Can you quit a job and still collect unemployment in NY - need advice

Yes, you can potentially qualify for unemployment if you quit for 'good cause.' NYS Department of Labor recognizes several situations including unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties or hours, or situations that would be harmful to your health. You'll need to document everything though - keep records of the schedule changes, any written communications, and how it's affecting you. When you file your claim, you'll need to explain in detail why you had to quit.

i quit my last job because of my boss too and i got unemployment no problem. just make sure you have proof of what they were doing to you

The key is 'good cause' but it has to be pretty serious. NYS Department of Labor will investigate your claim and may contact your employer. Make sure you can prove the working conditions were unreasonable. Document dates, times, witnesses if any. Also consider if there are other options first - can you request a transfer, file a grievance, or address it through HR? The adjudication process will look at whether you tried to resolve the situation before quitting.

I was in a similar situation last year and had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor to explain my case. The phone lines are always busy and when I finally got through, they couldn't really give me a clear answer about whether my situation would qualify. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent who could review my specific circumstances. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was really helpful to talk to someone who understood the good cause requirements.

The system is SO BROKEN! I've seen people who were literally being harassed get denied while others who barely had any reason get approved. It all depends on who reviews your case and what mood they're in that day. NYS Department of Labor makes it intentionally difficult because they don't want to pay out benefits.

also make sure you apply right away after you quit, don't wait around thinking about it. and when they ask why you quit be very specific about the good cause reasons

Wesley, I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. My manager was creating a hostile work environment and constantly changing my responsibilities without notice. Here's what worked for me: 1) Start documenting EVERYTHING right now - dates, times, what was said/done, any witnesses present. Screenshots of schedule changes, emails, etc. 2) If possible, try to address it in writing first (email to supervisor or HR) so you have a paper trail showing you attempted to resolve it. 3) When you file for unemployment, be very detailed about how the conditions made it impossible to continue working. NYS DOL approved my claim because I could show a pattern of unreasonable treatment that affected my ability to do my job. The documentation was key - without it, it would have just been my word against theirs.