EDD eligibility interview for workplace stress quit - will I get disqualified?

You have good reasons for quitting, but you need to frame it correctly during your interview. The key is demonstrating that you had "good cause" to leave - which means any reasonable person in your situation would have quit too. EDD will definitely contact your employer for their side of the story. During your interview, focus on: 1. The specific incidents of mistreatment (document dates/times if possible) 2. How you tried to resolve the issues before quitting (did you speak with HR or management?) 3. How the work environment affected your health (this is important) 4. Any medical documentation supporting your claims If you have a doctor's note documenting your stress or recommending reduced hours, definitely mention that and have it ready. Also mention that you requested accommodation (reduced schedule) that was denied. Good luck with your interview! Be honest but focus on the facts rather than emotions when explaining your situation.

im in almost the same boat rn! quit my job at a warehouse cuz supervisor kept making comments about my weight and giving me impossible quotas. my interview is thursday and im freaking out too. did u tell them u were quitting for health reasons when u left? thats what i did

I just went through this exact process last month. The EDD agent asked me these specific questions during my phone interview: - Why did you leave your job? - Did you talk to your employer about these issues before quitting? - Did you give them a chance to fix the situation? - Did you report the behavior to HR or management? - Did you look for other positions within the company? - Do you have any documentation of the issues? You NEED to emphasize that you tried everything possible to fix the situation before quitting. I was approved because I showed I had multiple documented conversations with my supervisor AND HR about the hostile work environment before I left. Keep your answers focused and don't ramble. Have your timeline and specific incidents written down in front of you during the call. Good luck!

ur gonna get denied probably. EDD doesnt care about stress or being treated bad unless theres like actual harassment or discrimination. they consider that normal work stuff. you shoulda got fired instead of quitting tbh

I successfully got approved after quitting a toxic job last year. Here's what worked for me: 1. Get a statement from your doctor about how the work affected your health. Even if they didn't tell you to quit, having documentation of the stress impact is crucial. 2. During the interview, use the phrase "good cause" specifically. Say "I had good cause to leave my employment because the working conditions were detrimental to my health." 3. Mention that you attempted to preserve your employment by requesting accommodations that were denied. 4. Stick to facts, dates, and specific incidents rather than general complaints. Also, I found it impossible to reach an EDD rep by phone to ask questions before my interview. I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. It helped me clarify what documentation I needed for my interview.

when i had my interview the lady was super nice and just wanted to hear my side. i was so nervous but it was actually pretty quick, like 15 mins. just be honest. they hear this stuff all day long trust me

Make sure you clearly say you "had no reasonable alternative but to quit." That's a key phrase they look for. Also, the fact that you requested reduced hours as an accommodation and were denied strengthens your case significantly. That shows you tried to preserve the employment relationship. And just FYI - you likely won't get an answer during the interview. Usually takes 7-10 days after for them to make a determination, and you'll see it in your UI Online account before you get the letter in the mail.

update: had my interview today!! way less scary than i thought. interviewer was actually super understanding. asked about 10 questions, took maybe 20 mins. waiting for decision now but she seemed sympathetic

they asked: - exact reason for leaving - if i talked to boss about problems - if i had witnesses to the bad treatment - if i was looking for work now - last day worked - if i got final paycheck - if i had any other income she didn't say if approved or not but wasn't mean about anything. good luck monday!!

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. The key thing that helped me get approved was having everything documented. I kept a detailed log of incidents with dates, times, and witnesses when possible. Also had screenshots of the nasty emails my supervisor sent me. During my interview, I made sure to emphasize three main points: 1. I exhausted all reasonable remedies before quitting (talked to HR, requested transfers, etc.) 2. The situation was affecting my physical and mental health 3. Any reasonable person would have quit under those circumstances The interviewer seemed most interested in what steps I took to try to resolve things before leaving. Since you have those HR emails and the doctor's note about reduced hours, you're in a much better position than I was. The fact that they denied your accommodation request actually works in your favor - it shows you tried to make it work. One tip: practice explaining your situation out loud beforehand. I was so nervous during my interview that I started rambling and had to catch myself. Having a clear, concise explanation ready really helps. You've got this! The system exists to help people in situations exactly like yours.

I'm going through the exact same process right now - my interview is scheduled for next week too! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. I also quit due to a hostile work environment where my manager was consistently undermining me and creating impossible working conditions. One thing I've learned from researching this is that California has pretty strong protections for people who quit due to "good cause." The fact that you have documentation from HR conversations AND a doctor's note recommending reduced hours that was denied really strengthens your case. That shows you made reasonable efforts to preserve your employment before quitting. I'd recommend organizing all your documentation chronologically - the incidents, your attempts to resolve them, the medical leave, the accommodation request, and finally your resignation. Having a clear timeline ready will help you stay focused during the interview. Also, I've been practicing explaining my situation using phrases like "good cause," "no reasonable alternative," and "any reasonable person would have quit under these circumstances" based on what others have shared here. It seems like using the right terminology really matters to EDD. Best of luck with your interview on Monday! Please update us on how it goes - it would really help those of us still waiting for our turn.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and was approved! The stress and anxiety leading up to the interview was almost worse than the actual call. Here are a few things that really helped me: Make sure to emphasize that you made "good faith efforts" to resolve the situation before quitting. The fact that you spoke with HR twice and have email documentation is huge. Also, that denied accommodation request is actually going to work strongly in your favor - it shows your employer was unwilling to work with you despite medical recommendations. During my interview, the agent specifically asked if I had any medical documentation, so definitely have that doctor's note about the reduced schedule ready to reference. Even though it doesn't say you should quit outright, it establishes that the workplace was impacting your health to the point where medical intervention was needed. One thing that surprised me was how much they focused on whether I had tried to find other solutions within the company (like transferring departments). Since you mentioned this wasn't really an option in your case, just be prepared to explain why that wasn't feasible. The whole process took about 2 weeks from my interview to getting the approval letter. Try to stay calm during the call - they really are just trying to get the facts. You have solid documentation and valid reasons. Sending you positive thoughts for Monday!

I just wanted to add some encouragement after reading through all these helpful responses! As someone who successfully navigated an EDD eligibility interview for a stress-related quit about a year ago, I can tell you that having the kind of documentation you've described puts you in a really strong position. The combination of HR emails, medical documentation recommending reduced hours, and the denied accommodation request creates a compelling narrative that you exhausted reasonable alternatives before quitting. EDD recognizes that employers have a responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations for health-related issues, and their refusal to do so after medical recommendations strengthens your "good cause" argument significantly. One small tip that helped me during my interview: when they ask about your reasons for leaving, start with "I had good cause to quit my position because..." and then explain the situation. Using that specific language right from the start seemed to frame the conversation in the right way. Also, don't worry too much about not having explicit documentation telling you to quit. The medical note recommending reduced hours that was denied is actually more powerful because it shows you were trying to find a way to stay employed despite the health impacts. You've got this! The fact that you're preparing so thoroughly shows you understand what's at stake. Wishing you the best of luck on Monday!

Reading through your situation, I think you have a really strong case for approval! The combination of documented HR conversations, medical recommendations for reduced hours, and the denied accommodation request creates exactly the kind of "good cause" narrative that EDD looks for. I went through a similar eligibility interview about 6 months ago after quitting due to workplace harassment. What really helped me was organizing everything into a clear story: Here's what happened → Here's how I tried to fix it → Here's why I had no choice but to leave. A few practical tips for your Monday interview: - Have all your documentation laid out in front of you (HR emails, doctor's note, resignation letter) - Write down key dates and incidents beforehand so you don't forget anything important - Practice saying "I had good cause to quit because..." and "I had no reasonable alternative but to resign" - Be ready to explain why transferring to another department wasn't an option The interviewer will likely ask if you reported the issues (you did - to HR twice), if you tried to resolve them (you did - requested accommodation), and if you have documentation (you do). You've checked all the boxes they're looking for. Try not to stress too much over the weekend. You've prepared well and have legitimate reasons backed by documentation. That's exactly what EDD wants to see. Good luck on Monday - you've got this!

I've been following this thread closely since I'm scheduled for an EDD eligibility interview next Friday for a similar workplace stress situation. Reading everyone's experiences and advice has been incredibly valuable - thank you all for sharing! One thing I wanted to add based on my research: if you have any documentation of the physical symptoms the stress was causing (like trouble sleeping, headaches, etc.), mention those during your interview. I've read that EDD considers both mental AND physical health impacts when evaluating "good cause" for quitting. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the importance of using specific phrases like "good cause" and "no reasonable alternative." I've been practicing with those exact terms, and I think it really helps frame the conversation in the legal language EDD is looking for. Your preparation sounds thorough - you have HR documentation, medical recommendations, and a clear timeline of events. That's exactly what they want to see. The fact that you tried to work within the system (requesting reduced hours) and were denied despite medical backing is a strong point in your favor. Wishing you the best of luck on Monday! Please update us on how it goes - your experience will definitely help others in similar situations.

Just wanted to jump in with some additional encouragement! I went through an EDD eligibility interview for a stress-related quit about 18 months ago and was approved. Reading your situation, you actually have stronger documentation than I did - those HR emails and the denied medical accommodation are really powerful evidence. One thing that helped me during the interview was staying factual and avoiding emotional language, even though the situation was deeply upsetting. Stick to dates, specific incidents, and the steps you took to try to resolve things. The interviewer isn't there to judge whether your employer was "mean" - they need to determine if you had "good cause" under the legal standard. Also, don't be discouraged if the interviewer seems neutral or doesn't give you any indication of how it's going during the call. That's totally normal - they're trained to stay objective and won't hint at their decision. You've done everything right: documented the issues, tried to work with your employer, sought medical help, requested reasonable accommodations, and only quit when those were denied. That's exactly the kind of case EDD is designed to help. Try to get some rest this weekend and trust that you're well-prepared. You've got this!

I'm scheduled for an EDD eligibility interview next Tuesday for a very similar situation - quit due to workplace harassment and constant belittling from my supervisor. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! One thing I wanted to mention that my lawyer friend told me: if you have any text messages or emails to family/friends from during that time period showing how the work situation was affecting you, those can actually be useful as supporting evidence. They help establish a timeline and show the ongoing impact the workplace had on your wellbeing. Also, I've been practicing my "elevator pitch" version of what happened - a 2-3 sentence summary that hits the key points (hostile environment, attempted resolution through proper channels, medical impact, denied accommodation, no reasonable alternative but to quit). Having that concise version ready helps if they ask for a brief overview before diving into details. Your case sounds really strong with all that documentation. The denied medical accommodation after your doctor's recommendation is huge - it shows your employer was unwilling to make reasonable adjustments to preserve your employment despite medical evidence of the workplace's impact on your health. That's exactly what EDD considers "good cause." Best of luck on Monday! This thread has been so valuable for all of us going through similar situations.

I just wanted to add my voice to all the encouragement here! I had my EDD eligibility interview for a similar workplace stress situation about 10 months ago and was approved. Reading through your post, you actually have better documentation than most people do - those HR emails, the medical accommodation request, and the denial are exactly what EDD looks for. One thing that really helped me was writing out a simple timeline beforehand: when the problems started, when I tried to address them, when I sought medical help, when I requested accommodation, when it was denied, and when I finally quit. Having that clear sequence ready kept me focused during the interview. The interviewer will likely ask about "constructive alternatives" - basically whether you explored other options before quitting. The fact that you specifically requested a reasonable accommodation (reduced schedule) based on medical recommendations and were denied is huge. That shows you tried to preserve your employment despite the health impacts. Also, don't worry about not having a document explicitly telling you to quit. The medical note recommending reduced hours that was then denied by your employer actually creates a stronger narrative - it shows they were unwilling to make reasonable accommodations for documented health impacts. You're going to do great on Monday! Make sure to use phrases like "good cause," "no reasonable alternative," and emphasize that you "exhausted all reasonable remedies" before quitting. You've got solid documentation and a clear case. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I'm scheduled for an EDD eligibility interview this Thursday for a very similar situation - quit my retail management position after 18 months due to a hostile supervisor who constantly undermined me in front of customers and staff. Reading through all these responses has given me so much hope and practical guidance! Your situation sounds really strong, especially with the HR documentation and denied medical accommodation. I've been researching California's "good cause" standards and it seems like EDD specifically recognizes workplace conditions that would cause a reasonable person to quit, particularly when health impacts are documented and the employee tried to resolve issues through proper channels first. One thing I learned that might help: if you have any performance reviews or emails that show you were a good employee before the toxic treatment started, that can help establish that the problem was the work environment, not your performance. It helps counter any potential claims from your employer that you were terminated for cause. Also, I've been practicing explaining my situation in under 5 minutes - hitting the key points without getting bogged down in every detail. The timeline approach others mentioned is really helpful for staying focused. The fact that you took medical leave, got a doctor's recommendation for reduced hours, formally requested that accommodation, and were denied despite medical backing creates exactly the kind of "good cause" case EDD is designed to protect. You clearly tried everything reasonable before quitting. Wishing you the best of luck on Monday! Please update us - your experience will definitely help others in similar situations.