Quit my job because of stress can I get unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I had to quit my manufacturing job last month because the stress was becoming unbearable. My supervisor was constantly yelling at everyone and the workload kept increasing without any additional help. I started having panic attacks at work and my doctor told me the job was affecting my health. Now I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor even though I quit voluntarily? I've heard that quitting because of working conditions might still qualify you but I'm not sure what documentation I need or how to prove it. Has anyone been through this situation before? I really need the income while I look for something else but I'm worried they'll deny my claim automatically.
13 comments
Join the conversation
Zane Gray
You might qualify under 'constructive dismissal' or if you can prove the working conditions were intolerable. NYS Department of Labor looks at whether you had 'good cause' to quit. You'll need medical documentation from your doctor about the stress and panic attacks, plus any evidence of the hostile work environment like emails, witness statements, or records of complaints you made to HR. When you file your UI claim, select that you quit for work-related reasons and be prepared for your case to go to adjudication.
0 coins
Aileen Rodriguez
•Thank you! I do have documentation from my doctor and some text messages between coworkers about how bad it was getting. Should I file the claim right away or gather more evidence first?
0 coins
Maggie Martinez
i quit my job too but for different reasons and got denied. they make it really hard to prove you had good cause. you better have A LOT of documentation or they'll just say you voluntarily quit and thats it
0 coins
Alejandro Castro
•What kind of documentation did they want from you? I'm in a similar situation and trying to prepare my case.
0 coins
Monique Byrd
File your claim immediately - there's no benefit to waiting and you have limited time to apply. The adjudication process can take weeks anyway so start it now. Document everything you can remember about the toxic work environment including dates, incidents, and witnesses. If you complained to management or HR about the conditions, get copies of those communications. Your doctor's records about stress-related health issues will be crucial evidence.
0 coins
Aileen Rodriguez
•Good point about the timing. I'll start the application on the NYS Department of Labor website tonight and gather my documentation while it's processing.
0 coins
Jackie Martinez
I had a nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when my claim got stuck in adjudication for something similar. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Eventually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you run into the same phone issues I did.
0 coins
Lia Quinn
•How much does something like that cost? Seems like you shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to someone at a government agency.
0 coins
Jackie Martinez
•I get the frustration but when you're waiting weeks for a decision and can't reach anyone, sometimes you need alternatives. For me it was worth it to get my case moving again.
0 coins
Haley Stokes
The whole system is rigged against workers. They make the process so complicated and stressful that half the people who deserve benefits just give up. My friend quit because of harassment and they still denied her claim even with HR complaints on file. Don't get your hopes up too high.
0 coins
Aileen Rodriguez
•That's discouraging but I have to try. I can't afford not to at least attempt to get benefits while I'm job searching.
0 coins
Lia Quinn
definitely document EVERYTHING. dates times what was said who was there. i learned that the hard way when i tried to appeal my denial. also make sure you keep applying for jobs while your claim is being reviewed because they'll want to see your job search log either way
0 coins
Isabella Oliveira
I went through something very similar with NYS Department of Labor about 6 months ago. Quit due to a hostile supervisor who was creating an unsafe work environment. The key thing that helped my case was keeping a detailed journal of incidents - dates, what happened, any witnesses present. I also had my doctor write a letter specifically stating that my work environment was contributing to my anxiety and recommending I remove myself from the situation for my health. It took about 8 weeks for them to make a decision, but I was approved. The medical documentation was crucial - make sure your doctor's notes specifically connect your health issues to the work environment, not just general stress. Also, if you ever complained to management about the conditions (even informally), try to get that documented somehow. Good luck!
0 coins