EDD eligibility after quitting new job due to workplace safety concerns - can I still collect?

u gotta be careful with quitting, EDD doesn't usually like that. but maybe since u have safety concerns it might be ok?? not sure tho

You may be eligible to continue receiving benefits if you can demonstrate you quit for "good cause." Health and safety violations absolutely can qualify as good cause, especially in healthcare. Document EVERYTHING - dates, times, specific incidents, who was involved, etc. Take photos if safe to do so (no patient info). Report to the medical board FIRST before quitting, then when you quit, state specifically in writing that you're leaving due to unsafe practices that violate regulations. When you certify for UI after quitting, you'll need to indicate you're no longer working and select that you quit. EDD will likely schedule a phone interview to determine if your reason constitutes good cause. Be prepared with all your documentation and be specific about which health codes or regulations were being violated.

I went through something similar at a dental office in 2023. EDD initially denied my claim after I quit, but I appealed and won. What worked for me was: 1) I reported the violations to the appropriate licensing board BEFORE quitting 2) I sent a formal resignation letter clearly stating I was leaving due to specific safety violations 3) I had documentation (dates, incidents, etc.) 4) I tried addressing the issues with management first (documented in emails) The key is that you can't just quit because you don't like the place - you need to show that any reasonable person would quit under these circumstances AND that you took reasonable steps to resolve the issues before leaving. When EDD schedules your phone interview, make sure you answer and have all your evidence ready!

I HATE that YOUR WORRIED ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT when PATIENTS ARE AT RISK!!!! someone could DIE from those conditions!!!! have some integrity and report them IMMEDIATELY not just worry about your benefits!!! sorry but this makes me so angry as someone with family who was harmed by medical negligence!!!!!

To clarify one important point: When you restart your claim after quitting, make sure you're certifying correctly. You'll need to report that you're no longer working at the surgical center and provide the last date worked. EDD's system will automatically flag this for review since they'll see you had reported wages and then stopped working. This triggers the eligibility interview process. During this time your payments will likely be pending until after the interview determines you had good cause. This can take 2-3 weeks or sometimes longer. Be prepared financially for this gap if possible.

whats gonna happen to ur claim if u quit? do they just stop it or will u have to pay back money or something?

Just a practical tip from someone who's been through the EDD interview process for similar issues: When they call for your eligibility interview, they'll ask specific questions about your reason for quitting. Make sure you're clear that your concerns were about REGULATORY VIOLATIONS and SAFETY ISSUES rather than just disliking the workplace or having disagreements with management. The distinction matters enormously for determining good cause. Also, EDD representatives may not be familiar with specific medical regulations - it helps to cite the specific codes or standards being violated (California Medical Board regulations, OSHA standards, etc.) rather than just describing the situations in general terms.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm going to document everything thoroughly, file a formal complaint with the Medical Board, and then submit my resignation letter clearly stating the safety violations as my reason for leaving. I'll make sure to have concrete examples ready for my EDD interview. The fact that others have successfully navigated this gives me hope. I'd rather struggle financially for a bit than be complicit in potentially harming patients.

good luck!! do the right thing and hopefully EDD will understand!!

You're absolutely doing the right thing by prioritizing patient safety! As someone who works in healthcare compliance, I want to emphasize that your situation sounds like a textbook case for "good cause" under EDD guidelines. Healthcare workers have additional professional and legal obligations that EDD recognizes - you could actually face personal liability or licensing issues if you remain complicit in these violations. A few additional tips: 1) When you file with the Medical Board, request a copy of your complaint filing - this serves as excellent documentation for EDD, 2) If possible, try to get any of your concerns in writing to your supervisor before quitting (even if they brush you off, the paper trail helps), and 3) Consider reaching out to OSHA as well if there are workplace safety violations beyond just patient care issues. The financial stress is real, but remember that continuing to work in that environment could expose you to much bigger problems down the road. You've got strong documentation building up and precedent is on your side for this type of situation.