NYS Department of Labor unemployment eligibility if I quit my job - need honest advice

Yes, you can potentially qualify for unemployment if you quit for 'good cause' under NYS Department of Labor rules. The key is documenting everything before you quit. Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties or pay, or violations of labor laws. You'll need written evidence - emails, documented incidents with dates, any complaints you filed with HR. The burden of proof is on you to show you had no reasonable alternative but to quit.

i quit my last job because of a crazy boss and didnt get unemployment, they said i voluntarily left without good cause. maybe your situation is different but just be careful

The unpaid overtime issue could actually strengthen your case significantly. That's a clear labor law violation. I'd suggest filing a complaint with the NYS Department of Labor's wage and hour division first - having an official complaint on record will help support your good cause claim if you do quit. Also, start keeping a detailed log of every incident - dates, times, witnesses present, what was said or done. Screenshots of any text messages or emails from your supervisor. The more documentation you have, the better your chances of getting approved for UI benefits.

Just a heads up - even if you have good cause, there might be a delay in processing your claim while they investigate. I had a friend who quit due to harassment and it took like 8 weeks for NYS Department of Labor to approve her benefits. Make sure you have some savings if possible because the process isn't quick.

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your specific situation, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have this video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about the good cause requirements before you make any decisions.

THIS SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN! Why should someone have to stay in an abusive work situation just to qualify for benefits they paid into?? The whole 'good cause' thing is just another way for them to deny claims and save money. Sorry you're dealing with this OP but don't expect much help from NYS Department of Labor.

I actually went through something similar last year. Had a boss who was making the workplace unbearable and I was having panic attacks. I documented everything for about 6 weeks - kept a notebook, saved emails, even recorded some conversations (legally in NY). When I finally quit and filed for unemployment, NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about a month of investigation. The key really is the documentation. Don't quit on impulse - build your case first.