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THIS SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN! Why should someone have to stay in an abusive work situation just to qualify for benefits they paid into?? The whole 'good cause' thing is just another way for them to deny claims and save money. Sorry you're dealing with this OP but don't expect much help from NYS Department of Labor.
I actually went through something similar last year. Had a boss who was making the workplace unbearable and I was having panic attacks. I documented everything for about 6 weeks - kept a notebook, saved emails, even recorded some conversations (legally in NY). When I finally quit and filed for unemployment, NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about a month of investigation. The key really is the documentation. Don't quit on impulse - build your case first.
If your employer disputes your claim, it goes into adjudication and can take weeks to resolve. I've been waiting 3 weeks for my adjudication decision and still haven't heard anything. The NYS Department of Labor phone lines are impossible to get through - I've called hundreds of times. Someone recently told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach NYS Department of Labor agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you run into issues getting through to them.
Also remember you have to be able and available for work and actively looking for a job. That means registering on the NY job portal and doing job search activities every week. Don't skip this part - they can audit your job search log at any time and if you haven't been keeping up with the requirements, they can disqualify you even if you qualified initially.
THE WHOLE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS A SCAM! They deny legitimate claims left and right then make you jump through hoops to prove you deserve your own money. I've been fighting them for 8 months over an overpayment that isn't even my fault. These people have NO accountability whatsoever!
The whole system is messed up!! They expect us to find jobs when there ARE NO JOBS. Then they threaten to cut benefits if we don't apply to enough places. It's like they don't understand basic economics - when unemployment is high, there's literally not enough work to go around!
Been through a few of these economic downturns over the years. The key is to cast a wider net - apply to temp agencies, consider part-time work, maybe look into retraining programs. NYS Department of Labor sometimes has additional resources during high unemployment periods. Don't give up, the cycle always turns around eventually.
Ethan Brown
honestly the whole system is set up against workers. even with good cause they'll find reasons to deny you and make you fight for what you deserve. but dont let that stop you from trying if you really need to get out of that job
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Yuki Yamamoto
Just want to say I'm sorry you're dealing with harassment at work. That's awful and no one should have to put up with that just to keep a job.
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