Can I quit my job and collect unemployment benefits in New York?
I'm thinking about quitting my job because my boss has been making my life miserable - constantly changing my schedule last minute, making me work unpaid overtime, and creating a really hostile work environment. I've been there for almost 2 years and I'm just burnt out. Can I quit and still get unemployment benefits? I heard there's something called 'good cause' but I'm not sure what that means exactly. Has anyone successfully gotten NYS Department of Labor benefits after quitting? What kind of proof do I need?
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StarSeeker
Yes, you can potentially qualify for unemployment benefits after quitting if you have 'good cause.' In New York, good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties or pay, harassment, or other compelling work-related reasons. You'll need to document everything - keep records of the schedule changes, any written communications about unpaid overtime, and document instances of hostile behavior. When you file your claim, you'll need to explain your reason for leaving during the adjudication process.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•Thank you! I do have some text messages about the schedule changes and I've been keeping track of the overtime hours. Should I file a complaint with HR first or can I just quit and file for unemployment?
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Sean O'Donnell
Just be really careful about this. The NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about voluntary quits. You need REALLY good documentation. I tried to get benefits after quitting a toxic job and they denied me initially because I didn't have enough proof. Had to go through the whole appeal process which took months. Make sure you have everything in writing before you quit - emails, texts, witnesses if possible.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•How did your appeal go? Did you eventually get approved? I'm worried about being without income while waiting for a decision.
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Sean O'Donnell
•Eventually won the appeal but it took 4 months total. Had to really prove that staying would have been harmful to my health and safety.
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Zara Ahmed
I was in a similar situation last year trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor about whether my situation qualified as good cause. The phone lines are always busy and it's impossible to get through. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that connects you directly to NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. It was so much easier than spending hours on hold. The agent was able to review my situation and confirm what documentation I'd need before I actually quit.
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Luca Esposito
•Never heard of that service before but sounds useful. Did they charge you for it?
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Zara Ahmed
•Yeah there's a fee but honestly worth it to actually talk to someone who knows the rules instead of guessing.
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Nia Thompson
whatever you do dont just quit without having another job lined up!! the unemployment system is so messed up right now, even if you qualify it takes forever to get approved and the weekly benefit amount is probably way less than your salary
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Mateo Rodriguez
The NYS Department of Labor considers several factors for good cause including: unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant reduction in hours or pay, changes to job location that create hardship, and violation of labor laws by the employer. Document everything with dates and times. Also check if your employer has violated any wage and hour laws - unpaid overtime could strengthen your case significantly.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•That's really helpful - the unpaid overtime thing might be key for me. They've been making me stay late almost every day without paying the overtime rate.
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