How to get unemployment if you quit your job - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question
I left my job about two weeks ago because my supervisor was creating a hostile work environment and making my life miserable. I didn't think I could get unemployment benefits since I technically quit, but my friend said there might be exceptions. Does anyone know if the NYS Department of Labor will approve unemployment if you quit for good cause? I'm worried about making ends meet and not sure what documentation I need to prove the situation was unbearable.
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Omar Zaki
Yes, you can potentially qualify for unemployment benefits even if you quit, but you'll need to prove "good cause" to the NYS Department of Labor. Hostile work environment can qualify, but you'll need solid documentation - emails, witness statements, HR complaints, etc. When you file your claim, be very detailed about the circumstances that forced you to quit. The key is showing you had no reasonable alternative but to leave.
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Freya Andersen
•Thank you! I do have some emails saved where my supervisor was being unreasonable. Should I submit those when I file my initial claim or wait until they ask for documentation?
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CosmicCrusader
I went through this exact situation last year with my toxic manager. The NYS Department of Labor will put your claim into adjudication to investigate whether you had good cause. Be prepared for it to take 4-6 weeks for a decision. Make sure you file weekly claims during this time even though you won't get paid until it's approved. Also document everything you can remember about the hostile environment - dates, incidents, any witnesses.
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Chloe Robinson
•How did your case turn out? I'm in a similar boat and getting nervous about the adjudication process.
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CosmicCrusader
•It got approved eventually but took forever to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor to check on the status. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.
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Diego Flores
wait so you can quit and still get benefits?? I thought that was automatic disqualification. I've been staying at my terrible job because I thought I had no choice if I wanted to keep getting unemployment as an option.
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Omar Zaki
•It's not automatic disqualification, but the bar is pretty high. You need to show compelling reasons like harassment, unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties, or other circumstances that would make a reasonable person quit. Just being unhappy with your job won't qualify.
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Anastasia Kozlov
Good luck with that... the NYS Department of Labor is notorious for denying quit claims even when people have legitimate reasons. I know someone who quit due to sexual harassment with documented proof and still had to go through appeals. The system is rigged against workers.
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Freya Andersen
•That's really discouraging to hear. Do you know if they eventually won their appeal?
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Sean Flanagan
Make sure you understand what 'good cause' means legally. It's not just about the work environment being unpleasant - it has to be something that would compel a reasonable person to quit. Document everything chronologically and be prepared to explain why you couldn't resolve the situation through other means like talking to HR or your supervisor's manager.
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Freya Andersen
•I did try going to HR twice but they basically told me it was a personality conflict and to work it out. Should I mention that in my claim?
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Sean Flanagan
•Absolutely mention that! It shows you tried to resolve the issue through proper channels before quitting. That strengthens your good cause argument significantly.
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