Can I get NYS Department of Labor unemployment if I quit my job voluntarily?
I'm thinking about quitting my current job because of a toxic work environment and harassment from my supervisor, but I'm worried about whether I'll be able to collect unemployment benefits. Does anyone know if NYS Department of Labor will approve unemployment if I quit voluntarily? I've been documenting everything but I'm scared I won't qualify and will be left with no income while I look for something new. Has anyone been in this situation before?
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Oliver Schmidt
You can potentially qualify for unemployment if you quit for "good cause" but the bar is pretty high. NYS Department of Labor recognizes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties without notice, or not being paid properly. You'll need to document everything - emails, witness statements, medical records if applicable. The key is proving you had no reasonable alternative but to quit.
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Amina Diop
•Thanks! What counts as harassment exactly? My supervisor has been making really inappropriate comments but I don't have them in writing.
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Natasha Volkov
i quit my job last year and got denied initially but then won on appeal. took like 3 months total though so make sure you have savings
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Javier Torres
•What was your reason for quitting? I'm in a similar situation and trying to figure out if it's worth the risk of being denied benefits.
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Luca Greco
You can potentially qualify for unemployment if you quit for good cause, but it's not automatic. NYS Department of Labor considers things like workplace harassment, unsafe conditions, or significant changes to your job duties as potential good cause. You'll need to document everything - emails, witnesses, complaints to HR, etc. When you file your claim, you'll go through adjudication where they review your case.
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Zara Malik
•Thank you! I have been saving emails and I did file complaints with HR. How long does the adjudication process usually take?
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Nia Thompson
i quit my last job and got denied at first but won on appeal. you have to prove it was constructive dismissal basically - that staying would have been unreasonable for any person
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Zara Malik
•What kind of evidence did you use for your appeal? I'm trying to gather everything I can.
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Oliver Schmidt
For harassment, you'll want to start documenting incidents immediately - dates, times, witnesses present, exact words used. Email yourself summaries after incidents happen. If you have an HR department, report it formally and keep copies of your complaints. NYS Department of Labor will want to see that you tried to resolve the situation through proper channels first.
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Amina Diop
•We don't really have HR, it's a small company. Should I talk to my supervisor's boss first or just start looking for another job?
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Mateo Rodriguez
The key is proving you had no reasonable alternative but to quit. NYS Department of Labor looks at whether you tried to resolve the issues first. Did you talk to HR? Give your employer a chance to fix the harassment? If you can show you exhausted all options and the situation was intolerable, you have a better shot. Also, don't wait too long after quitting to file your claim.
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Aisha Hussain
•This is so helpful! I had no idea there were specific steps you needed to take before quitting to protect your unemployment eligibility.
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Emma Wilson
Honestly the whole process is such a pain. I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim status. The phone system is impossible - keeps hanging up on me after being on hold forever. Anyone know a better way to reach them?
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QuantumLeap
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents. They have this video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Basically they handle the calling for you and connect you when they get an agent on the line. Saved me so much frustration.
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Emma Wilson
•Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some answers about my adjudication.
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Malik Johnson
Just a heads up - even if you think you have good cause, NYS Department of Labor will investigate thoroughly. They'll contact your employer and ask for their side of the story. Make sure whatever you're claiming is completely accurate because they will fact-check everything.
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Amina Diop
•That's a good point. I definitely don't want to get caught in a lie. Better to have everything documented properly first.
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GalacticGladiator
I had a terrible time trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when I was dealing with a similar situation. Kept getting hung up on after waiting for hours. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent who could explain my options before I made any decisions. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really wish I'd known about it sooner - could have saved me weeks of stress.
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Zara Malik
•That sounds really useful, I've been dreading trying to call them. Did they help you understand what documentation you'd need?
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Isabella Santos
Maybe try talking to your supervisor or their boss first? Quitting should really be a last resort if you want UI benefits. Sometimes these situations can be worked out without having to leave your job entirely.
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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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