If I quit do I get unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I'm thinking about quitting my job because my supervisor has been making work really difficult for me lately. Before I do anything stupid, I need to know - if I quit my job voluntarily, can I still file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor? I've been working at this place for almost 2 years and really don't want to lose out on benefits if I need them. Has anyone been in this situation before?
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Chloe Martin
Generally speaking, if you quit voluntarily you won't qualify for unemployment benefits in New York. NYS Department of Labor requires you to be unemployed through no fault of your own. However, there are some exceptions - if you quit for 'good cause' like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or substantial changes to your job duties, you might still qualify. You'd need to prove the good cause during the adjudication process though.
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Omar Farouk
•What counts as good cause exactly? My supervisor has been giving me impossible deadlines and criticizing everything I do, but I'm not sure if that's enough reason.
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Diego Fernández
You really need to document everything before you quit. Keep emails, write down incidents with dates and times. If you can show a pattern of harassment or hostile work environment, that could qualify as good cause. But honestly, it's an uphill battle. NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about voluntary quits. Have you tried talking to HR first?
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Omar Farouk
•We don't really have HR, it's a small company. I've been keeping some notes but probably not enough. Maybe I should start documenting more systematically.
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
I quit my job last year thinking I wouldn't get benefits and just figured I'd find something else quickly. Big mistake! Took me 4 months to find work and I was screwed financially. If you're thinking about quitting, try to get yourself fired instead - I know that sounds terrible but at least then you can collect UI.
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Sean Fitzgerald
If you do decide to quit and file anyway, be prepared for a long adjudication process. NYS Department of Labor will investigate your claim thoroughly and might even contact your employer. The burden of proof is on you to show good cause. I've seen it take 6-8 weeks for them to make a decision on quit cases. If you get denied, you can appeal but that takes even longer.
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Zara Khan
•This is exactly what happened to my brother. He quit and filed, was in adjudication for 2 months, got denied, appealed, and it took another month for the hearing. He eventually won but it was a nightmare trying to survive without income for that long.
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Sean Fitzgerald
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when I was dealing with a similar situation last year. Kept getting disconnected during the long wait times. Someone here recommended using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made it so much easier to talk to someone about whether my situation would qualify as good cause before I made any decisions.
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Omar Farouk
•Thanks for the suggestion! I definitely want to talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor before I do anything. The phone system is so frustrating.
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MoonlightSonata
honestly the whole system is rigged against workers anyway, might as well just quit if you're miserable and worry about money later, life's too short
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Chloe Martin
•I understand the frustration, but that's not practical advice for someone trying to make an informed decision about their financial security.
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