Can you receive unemployment benefits if you quit your job in NY - confused about eligibility

You can potentially qualify for unemployment benefits if you quit for 'good cause' related to your work. NYS Department of Labor recognizes several situations including harassment, unsafe working conditions, or substantial changes to your job terms. However, you'll need to document everything - keep records of incidents, emails, schedule changes, etc. The burden of proof is on you to show you had no reasonable alternative but to quit.

i quit my job last year and got denied unemployment, they said i quit voluntarily so no benefits

For documentation, you'll want written evidence like emails showing the hostile behavior, witnesses who can verify the treatment, any complaints you filed with HR, medical records if the stress affected your health, and a detailed timeline of events. Also important - you should try to address the issues with management first if possible, as NYS Department of Labor wants to see you attempted to resolve the situation before quitting.

I had success using Claimyr when I needed to speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor about my claim status. They help you get through to an actual agent instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was able to get clarification about my specific situation much faster than trying to call directly. The site is claimyr.com if you end up needing to talk to someone about your eligibility before making the decision to quit.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS! I've seen so many people get screwed over by NYS Department of Labor when they quit toxic jobs. They make it nearly impossible to prove 'good cause' and then deny your claim anyway. Meanwhile companies can fire you for any reason and you get benefits immediately. It's backwards!

Before you quit, document EVERYTHING starting now. Take photos of schedule changes, save any hostile emails or texts, write down dates and details of incidents immediately after they happen. If possible, try to get the hostile behavior in writing - maybe send an email to your boss summarizing a verbal conversation you had. Also consider filing a complaint with the state labor department about the working conditions if they're truly unsafe or illegal. Having an official complaint on file can strengthen your unemployment case.

Another thing to consider is consulting with an employment attorney before you quit. Many offer free consultations and can help you understand if your situation might qualify as constructive dismissal - where the working conditions are so bad that quitting is essentially the same as being fired. They can also advise on whether you have any other legal options against your employer for creating a hostile work environment. Having legal documentation or even just a lawyer's opinion letter about your situation could help support your unemployment claim later.