Amendments to 443.031

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 443.031

Total Results: 53

Benitez v. Girlfriday, Inc.

609 So. 2d 665, 1992 WL 348387

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 24, 1992 | Docket: 1473972

Cited 23 times | Published

compensation benefits, is to be narrowly construed. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1991); Pallas v. Unemployment Appeals

Hummer v. Unemployment Appeals Com'n

573 So. 2d 135, 6 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 176, 1991 Fla. App. LEXIS 129, 1991 WL 1090

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 10, 1991 | Docket: 479176

Cited 21 times | Published

liberally construed in favor of the claimant. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1989); Spaulding v. Florida Industrial

Mason v. Load King Mfg. Co.

758 So. 2d 649, 2000 WL 565102

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 11, 2000 | Docket: 1726191

Cited 20 times | Published

in favor of conformity with such requirements. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1997). A worker may be disqualified

Gulf County School Bd. v. Washington

567 So. 2d 420, 15 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 435, 1990 Fla. LEXIS 1102, 1990 WL 130211

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 6, 1990 | Docket: 1380246

Cited 18 times | Published

construed in order to achieve its intended purpose. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1987). The Unemployment Compensation

Grossman v. Jewish Community Center

704 So. 2d 714, 1998 WL 2446

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 7, 1998 | Docket: 1355106

Cited 13 times | Published

be liberally construed in favor of claimants. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1995). In this regard, an employee

Anderson v. Unemployment Appeals Com'n

822 So. 2d 563, 2002 WL 1768986

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 2, 2002 | Docket: 1757145

Cited 12 times | Published

ORFINGER, R.B., JJ., concur. NOTES [1] See also § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2001); Roberts v. Diehl, 707 So.2d

Anderson v. Unemployment Appeals Com'n

822 So. 2d 563, 2002 WL 1768986

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 2, 2002 | Docket: 1757145

Cited 12 times | Published

ORFINGER, R.B., JJ., concur. NOTES [1] See also § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2001); Roberts v. Diehl, 707 So.2d

TURNBERRY ISLE RESORT v. Fernandez

666 So. 2d 254, 1996 Fla. App. LEXIS 228, 1996 WL 13992

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 17, 1996 | Docket: 452588

Cited 8 times | Published

may not be included in the amount earned. Section 443.031, Florida Statutes (1993), requires that "[t]his

Hilldrup Transfer & Storage v. STATE, DEPT. OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT SEC.

447 So. 2d 414

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 22, 1984 | Docket: 1691204

Cited 8 times | Published

for the risks of unemployment in that business. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1981); see Ceradsky v. Mid-America

Underhill v. Publix Super Markets, Inc.

610 So. 2d 48, 17 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. D 2748

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 8, 1992 | Docket: 1413240

Cited 7 times | Published

Appeals Comm'n, 444 So.2d 518 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984); § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1991). A refusal by Underhill to

Robinson v. FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COM'N

526 So. 2d 198, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 1371, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 2363, 1988 WL 56505

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 8, 1988 | Docket: 1272847

Cited 7 times | Published

statute contains a rule of liberal construction, section 443.031. There is relatively little a judicial body

Alderman v. Unemployment Appeals Commission

664 So. 2d 1160, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 13180, 1995 WL 755125

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 22, 1995 | Docket: 1230322

Cited 5 times | Published

effect the stated objectives of the statute. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1993); Baeza v. Pan American/National

Foote v. UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COM'N

659 So. 2d 1232, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 9017, 1995 WL 502087

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 25, 1995 | Docket: 2014908

Cited 5 times | Published

liberally construed in favor of the claimant. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1993). The Unemployment Compensation

Rosmond v. Unemployment Appeals Com'n

651 So. 2d 233, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 2070, 1995 WL 84478

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 3, 1995 | Docket: 476688

Cited 5 times | Published

benefits, the statute should be liberally construed. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1993). The Unemployment Compensation

Jorge v. FLORIDA UNEMPLOY. APPEALS COM'N

765 So. 2d 889, 2000 WL 1188319

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 23, 2000 | Docket: 1522921

Cited 4 times | Published

whose benefit unemployment compensation exists. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1999). The appeals referee's finding

PANAMA CITY HOUSING AUTH. v. Sowby

587 So. 2d 494, 1991 WL 174418

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 6, 1991 | Docket: 1405925

Cited 4 times | Published

unemployment compensation statute is remedial in nature. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1989); Gulf County School Board v

Pallas v. Unemployment Appeals Com'n

578 So. 2d 487, 1991 Fla. App. LEXIS 3765, 1991 WL 61801

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 25, 1991 | Docket: 440307

Cited 4 times | Published

claimant from receiving unemployment benefits. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1989). As has been consistently held

Seneca v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

39 So. 3d 385, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 8923, 2010 WL 2472274

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 21, 2010 | Docket: 2398282

Cited 3 times | Published

"unemployed through no fault of his or her own." § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2008). Section 443.101(1)(a), Florida

Seneca v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

39 So. 3d 385, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 8923, 2010 WL 2472274

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 21, 2010 | Docket: 2398282

Cited 3 times | Published

"unemployed through no fault of his or her own." § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2008). Section 443.101(1)(a), Florida

Tabares v. Florida Unemployment Appeals

838 So. 2d 1214, 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 2617, 2003 WL 729196

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 5, 2003 | Docket: 1513742

Cited 3 times | Published

705 So.2d 1031, 1032 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998); see § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2001); Jorge v. Florida Unemployment

Hall v. FLA. UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COM'N

700 So. 2d 107, 1997 WL 614325

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 8, 1997 | Docket: 1719681

Cited 3 times | Published

"misconduct" under this section,[3] and by section 443.031, Florida *109 Statutes (1995), which provides

Proffitt v. UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COM'N

658 So. 2d 185, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 8202, 1995 WL 457071

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 4, 1995 | Docket: 439458

Cited 3 times | Published

Comm'n, 573 So.2d 135, 137 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991); § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1993). In this case, the appeals

Krueger v. UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COM'N

555 So. 2d 1225, 1989 WL 102524

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 8, 1989 | Docket: 1724711

Cited 3 times | Published

be liberally construed in favor of claimants. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1987); Gulf County School Bd. v.

Gulf County School Bd. v. Washington

544 So. 2d 288, 1989 WL 57837

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 25, 1989 | Docket: 1709602

Cited 3 times | Published

Decidendi of a Case, 40 Yale L.J. 161 (1930). Section 443.031, Florida Statutes (1987), provides that Chapter

Borland v. Unemployment Appeals Commission

910 So. 2d 320, 2005 WL 2172239

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 9, 2005 | Docket: 1494548

Cited 2 times | Published

favor of a claimant of unemployment benefits. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2003). As this court has previously

Adain v. UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COM'N

523 So. 2d 175, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 868, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 1344, 1988 WL 28298

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 5, 1988 | Docket: 1517203

Cited 2 times | Published

remedial and thus to be construed liberally, § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1985), we cannot construe it so liberally

Baptist Medical Center v. Stolte

475 So. 2d 959, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 2087

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 10, 1985 | Docket: 1301932

Cited 2 times | Published

social consequences of unemployment." Finally, Section 443.031, Florida Statutes, provides that Chapter 443

Reese v. Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission

103 So. 3d 195, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 16559, 2012 WL 4511642

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 3, 2012 | Docket: 60226998

Cited 1 times | Published

enactment of the Rule of Liberal Construction, section 443.031, Florida Statutes (2011),3 sup*198ports an

Cochran v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

46 So. 3d 1195, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 17138, 2010 WL 4483710

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 10, 2010 | Docket: 2558769

Cited 1 times | Published

unemployed through no fault of his or her own." § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2009). Initially, the Agency for

Hughes v. Variety Children's Hosp.

710 So. 2d 683, 1998 WL 204791

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 29, 1998 | Docket: 1444602

Cited 1 times | Published

compensation to individuals who need it. See § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1995); Gulf County Sch. Bd. v. Washington

Quincy Corp. v. Aguilar

704 So. 2d 1055, 22 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. D 2543

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 5, 1997 | Docket: 1354070

Cited 1 times | Published

Pickett, 448 So.2d 364 (Ala.Civ.App.1983). Section 443.031, Florida Statutes (1995), provides that the

Mendelman v. Dade County Public Schools

674 So. 2d 195, 1996 WL 279219

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 29, 1996 | Docket: 1195290

Cited 1 times | Published

statute accomplishes its intended purpose. See id. § 443.031. Those principles mandate that we interpret the

Carrigan v. UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COM'N

615 So. 2d 216, 1993 WL 55963

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 5, 1993 | Docket: 1658593

Cited 1 times | Published

determination of untimeliness must be reversed. Section 443.031 provides that Chapter 443 is to be liberally

Vaughan v. Shop & Go, Inc.

526 So. 2d 91, 1987 WL 1755

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 25, 1987 | Docket: 1679834

Cited 1 times | Published

construed in favor of the claimant for benefits. See § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1981); City of Fort Lauderdale v

Laneri v. Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission

101 So. 3d 1277, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 21093, 2012 WL 6061119

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 7, 2012 | Docket: 60226179

Published

Laneri’s hearing, the Legislature amended section 443.031, Florida Statutes. See Ch.2011-235, § 2, at

Vidal v. Florida Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission

96 So. 3d 436, 2012 WL 2814006, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 11108

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 11, 2012 | Docket: 60311517

Published

liberal construction in favor of the claimant (section 443.031, Florida Statutes (2010), applicable to the

Sullivan v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

93 So. 3d 1047, 2012 WL 1673258, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 7543

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 15, 2012 | Docket: 60310415

Published

appropriate to emphasize the provisions of section 443.031, Florida Statutes, stating that chapter 443

Gonzalez v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

80 So. 3d 335, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 10174, 2010 WL 4103359

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 29, 2011 | Docket: 2415691

Published

unemployed through no fault of his or her own.” Section 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2009). The Agency for Workforce

Ponce v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

47 So. 3d 929, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 17173, 2010 WL 4483420

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 10, 2010 | Docket: 2400635

Published

are unemployed through no fault of their own. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2009). This Court treats a party's

Gonzalez v. FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COMMISSION

28 So. 3d 934, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 1363, 2010 WL 445734

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 10, 2010 | Docket: 1652237

Published

misconduct liberally in favor of Ms. Gonzalez. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2008); Davidson v. AAA Cooper Transp

Borakove v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

14 So. 3d 249, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 9129, 2009 WL 1940705

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 8, 2009 | Docket: 60241302

Published

section 443.101(l)(a), Florida Statutes (2008). See § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2008) (providing for liberal construction

Borakove v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

14 So. 3d 249, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 9129, 2009 WL 1940705

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 8, 2009 | Docket: 60241302

Published

section 443.101(l)(a), Florida Statutes (2008). See § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2008) (providing for liberal construction

Carson v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

1 So. 3d 289, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 187, 2009 WL 78042

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 14, 2009 | Docket: 1653988

Published

the statute liberally in favor of the claimant. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2007); Davidson, 852 So.2d at 400

Careerxchange, Inc. v. Unemployment Appeals Commission

916 So. 2d 68, 2005 Fla. App. LEXIS 21138, 2005 WL 3416159

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 14, 2005 | Docket: 64841172

Published

King Mfg. Co., 758 So.2d 649, 655 (Fla.2000); § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2004) (this chapter shall be liberally

Abascal v. SOUTH DADE REHAB ASSOCIATES LP

900 So. 2d 721, 2005 WL 957179

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 27, 2005 | Docket: 1514242

Published

those unemployed through no fault of their own. § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2003). The statute therefore generally

Rodriguez v. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc.

864 So. 2d 1210, 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 449, 2004 WL 87046

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 21, 2004 | Docket: 64827847

Published

So.2d 649, 654 (Fla.2000) (citations omitted); § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2000). Subsection 443.036(29), Florida

Leichering v. Unemployment Appeals Commission

854 So. 2d 850, 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 14542, 2003 WL 22213368

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 26, 2003 | Docket: 64825190

Published

determination was received. Id. This court noted that section 443.031 specifies that Chapter 443 is to be liberally

Rodriguez v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

851 So. 2d 247, 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 11420, 2003 WL 21749529

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 30, 2003 | Docket: 64824212

Published

However, the stat*249ute is not so limited. Section 443.031 mandates that, “This chapter shall be construed

Anderson v. Unemployment Appeals Commission

822 So. 2d 563, 2002 Fla. App. LEXIS 10901

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 2, 2002 | Docket: 64816652

Published

and ORFINGER, R.B., JJ., concur. . See also § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2001); Roberts v. Diehl, 707 So.2d

Anderson v. Unemployment Appeals Commission

822 So. 2d 563, 2002 Fla. App. LEXIS 10901

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 2, 2002 | Docket: 64816652

Published

and ORFINGER, R.B., JJ., concur. . See also § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (2001); Roberts v. Diehl, 707 So.2d

Guido v. Vincam Human Resources, Inc.

729 So. 2d 968, 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 2553, 1999 WL 123612

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 10, 1999 | Docket: 64787409

Published

Compensation Chapter’s rule of liberal construction, § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1997), and intent of lightening the

Recio v. Kent Security Services, Inc.

727 So. 2d 320, 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 1462, 1999 WL 72235

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 17, 1999 | Docket: 64786490

Published

liberally construed in favor of claimants. See § 443.031, Fla. Stat. (1993). An employee is disqualified

Strazisar v. Staff Management Systems, Inc.

629 So. 2d 876, 1993 Fla. App. LEXIS 11163, 1993 WL 452224

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 5, 1993 | Docket: 64745360

Published

statute is intended to be liberally construed, § 443.031, Fla.Stat. (1991), recognizing an express declaration