Can I qualify for EDD if my employer forces me to resign due to school schedule?

DON'T RESIGN!!!! If u resign ur basically telling EDD u left voluntarily which = no benefits! What ur boss is doing is trying to avoid firing u so they don't have to pay into unemployment. Tell them if they can't accommodate ur schedule, they need to lay u off or reduce ur hours to zero. DON'T SIGN ANYTHING that says ur resigning!!!

I went through something sorta similar last yr when my employer wouldn't work with my partial disability restrictions. Technically if they can't reasonably accommodate you and are forcing you to leave, that might qualify as "good cause" to quit. But the burden of proof is on you to show you had no reasonable alternative.

This is actually a common scenario. Your employer is using a tactic to avoid paying unemployment by pressuring you to resign. Here's what you need to know: 1. If you voluntarily resign, you generally won't qualify for benefits unless you can prove "good cause" 2. Going to school alone usually isn't considered good cause for leaving work 3. However, if your employer substantially changes your working conditions (like drastically cutting hours or changing shifts that they know you can't work), that could potentially qualify as "constructive discharge" Your best options: - Ask them to document that they cannot accommodate your schedule and are letting you go - Request a formal layoff due to inability to accommodate - If they insist on resignation, document all communications showing they're forcing you out - Request reduced hours that fit your schedule rather than complete resignation Whatever happens, when you apply for EDD, be extremely clear that you were willing to continue working but the employer was unable to accommodate reasonable scheduling requests.

not to be a buzzkill but i tried getting edd after my restaurant cut my hours when i started school and i got denied. they said school was a "personal choice" and that i limited my availability. fought it for weeks and got nowhere. the system is rigged against students imo

I had to deal with EDD last year when my hours were reduced, and getting through to an actual person was a nightmare. Spent literal days trying to reach someone. I finally used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes instead of endless redials. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km showing how it works. Totally worth it when you need to discuss a complicated situation like yours where the details really matter. Whatever happens with your employer, if you need to actually talk to someone at EDD to explain your case, check out claimyr.com

Listen carefully: What matters to EDD is WHY your employment ended. If your employer fired you because they couldn't accommodate your school schedule, you might qualify. If you quit because they wouldn't accommodate your school schedule, you probably won't qualify. The most important thing is how your separation is documented. If your employer tells EDD they discharged you because they couldn't accommodate your schedule, you have a much better chance than if they say you quit voluntarily. What you should do is get them to put in writing that they are discharging you due to inability to accommodate your schedule. Do NOT agree to resign. If they insist on calling it a resignation, make sure they document that it's at their request, not yours.

My sister dealt with this exact issue when she went back for her paralegal certificate. Her boss couldn't accommodate her new schedule and pressured her to resign. She refused and said they needed to lay her off. They eventually did, and she got benefits with no issues. The key is having them initiate the separation, not you.

Thank you all SO MUCH for the advice! I had a conversation with my manager today and refused to resign. After some back and forth, she agreed to officially reduce my hours to zero and classify it as a lay-off due to scheduling conflicts. She's giving me an official letter tomorrow. I feel so much better prepared after reading all your comments. I'll apply for EDD as soon as I get the paperwork and will definitely reach out if I run into issues. You all are amazing!

Good luck with nursing school! The job market for nurses is way better than retail anyway. My cousin just finished her LVN program and had 3 job offers before graduation.

Make sure to keep all documentation from this separation - emails, the layoff letter, any text messages discussing the situation. If your claim gets flagged for an eligibility interview (which is common in separation cases), you'll need to provide evidence that you didn't voluntarily quit. Also, be prepared to meet all the ongoing eligibility requirements like being available for work and actively searching while you're in school.

Congratulations on handling this situation so well! You made all the right moves by refusing to resign and getting that official layoff documentation. That letter is going to be crucial for your EDD application. Just a heads up - when you file your claim, be very clear about the timeline of events and emphasize that your employer initiated the separation due to their inability to accommodate your schedule. The fact that you were willing to continue working but they couldn't provide the hours you needed should work in your favor. Best of luck with nursing school - healthcare is such a rewarding field and you'll have way more job security than retail!

Just want to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you file your EDD claim online, there's a section where you can explain the circumstances of your job separation in detail. Don't just select "laid off" and move on. Use that text box to clearly explain that your employer could not accommodate your school schedule and initiated the separation. Be specific about dates and who said what. The more detail you provide upfront, the less likely your claim will get flagged for additional review. Also, save screenshots of your completed application before submitting, just in case you need to reference what you originally reported. You handled this perfectly by getting that layoff letter - that's going to make all the difference!

This is such a great success story and exactly why this community is so valuable! You did everything right by standing your ground and not letting them pressure you into resigning. That layoff letter is going to be your golden ticket with EDD. When you file your claim, make sure to upload a copy of that letter as supporting documentation if the system allows it. Also, don't be surprised if they still ask follow-up questions during processing - even with perfect documentation, EDD sometimes needs to verify the circumstances. Stay confident in your case because you have all the right paperwork and handled this textbook perfect. Nursing is going to be an amazing career change for you, and honestly, getting away from retail management that plays these kinds of games is probably a blessing in disguise. You've got this!

Amazing update! You handled this situation absolutely perfectly and this is exactly the outcome everyone was hoping for. That official layoff letter is going to make your EDD application so much smoother - you have clear documentation that your employer initiated the separation due to scheduling conflicts they couldn't accommodate. This is a textbook example of how to protect yourself when an employer tries to pressure you into resigning. When you file your claim, you'll be in a really strong position because you can show you were willing to continue working but they couldn't provide the schedule you needed. Make sure to keep that letter safe and maybe make a few copies! Also, huge congratulations on pursuing nursing! The job market is incredible right now for healthcare workers, and you'll have so much more job security and growth potential than retail. You're making a smart investment in your future. Best of luck with school and your EDD claim - you've got all the right documentation to make it go smoothly!

This whole thread is a masterclass in how to handle employer manipulation! Ella, you absolutely nailed this situation. What your manager tried to pull is unfortunately super common - they want to avoid paying into unemployment insurance so they pressure employees to "voluntarily" resign instead of properly laying them off. You stood your ground perfectly and got the right documentation. For anyone else reading this who might face a similar situation, the key takeaways are: 1. NEVER voluntarily resign if your employer can't accommodate reasonable requests 2. Make them put the separation in writing as their decision, not yours 3. Keep all communications about the situation 4. Be very detailed when filing your EDD claim about the circumstances Ella's going to be in great shape for her claim because she has that official layoff letter showing the employer initiated the separation due to scheduling conflicts they couldn't resolve. This is exactly how these situations should be handled. Congratulations on standing up for yourself and best of luck with nursing school - you're going to do amazing things in healthcare!

This is such an incredible outcome and really shows the power of this community! Ella, you handled this situation like a pro - refusing to resign and getting that official layoff documentation was absolutely the right move. Your manager's attempt to pressure you into "voluntary resignation" is unfortunately a common tactic employers use to avoid paying unemployment costs, but you saw right through it thanks to everyone's advice here. That layoff letter is going to be your ace in the hole when you file your EDD claim. Make sure to emphasize in your application that you were willing and able to continue working, but your employer couldn't accommodate your school schedule and initiated the separation. The fact that you have it in writing that they laid you off due to scheduling conflicts they couldn't resolve should make your claim pretty straightforward. Also wanted to say congratulations on pursuing nursing! It's such a needed field right now and the job prospects are amazing compared to retail. You're investing in a career that will give you so much more flexibility, better pay, and job security. This whole situation, while stressful, is probably going to end up being a blessing that helped you transition to something much better. Best of luck with school and your EDD claim - you've got all the right pieces in place!

This entire thread is absolutely incredible and should be required reading for anyone dealing with employment issues! Ella, you handled this situation perfectly by refusing to be manipulated into resigning and getting that official layoff letter. Your manager's attempt to pressure you into "voluntary resignation" is such a common scam employers use to avoid paying unemployment costs - they literally tried to trick you out of benefits you're entitled to. What really stands out to me is how this community came together with such solid, practical advice. The distinction between resigning vs. being laid off seems simple but it's EVERYTHING when it comes to EDD eligibility. That official documentation showing they initiated the separation due to scheduling conflicts they couldn't accommodate is going to make your claim so much stronger. Also huge props for pursuing nursing! The timing couldn't be better - healthcare workers are in massive demand right now and the job security is incredible compared to retail. Plus you'll never have to deal with manipulative managers trying to scam you out of unemployment benefits again. Most healthcare employers actually support their staff's professional development instead of punishing them for it. When you file your EDD claim, just remember to be super detailed about the timeline - how you tried to work with them on scheduling, how they said they couldn't accommodate, and how they ultimately initiated the layoff. You've got all the right documentation and handled this textbook perfect. Congratulations on standing up for yourself and best of luck with nursing school!

This is such an amazing success story and really shows how powerful this community is! Ella, you absolutely crushed this situation - getting that official layoff letter was the perfect outcome. Your manager's attempt to pressure you into "voluntary resignation" is unfortunately super common, but you handled it like a pro by refusing to be manipulated. That documentation is going to be golden for your EDD claim. When you file, make sure to really emphasize that you approached them first trying to work out the scheduling, they said they couldn't accommodate it, and THEY initiated the separation. You've got everything you need to show this wasn't your choice. Also, congratulations on nursing school! The timing is perfect - healthcare is booming right now and you'll have way better job security than retail. Plus you'll never have to deal with managers playing these unemployment benefit games again. Most healthcare employers actually support their staff's education instead of punishing them for it. This whole thread should be bookmarked by anyone dealing with employment issues - the advice here literally saved you thousands in benefits you rightfully deserve. You stood your ground perfectly and it's going to pay off big time. Best of luck with your claim and nursing program - you're going to do amazing things in healthcare!