Can EDD approve my claim after quitting due to workplace discrimination for breastfeeding accommodations?
I'm at my wits end trying to figure out if I have a shot at unemployment benefits. I left my retail manager position last month after 5 years with the company because the situation became unbearable. After returning from maternity leave, I requested reasonable accommodations for pumping breast milk (just a private space and two 20-minute breaks during my 8-hour shifts). My district manager started treating me differently immediately - scheduling me for inconvenient shifts, criticizing my work performance with no basis, and writing me up for minor issues that were overlooked for other employees. I received 3 write-ups in just 2 weeks for things like "taking too long on breaks" (when I was pumping during my legally protected time) and "not meeting sales goals" (even though I exceeded them). I documented everything, including emails where I requested accommodations and their responses, plus texts from coworkers witnessing the treatment. I finally quit when they tried to demote me to a part-time position. Will EDD consider this good cause for leaving? Has anyone successfully claimed benefits after quitting due to discrimination/harassment?
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Anastasia Sokolov
Yes, you absolutely can qualify for UI benefits when you quit due to harassment or discrimination! This falls under "good cause" to leave employment. Since you're a new mother requesting legally protected breastfeeding accommodations, you've got a strong case. Here's what you need to do: 1. When you file your claim, be very specific about the harassment/discrimination - mention the write-ups after requesting legally protected accommodations 2. Submit all your documentation during the claim process 3. Prepare for the phone interview - they WILL schedule one for quit cases 4. Emphasize that you tried to resolve the issue internally first I went through something similar (not breastfeeding, but medical accommodations) and got approved. The key is showing you had no reasonable alternative but to quit. California law specifically protects nursing mothers in the workplace.
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Diego Ramirez
•Thank you so much! I was worried because I've always heard quitting = automatic denial. Do you remember how long your phone interview was? I get really nervous with these things and want to make sure I don't mess it up. I keep having nightmares about not being able to pay my mortgage while fighting this.
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Sean O'Connor
you MIGHT get approved but dont count on it. EDD looks for ANY reason to deny benifits thats just how they are. my friend quit when her boss was harrassing her and calling her names and stuff and EDD still denied her. she had to do the appeal thing and it took like 3 months to get resolved. did u try reporting to HR before quitting? they always ask that.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•While it's true that quitting makes approval harder, the law specifically protects breastfeeding mothers. The key difference between your friend's case and this one is that lactation accommodation is explicitly covered under CA labor code. The OP should definitely be prepared for possible initial denial, but with proper documentation, she has a strong appeal case.
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Zara Ahmed
I think ur situation is what they call CONSTRUCTIVE DISCHARGE, where they basically force u to quit by making conditions unbearable. Thats different from just quitting cuz u dont like it. Save all ur evidence!!!
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Diego Ramirez
•Yes! That's exactly what it felt like - they were trying to push me out rather than accommodate me. I'll look up more info on constructive discharge before my interview. Thanks for giving me the right terminology.
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Luca Conti
I went through this EXACT situation in 2025!! They denied my claim at first but I won on appeal. During your phone interview make sure you specifically state that the write-ups and negative treatment STARTED immediately after requesting lactation accommodations. Timeline is super important! They need to see the connection between your protected request and their retaliation. I recommend calling EDD to check on your claim status once you apply. BUT - warning - it's nearly impossible to get through to EDD right now. I spent 4 days calling non-stop before connecting with someone.
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Nia Johnson
•If you're having trouble reaching EDD, I'd recommend using Claimyr. It's a service that basically connects you to an EDD rep without the endless calling and waiting. I was skeptical but it worked for me when I needed to sort out my eligibility interview. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Saved me days of frustration, especially when dealing with a delicate issue like discrimination that you can't really explain through the online system.
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CyberNinja
This makes me SO ANGRY!!!! Employers KNOW the laws about breastfeeding accommodations but still pull this garbage!!! I literally hate how they treat new moms. My sister went through something similar and she contacted the Labor Commissioner's office to file a retaliation complaint while ALSO applying for unemployment. The EDD interviewer actually asked if she'd filed a complaint and it seemed to help her case. ALSO!! Make sure during your eligibility interview you don't accidentally say anything about wanting to stay home with your baby even if that's partly true. ONLY focus on the discrimination aspect or they'll deny you saying you quit to stay home with family which isn't covered.
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Diego Ramirez
•I hadn't thought about contacting the Labor Commissioner's office! I'll look into that right away. And thank you for the tip about what not to say - I definitely would have mentioned being glad to have more time with my baby if they asked about my current situation. I'll make sure to stay focused on the workplace discrimination only.
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Mateo Lopez
Ok but did you talk to HR before quitting? Thats what they always ask in the interveiw. They want to know u tried to fix it first before leaving.
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Diego Ramirez
•Yes, I did contact HR twice actually. First time they said they'd "look into it" but nothing changed. Second time (after the write-ups started) they said it was a "performance issue" not related to my accommodation requests. I have emails documenting both interactions. I was working for a smaller regional chain so HR was just one person who was close friends with my DM. 😕
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Zara Ahmed
Wait are u still breastfeeding? Cuz if ur looking for work but can't take certain jobs bcuz of pumping they might say ur not available for work. My cousin had this problem with her claim.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•This is a common misconception. Needing lactation accommodations doesn't make you "unavailable for work" under EDD guidelines. As long as you're willing to accept suitable work with reasonable accommodations (which most employers are legally required to provide), you're considered available. Make sure to clarify this if it comes up in your interview!
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Luca Conti
You mentioned the write-ups - did they give you any formal warnings before you requested the breastfeeding accommodations? The EDD will be looking closely at the timing to establish if this was truly retaliation or if there were performance issues beforehand. In my case, I had perfect performance reviews until I asked for accommodations, which really helped my case.
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Diego Ramirez
•Nothing but positive feedback before this! I actually got Employee of the Quarter just before my maternity leave and had been promoted twice during my 5 years there. I have copies of all my previous performance reviews that were consistently positive. The sudden change after requesting accommodation was really dramatic and obvious.
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Sean O'Connor
One other thing - if ur approved get ready for your ex-employer to probably appeal it. They dont want their UI rates to go up so they fight most claims when people quit. Make COPIES of all your evidence before sending anything to EDD!!!!
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Diego Ramirez
•That's good advice - I'll make multiple copies of everything. Do they notify my former employer right away when I file? I'm worried they'll try to come up with more documentation against me if they know I'm filing for unemployment.
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Aisha Abdullah
my sister in law works for edd and she says discrimination cases are actually getting approved more often now especially for moms. She said document EVERYTHING and be super specific in your phone interview. Don't just say "they discriminated against me" but give exact examples with dates. Also did any coworkers see this happening? Witness statements help a lot.
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Diego Ramirez
•That's reassuring to hear! Yes, I have two coworkers who witnessed the district manager's comments and behavior change. One of them even texted me after a staff meeting saying "I can't believe how differently he's treating you since you came back." I saved that text and a few others. I'll ask if they'd be willing to provide statements if needed.
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Anastasia Sokolov
Based on everything you've shared, you have a very strong case for UI benefits. The key elements are all there: 1. You requested legally protected accommodations 2. Negative treatment began immediately after 3. You have documentation and witness statements 4. You contacted HR to try resolving it 5. You had positive performance history before this issue During your phone interview, stay calm and stick to the facts. Avoid emotional language even though this was obviously upsetting. The interviewer needs to hear a clear cause-and-effect relationship between your accommodation request and their actions. Good luck, and please update us on how it goes!
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