EDD eligibility after quitting healthcare job due to health issues and workplace harassment

Yes, you might qualify for unemployment in this situation because this could be considered a "good cause" quit. When your employer doesn't provide reasonable accommodations for your health condition and then creates a hostile work environment through write-ups and harassment, that can establish good cause for leaving. But you'll need to show that you took reasonable steps to preserve your employment before quitting. Make sure you have documentation of: 1. All medical restrictions provided to your employer 2. Your requests for accommodation 3. Their failure to accommodate 4. The disciplinary actions they took against you 5. Any complaints you filed with HR EDD will likely schedule an eligibility interview to determine if your situation meets the "good cause" standard. Be prepared to explain how you tried to resolve the situation before quitting.

omg this happened to my cousin!!! they worked in a nursing home and hurt their back trying to lift a patient. job kept making them do the same tasks even tho they had doctors notes and everything. edd denied them at first but they won on appeal!!!! make sure u save EVERYTHING

It sounds like you have a strong case for "constructive discharge" which means you were essentially forced to quit due to intolerable working conditions. When you file your claim, make sure to use very specific language. Don't just say "health reasons" - explain that your employer refused to accommodate documented medical restrictions AND created a hostile work environment through retaliatory write-ups. I've helped several healthcare workers with similar situations. The key factors that EDD looks for are: 1. Did you make reasonable efforts to keep your job? (You did by providing documentation and requesting accommodation) 2. Would a reasonable person feel they had no choice but to quit? (The combination of physical pain and workplace harassment would qualify) Expect your employer to contest your claim. They'll likely state you voluntarily quit. That's why documentation is crucial for your eligibility interview.

they might deny u at first they always do that to everyone just to see if u'll fight it. my sister quit her hospital job when they made her work with covid patients without proper ppe and edd denied her first but then she got approved after her interview. the system is broken u just gotta be persistent!!!!!

My situation was similar but with a different outcome. I quit my pharmacy tech job due to worsening asthma (all the cleaning chemicals were triggering attacks). My claim was denied initially because I didn't have enough documentation showing I asked for accommodations before quitting. I appealed but lost because I couldn't prove I'd "exhausted all reasonable alternatives" before quitting. Based on my experience, I'd recommend: 1) File for unemployment immediately 2) Be SUPER specific about the harassment and accommodation refusal 3) Submit COPIES (not originals) of all your documentation with your initial claim 4) When they schedule your eligibility interview, prepare talking points beforehand 5) If denied, APPEAL - many claims are approved on appeal Good luck! The process is frustrating but worth pursuing in your situation.

In my case, they said I should have formally requested a transfer to a different department or location before quitting. I had mentioned it to my supervisor verbally but never submitted anything in writing, so EDD didn't count that as exhausting alternatives. Make sure you can show you tried everything reasonable to resolve the situation first.

If EDD denies your claim and you need to appeal, you might end up waiting months for a hearing. I was in appeals limbo for 12 weeks and couldn't get anyone on the phone to tell me what was happening with my case. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual EDD representative. They connected me to an agent in about 45 minutes after I'd spent weeks trying to get through on my own. The agent was able to expedite my hearing date. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Just wanted to share since getting through to EDD is nearly impossible these days, especially when you're dealing with appeals or eligibility interviews.

Yes, it's legit. I was skeptical at first too, but it worked for me when nothing else did. They basically keep dialing for you through all the menu options until they get through, then connect you. Saved me hours of frustration.

Everyone here is forgetting an important point - if your doctor confirms you can't perform your job duties, you might qualify for State Disability Insurance (SDI) instead of regular unemployment. SDI pays more than UI in most cases. Since you mention having a chronic back condition that's worsened, this might be more appropriate for your situation. The big difference is that UI requires you to be able and available for work, while SDI is specifically for when you CAN'T work due to a medical condition. Worth looking into both options.

You can actually file for both UI and SDI, though you can't collect both simultaneously. If your doctor certifies you're unable to work right now, start with SDI. Then if/when you're able to work again but haven't found a job yet, you can transition to UI. Regarding your eligibility interview, they're currently scheduling those about 2-3 weeks out from when you file. Be prepared for questions about: 1. Exactly why you left (focus on both medical reasons AND employer's actions) 2. What steps you took to resolve the issues before quitting 3. Whether you're currently able to work in some capacity (different occupation, reduced hours, etc.) Answer honestly but make sure to emphasize that you tried to preserve your employment and that the situation became untenable due to your employer's refusal to accommodate your medical restrictions.

I went thru something similar at a hospital last yr... they were short staffed and kept making me do heavy lifting even tho I had a doctors note for my herniated disk. my doctor told me to stop working completely and apply for disability but i was worried about $$$. wish i had listened bc i ended up making my injury WAY worse and now im on permanent disability. don't make my mistake!!! if ur doctor says u need time off for treatment LISTEN TO THEM not ur employer!!

Thank you everyone for the incredibly helpful responses! I'm going to follow your advice and apply for both UI and SDI. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to discuss my work restrictions and treatment plan, so I'll get updated documentation. I'm feeling much more confident about navigating this process now. One last question - if my employer contests my UI claim (which they probably will), how long does that typically extend the process?