Can I get unemployment if I resigned from my job in New York?
I quit my job at a retail store last month because my manager was constantly scheduling me outside my availability even though I told them multiple times I couldn't work those hours due to childcare. Now I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits since I technically resigned. Does NYS Department of Labor approve claims when you quit for good reason? I really need the income while I look for something new but don't want to waste time applying if they'll just deny me automatically.
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Mila Walker
Yes, you can potentially get unemployment even if you resigned, but it depends on whether NYS Department of Labor considers it 'good cause.' Schedule changes that conflict with documented availability restrictions could qualify. When you file your claim, you'll need to explain in detail why you quit and provide any documentation you have about the scheduling conflicts. The key is proving you had no reasonable alternative but to resign.
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Ethan Clark
•Thank you! I do have some text messages where I told my manager about my childcare schedule. Should I save those as proof?
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Logan Scott
i quit my last job too and got approved but it took forever, like 8 weeks before they made a decision
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Chloe Green
The process is called voluntary quit adjudication. NYS Department of Labor will investigate your reason for quitting and determine if it meets their criteria for good cause. Common approved reasons include unsafe working conditions, significant changes to job duties or schedule, harassment, or reduction in hours. Keep all documentation - texts, emails, schedule changes, anything that shows you tried to resolve the issue before quitting.
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Lucas Adams
•This is really helpful info. I'm in a similar situation with my employer changing my hours without notice.
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Harper Hill
ugh the NYS Department of Labor phone system is impossible to get through to ask questions like this!! I've been trying to call for weeks about my own claim and can never reach anyone. How are we supposed to get answers?
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Caden Nguyen
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that gets you connected to actual NYS Department of Labor agents without waiting on hold forever. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through on my own.
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Avery Flores
Just be prepared for them to contact your former employer during the adjudication process. They'll want to hear both sides of the story before making a decision.
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Aisha Abdullah
I went through this exact situation last year when I had to quit due to my employer constantly changing my schedule despite having a documented childcare arrangement. The key thing is to file your claim right away and be very detailed in your explanation. NYS Department of Labor approved mine because I could show I made multiple attempts to resolve the scheduling conflict before resigning. Make sure to mention that you told your manager about your availability restrictions multiple times - that shows you tried to work with them before quitting. The text messages you have will definitely help your case!
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