Can you claim unemployment if you quit your job in NY?
I've been at my job for almost 2 years but my manager has been making my life hell lately. Constantly changing my schedule last minute, making me work overtime without notice, and just generally creating a hostile work environment. I'm thinking about quitting but I need to know - can you claim unemployment if you quit your job? I can't afford to be without income but I also can't take this anymore. Has anyone successfully gotten unemployment after quitting? What do I need to prove to NYS Department of Labor?
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Mei Wong
You can potentially get unemployment if you quit for 'good cause' but it's not easy. NYS Department of Labor requires you to prove the working conditions were so bad that any reasonable person would quit. Document everything - emails, schedule changes, witnesses to hostile behavior. You'll need to show you tried to resolve the issues first through HR or management before quitting.
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GalaxyGlider
•I haven't gone to HR yet because honestly I'm scared it will make things worse. Should I try that first before quitting?
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Liam Sullivan
i quit my last job and got denied unemployment right away. they said i quit voluntarily so no benefits. had to appeal and it took forever
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Amara Okafor
The key is proving 'constructive dismissal' - basically that your employer made conditions so unbearable you had no choice but to quit. Keep detailed records of every incident, save all communications, and if possible get witness statements. NYS Department of Labor will investigate your claim and may contact your employer. You should also file for unemployment immediately after quitting - don't wait.
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Giovanni Colombo
•What if the employer lies during the investigation? My old boss definitely would have made stuff up to avoid paying unemployment.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
Same situation happened to me last year! Manager was constantly harassing me and changing my duties without notice. I documented everything for 3 months before quitting. NYS Department of Labor initially denied my claim but I appealed with all my evidence and won. The whole process took about 6 weeks but I got all my back benefits.
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StarStrider
honestly the unemployment system is so broken. they make it nearly impossible to get benefits even when you have legitimate reasons for quitting. good luck dealing with NYS Department of Labor bureaucracy
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Mei Wong
•While the system can be frustrating, people do successfully get unemployment after quitting for good cause. The key is having solid documentation and understanding the process.
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Dylan Campbell
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to discuss your specific situation, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I needed to explain my complicated quit situation to someone who could give me real guidance.
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GalaxyGlider
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money if I quit.
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Dylan Campbell
•They focus on getting you connected rather than charging huge fees. Worth checking out the demo to see if it makes sense for your situation.
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