Unemployment claims question

If an employee, who has the proper W2 in place is laid off, then the state of NC will pay the now ex-employee weekly to help out their living arrangements etc. while the job search goes forward.
If a plumbling contractor, or electrical company pays their dues, IE unemployment tax, then an employee can draw unemployment, but what about the principals or owners of those companies? Say they lose all there work and have no choice but to lay off the very hands that feed them, can they file for unemployment?
What a mess!
marlinfan1

 

I have a good friend that owns his own forklift repair company that employs 8 people. He and all the other employees have been drawing unemployment for the past 8 weeks.

 

It all depends on whatever the paperwork says from your tax forms

 

i own a company with, at times, over 20 employees. i've laid myself off and never had a problem drawing. it just boosts your umemployment tax rate to the max of 6.85% which kills you later....