How can I get unemployment if I quit my job - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question
I had to quit my job last month because my supervisor was creating a hostile work environment and making unreasonable demands that were affecting my health. I know normally you can't get unemployment if you quit, but I've heard there might be exceptions for certain situations. Does anyone know if NYS Department of Labor considers hostile work environment as good cause for quitting? I'm really struggling financially and need to know if I should even bother applying or if it's a waste of time.
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Paolo Longo
Yes, you can potentially qualify for unemployment benefits even after quitting if you can prove you had "good cause" for leaving. NYS Department of Labor recognizes several situations including unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties, or health issues caused by work. You'll need to document everything - emails, witness statements, medical records if applicable. When you file your claim, be very detailed about why you quit and provide all supporting evidence.
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Keisha Johnson
•Thank you! I do have some emails and my doctor said the stress was affecting my blood pressure. Should I file the claim first and then gather documents, or get everything together before applying?
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CosmicCowboy
i quit my job too but for different reasons and got denied automatically. had to appeal and it took forever. the whole process is really frustrating
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Amina Diallo
File your claim as soon as possible because there's a waiting period anyway. You can submit additional documentation during the adjudication process. NYS Department of Labor will investigate your case and may contact your former employer for their side of the story. Make sure you have specific dates, incidents, and any attempts you made to resolve the situation before quitting. The key is showing you had no reasonable alternative but to leave.
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Keisha Johnson
•That makes sense about filing quickly. I'm worried about what my employer might say though - they probably won't admit to creating a hostile environment.
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Paolo Longo
•That's exactly why documentation is so important. NYS Department of Labor adjudicators are trained to evaluate these situations and they know employers often deny wrongdoing. If you have emails, witness statements, or medical documentation, that carries a lot of weight.
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Oliver Schulz
I had a similar situation and couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks to check on my claim status. The phone lines are always busy and the online system doesn't give you much detail. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was a lifesaver because I needed to provide additional documentation for my quit case and couldn't figure out how to submit it properly.
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Keisha Johnson
•Interesting, I've never heard of that service. Did it actually help you get your benefits approved?
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Oliver Schulz
•Yes, being able to talk to an actual NYS Department of Labor representative made all the difference. They explained exactly what documents I needed and how to submit them. My claim was approved after I provided the right evidence.
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Natasha Orlova
The system is so messed up honestly. They make it nearly impossible to qualify for anything and then when you do qualify they drag their feet processing everything. I've been waiting 6 weeks just for them to review my job search logs!!
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Javier Cruz
•I feel you on that. The whole process is designed to discourage people from applying.
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Emma Wilson
Just want to add that you need to be really careful about how you describe your reason for quitting on the application. Use terms like 'constructive dismissal' or 'unsafe working conditions' rather than just saying you were unhappy. The specific language matters for NYS Department of Labor adjudication.
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