EDD eligibility after quitting - job changed from email support to phone representative
I'm in a tough spot and need advice about possible unemployment eligibility. For the past 4 years, I've been working in a position handling email correspondence for a company. I specifically took this job because the hours (6am-2pm) let me be home when my kids get out of school at 3pm. Now management is doing a department restructure and my job duties are completely changing. They're eliminating my email position and requiring me to become a phone representative taking customer calls. The phone hours are 9am-5:30pm, which means I'd no longer be able to be home for my kids after school. This feels like a completely different job than what I was hired for. I've tried talking to my supervisor about keeping my current schedule but was told it's "phone hours or nothing." If I resign because of this significant change to my job duties and hours, would I potentially qualify for unemployment benefits? I didn't choose this change and it fundamentally alters my work arrangement. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Any insights would be really appreciated.
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Zainab Yusuf
my friend had somethin similar happen when her company switched her from data entry to customer service n she quit. EDD denied her at first but she appealed it and won bc the job duties were so different than what she was hired for. u should apply for sure but b ready to explain everything about why it's a big change in ur work
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Miguel Alvarez
•Thanks for sharing that. It's encouraging to hear your friend won her appeal. Did she have to attend a hearing or anything? I'm worried about the initial denial part - we're already stretched thin financially.
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Connor O'Reilly
This situation falls under what EDD considers a "compelling reason" to quit that might preserve your eligibility for benefits. The key factors in your favor are: 1) The change in job duties is substantial (email correspondence vs. phone representative) 2) The change in hours directly impacts your family care responsibilities 3) You attempted to resolve the issue with your employer When you file, make sure to clearly document that this was a unilateral change by the employer that significantly altered both your job duties AND your work schedule. The schedule change affecting your ability to care for your children is particularly important. You'll likely have a phone interview with an EDD representative where you'll need to explain these circumstances. Be factual and specific about dates, conversations with management, and how the changes impact your family obligations.
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Miguel Alvarez
•Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! I'll definitely document everything. Should I wait until I actually resign to file my claim, or can I start the process beforehand? Also, do you think I should get something in writing from my employer about these changes?
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Yara Khoury
just quit yesterday cuz my boss cut my hours in HALF!!! applied for edd right away but now im worried ill get denied. following this thread for advice too
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Keisha Taylor
you should TRY to apply but EDD is super strict about quitting. they usually only approve if u can prove harrassment or unsafe conditions. good luck tho!
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Connor O'Reilly
•This isn't entirely accurate. While EDD does scrutinize voluntary quits carefully, there are multiple valid reasons beyond harassment or unsafe conditions. Significant changes to job duties, substantial reductions in pay, and changes to work conditions that create undue hardship (like interfering with family care obligations) can all qualify as "good cause" to quit while maintaining benefit eligibility.
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StardustSeeker
I went through almost the exact scenario last year. My employer switched me from a content creator position to a sales role with completely different hours. Here's what worked for me: 1. Before quitting, I got the job change in writing (email from HR) 2. I documented my attempts to keep my original position/hours 3. When I filed with EDD, I specifically used the term "constructive discharge" in my explanation 4. I emphasized that the change made it impossible to care for my dependent family members I was approved on the first try without even needing an interview. The key is showing that staying was impossible due to family obligations AND that the job substantially changed from what you were hired to do. Feel free to DM me if you have specific questions about the process.
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Miguel Alvarez
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I've never heard the term "constructive discharge" before - I'll definitely use that. I'm going to email HR today to get the changes documented officially. Did you give a standard two weeks notice or explain your reason for leaving in your resignation letter?
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Paolo Marino
Been trying to call EDD for 3 days about a similar situation (my hours got changed) and can't get through!!! So frustrating when you just need to ask a simple question. Has anyone found a way to actually reach a human at EDD??
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Amina Bah
•I was in the same boat trying to reach EDD about my claim for weeks. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes instead of spending days redialing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Totally worth it because the EDD agent was able to explain exactly what documents I needed for my situation. When you have questions about eligibility like this, talking to an actual EDD rep makes all the difference.
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Miguel Alvarez
Update: I spoke with HR today and they confirmed in writing that my position is being eliminated and the only option is to switch to the phone representative role with the new hours. I explained my childcare situation and they said "we understand if you need to resign." Does this help my case with EDD?
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Connor O'Reilly
•That's excellent documentation to have! Save that email/communication. This significantly strengthens your case because: 1. It confirms your position was eliminated (not that you simply didn't want the work) 2. It shows the employer acknowledges the change is substantial enough to justify resignation 3. It demonstrates you made a good faith effort to resolve the situation Make sure to keep records of all communications about this change. When you file your claim, be very specific about the elimination of your original position and the significant changes to both job duties and hours. This documentation will be crucial during your eligibility interview.
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Keisha Taylor
my coworker got approved after our company moved locations and her commute went from 15 min to 1.5 hours each way. EDD does approve sometimes when the job changes a lot.
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Miguel Alvarez
I've decided to submit my resignation tomorrow, effective two weeks from now. I'm going to clearly state in my letter that I'm resigning due to the elimination of my current position and the incompatibility of the new role's hours with my family care responsibilities. I'll apply for EDD benefits immediately after my last day. Thank you all so much for the guidance and support through this stressful situation.
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StardustSeeker
•Smart approach. Make sure your resignation letter is clear, professional, and specifically mentions that you're leaving because your position was eliminated and the new role conflicts with your family obligations. Keep a copy of this letter for your records. When you file your claim, use the exact same reasoning. Consistency between what you tell your employer and what you tell EDD is important. Be prepared for a phone interview about 1-2 weeks after filing your claim. Good luck!
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