Will EDD approve my claim after being forced to resign due to relocation and commute issues?

You need to be extremely careful with how you present this situation to EDD. In California, quitting due to childcare responsibilities or commute distance CAN be considered good cause, but only under specific circumstances. The key is to emphasize that the change in working conditions (requiring in-office work when remote was feasible) made continued employment impossible for you.\n\nDuring your phone interview:\n- Clearly explain that your employer changed your working arrangement after your relocation\n- Emphasize that other employees are permitted to work remotely\n- State that a 5-6 hour daily commute is unreasonable, especially with young children\n- Mention that your supervisor specifically advised you to resign and apply for benefits\n- Have documentation of any emails/texts showing they suggested resignation\n\nAvoid saying you \

Thank you so much for this detailed advice. I do have text messages where my director suggested I resign and apply for unemployment - should I offer to share these during the interview or wait until they ask for proof? I'm so nervous about saying something wrong and getting denied.

I went thru something similar last yr but my commute would have been 3hrs each way after my company relocated offices!!! They denied my request to wrk remotely even tho my entire team was allowed to work from home 2x a week. EDD denied my claim initially saying I VOLUNTARILY quit but I appealed and eventually won. The key was proving the commute was \

It's such a relief to hear you won your appeal! Did you have any documentation that helped your case? I'm trying to gather everything I can before this phone call. And thank you for the tip about not focusing solely on childcare - I'll definitely emphasize the unreasonable commute and the different treatment compared to other employees.

this happened to my sister too! edd denied her at first but then she won on appeal. just be honest. they can check with ur employer anyway.

Your situation is a common gray area with unemployment eligibility, but you do have several factors working in your favor. The EDD considers whether a reasonable person would have quit under similar circumstances.\n\nFor your phone interview:\n\n1. Use precise language - don't say you \

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I hadn't thought about calculating the exact financial impact of the commute, but that makes perfect sense. Between gas, wear and tear on my car, and potential childcare costs for the extended hours, it would have been financially impossible. I'll definitely prepare all these points before my interview.

The EDD is going to deny you because you QUIT. Doesn't matter what your employer said, unemployment isn't for people who choose to leave their jobs. You should have just refused to come in and made them fire you if you wanted benefits.

This isn't accurate. California recognizes numerous \

Having trouble reaching the EDD for your phone interview? I was in a similar situation and kept missing their calls or getting disconnected. I finally used Claimyr.com and it changed everything. They helped me get through to an actual EDD agent within 10 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km\n\nThe agent I spoke with was super helpful and explained exactly what documentation I needed to prove my case. Really worth it when your benefits are on the line.

Thank you for the recommendation! I'm worried about missing their call since my toddler is super loud sometimes. I'll check this out to make sure I can connect for my interview.

Ugh EDD is sooo frustrating! When they call make sure your ready with ALL ur docs and don't let them rush you. They tried to rush me off the phone when I had an interview. And remember its THEIR job to determine if you qualify, not your old company! Your boss isn't the one who decides if you get unemployment no matter what he promised!!

One additional point to consider: in your situation, the substantial distance of your new residence (2.5 hours away) might actually work against you, as the EDD could argue that your relocation was voluntary and created the hardship. However, you have two strong counterarguments:\n\n1. Your 9-year employment history shows commitment to the company\n\n2. The company's inconsistent remote work policy (allowing some employees but not you) demonstrates potentially unequal treatment\n\nDuring your interview, I recommend emphasizing that you made good faith efforts to continue working despite the relocation, and that your employer's refusal to accommodate remote work (while allowing it for others) left you with no reasonable alternative but to leave. This frames the separation as being initiated by the employer's actions rather than your personal choice.

This is KEY point!! When i had my interview the EDD rep kept saying

just wondering - did ur employer give u anything in writing about suggesting u resign and apply for benefits? my friend's company did something similar but then contested her claim anyway! make sure u have proof.

I have some text messages where my director suggested this route and said the company wouldn't contest it. I also saved emails discussing the remote work denial. Hoping this is enough because I don't have anything formal from HR about it.

Based on your updates in the comments, it sounds like you have good documentation with those text messages and emails. One final recommendation: prepare a concise, chronological summary of events that you can reference during your call.\n\nInclude:\n1. Date of relocation and reason (housing costs)\n2. Date you requested remote accommodation\n3. Dates of key conversations about work arrangements\n4. Date and specifics of when your director suggested resignation\n5. Official separation date\n\nHaving this timeline ready will help you stay organized during what can be a stressful interview. And remember, if you're initially denied, you have the right to appeal, which many claimants win when they have documentation like yours.

I'm facing a similar situation right now - my employer is making unreasonable demands after I had to relocate for family reasons. Reading through all these responses gives me hope that there are ways to present these cases effectively to EDD. One thing I'd add based on my research is to make sure you document the exact mileage and time for your commute. The EDD has specific guidelines about what constitutes an "unreasonable" commute, and a 5-6 hour round trip with young children at home definitely falls into that category. Also, the fact that your employer suggested you resign and apply for benefits could actually work in your favor - it shows they recognized the situation was untenable. Keep us updated on how your interview goes! Your case could really help others in similar situations understand how to approach these conversations with EDD.

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My employer relocated our office and is refusing remote work accommodations despite it being feasible for my role. One thing I wanted to add based on my research - make sure you emphasize during your interview that you attempted to find reasonable solutions before resigning. The fact that you requested remote work (which was already being granted to other employees) shows you were trying to maintain employment despite the challenging circumstances. Also, document everything about the inconsistency in their remote work policy. If they're allowing some employees to work remotely but denied your request without legitimate business reasons, that could strengthen your case for "good cause" separation. The text messages from your director are gold - definitely mention those during your interview. When an employer suggests resignation and unemployment benefits, it shows they recognized the situation was untenable from their end too. Wishing you the best with your phone interview! Please keep us updated on how it goes.

I just went through a very similar situation last year and wanted to share what worked for me. My company also denied my remote work request after I relocated, and I was terrified about the EDD interview. Here's what I learned: The key is to present this as a "constructive dismissal" rather than a voluntary quit. When your employer creates impossible working conditions (like a 5-6 hour daily commute with young children) and refuses reasonable accommodations that they grant to others, they're essentially forcing you out. During your interview, lead with these points: - You relocated for valid reasons (housing costs, family needs) - You made good faith efforts to continue employment by requesting accommodations - Your employer treats employees inconsistently (allows remote work for some but not you) - The commute became genuinely impossible with your family situation - Your supervisor explicitly suggested resignation and unemployment benefits That last point is crucial! When I mentioned that my manager suggested I "take this route," it seemed to really resonate with the EDD interviewer. It shows the employer recognized the situation was untenable. I was initially nervous about having those text messages, but they were actually my strongest evidence. Definitely mention them upfront and offer to provide copies. My claim was approved on the first try. The interviewer said the combination of my employer's inconsistent policies and their suggestion to resign showed this was really their decision, not mine. Stay calm during the call and stick to the facts. You've got good documentation and a solid case. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar remote work denial situation right now, and this thread has been incredibly valuable! Your case actually sounds quite strong based on what everyone's shared here. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you're prepared to clearly articulate the timeline of events during your phone interview. EDD interviewers often want to understand the sequence of what happened and when. Having a clear chronology ready (like when you relocated, when you requested accommodations, when they were denied, when your supervisor suggested resignation) can really help your case flow smoothly. Also, I've heard from others that it's worth mentioning the financial impossibility of the commute - not just the time, but the actual cost. With gas prices and vehicle wear-and-tear, a 5-6 hour daily commute could easily cost $50-100+ per day, which might make your job financially unviable even without the childcare considerations. The text messages from your director are definitely your ace in the hole. When management explicitly suggests unemployment benefits, they're essentially acknowledging that continued employment isn't feasible. I'm rooting for you! Please update us after your interview - your experience could really help others in similar situations navigate this process.

I went through something very similar about 18 months ago and want to share what helped me get approved. Like you, I had relocated and my employer refused remote work despite others having that arrangement. The key thing that worked in my favor was framing it exactly as others have mentioned - as constructive dismissal rather than voluntary resignation. During my EDD phone interview, I made sure to emphasize these specific points: - I had been a loyal, long-term employee (sounds like your 9 years definitely helps here) - I made multiple good-faith attempts to find workable solutions before leaving - The employer's policies were applied inconsistently (this was huge for my case) - The working conditions they imposed were genuinely impossible to meet What really sealed the deal for me was having documentation of conversations with management. Your text messages where your director suggested resignation and unemployment benefits are incredibly valuable - that's essentially your employer acknowledging they created an untenable situation. One thing I'd add that helped me stay calm during the interview: remember that the EDD interviewer has probably heard situations like this many times. They're trained to distinguish between someone trying to game the system and someone who was genuinely put in an impossible position by their employer. Your case sounds strong based on everything you've shared. The combination of your employment history, documented attempts to accommodate, inconsistent company policies, and management's own suggestion to pursue benefits really works in your favor. Stay factual, reference your documentation, and don't let nerves make you over-explain. You've got this!

I'm currently going through a very similar situation and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! My company also denied my remote work request after I had to relocate for family reasons, and I've been terrified about the upcoming EDD interview. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice, I'm realizing that documentation is absolutely crucial. Like several others mentioned, I also have text messages from my supervisor discussing the situation, but I wasn't sure if they'd be taken seriously. It's so reassuring to hear that these informal communications can actually be your strongest evidence. One thing I wanted to add based on my research - I found out that California specifically recognizes "substantial change in working conditions" as good cause for separation. When your employer refuses reasonable accommodations (especially ones they grant to other employees) and creates impossible working conditions, that can qualify as constructive dismissal. @Diego Mendoza - your situation with the 9-year employment history and documented management suggestions really does sound like a strong case. The fact that your director explicitly told you to resign and apply for benefits is huge. That's basically your employer admitting they put you in an impossible position. I'm going to follow the advice everyone's given here about preparing a timeline, calculating the financial impact of the commute, and emphasizing the inconsistent remote work policies. This community support has been amazing during such a stressful time. Please keep us updated on how your interview goes - your experience could really help others navigate similar situations!

I'm going through a remarkably similar situation right now and wanted to add some encouragement based on what I've learned from researching California unemployment law. Your case actually has several strong factors working in your favor that you should definitely emphasize during your phone interview. The fact that your director explicitly suggested you resign and apply for unemployment benefits is incredibly significant - this essentially shows that management recognized the working conditions they were imposing were unreasonable and unsustainable. Make sure to mention those text messages right away during your interview. What really strengthens your case is the inconsistency in your employer's remote work policy. You've been there 9 years with presumably good performance, yet they're denying you the same accommodation they grant to other employees. This could be seen as discriminatory treatment, especially when combined with your documented attempts to find reasonable solutions. A few additional points that might help: - Calculate the exact financial impact of that commute (gas, vehicle wear, potential childcare for extended hours) - it might actually make working financially impossible - Emphasize that you made multiple good-faith efforts to continue employment before being forced to leave - Frame this as "constructive dismissal" - your employer created impossible working conditions that left you no reasonable choice The 2.5 hour distance might initially seem like it works against you, but when combined with your employer's refusal to accommodate remote work (while allowing it for others) and their own suggestion to resign, it actually supports your case for good cause separation. Stay calm during your interview, stick to the facts, and remember that EDD has seen these situations before. Your documentation and the circumstances really do suggest this was your employer's decision, not yours. Best of luck!