Can I apply for unemployment if I quit my job in NY - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question

You can potentially qualify for unemployment even after quitting, but it depends on your reason for leaving. NYS Department of Labor considers 'good cause' for voluntary separation which includes hostile work environment, unsafe conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job terms. You'll need to provide documentation when you file your claim and be prepared for possible adjudication.

i quit my job too and got denied initially but then won my appeal. the key is proving you had no choice but to quit

Definitely file your claim right away even if you're unsure about eligibility. The worst they can say is no, and if you wait too long you might lose potential benefit weeks. When you file online through my.ny.gov, there's a section where you can explain your reason for leaving. Be detailed about the hostile work environment and mention that you have documentation. If your claim goes to adjudication, they'll contact you for more information.

Had a similar situation last year and it was such a nightmare dealing with NYS Department of Labor! Took forever to get through to anyone and they kept asking for more documentation. The whole system is set up to deny people who actually need help.

I had major issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor when my claim got flagged for adjudication after I quit. Spent weeks trying to call and either got busy signals or hung up on after waiting hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was able to speak with someone within a day and got my situation sorted out much faster than trying to call on my own.

Make sure you keep applying for jobs while your claim is processing too. Even if you end up getting approved, you'll need to show job search activity for your weekly claims. NYS Department of Labor requires work search contacts now.

I went through something very similar with a toxic manager situation. The key things that helped my case were: 1) Keep detailed records with dates/times of incidents, 2) Any written communications (emails, texts) showing the hostile behavior, 3) Witness statements from coworkers if possible. When you file, be very specific about how the work environment became intolerable - don't just say "hostile workplace" but explain the specific behaviors and how they affected your ability to work. Also document if you tried to resolve it through HR or management first. NYS DOL looks favorably on cases where you attempted to fix the situation before quitting. The emails and witness statements you mentioned should definitely help your case!