What is good cause for unemployment NYS Department of Labor - need help understanding requirements
I'm trying to figure out what qualifies as 'good cause' for quitting my job and still being eligible for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. My supervisor has been creating a hostile work environment for months - making inappropriate comments, giving me impossible deadlines while other employees get reasonable ones, and basically trying to force me out. I documented everything but I'm scared if I quit I won't qualify for UI benefits. Does anyone know what specific situations count as good cause with NYS Department of Labor? I can't afford to be without income but I also can't keep working in this toxic environment.
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Aidan Percy
Good cause for quitting includes several situations under NYS Department of Labor rules. Workplace harassment definitely qualifies if you can document it properly. You'll need written evidence like emails, witness statements, or HR complaints. Other good cause reasons include unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties or pay, domestic violence situations, or health issues that make continuing work impossible. The key is having documentation to prove your case during the adjudication process.
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Axel Bourke
•Thank you! I have screenshots of emails and I reported the harassment to HR twice but they basically ignored it. Would those HR reports count as documentation even if nothing was done about them?
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Fernanda Marquez
i quit my last job because my boss was awful too but nys department of labor denied my claim. they said i didnt try to resolve it first. make sure you exhaust all your options before quitting or they might not approve your ui benefits
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Norman Fraser
•That's exactly right - NYS Department of Labor expects you to make reasonable efforts to address workplace issues before quitting. Going to HR multiple times like the OP did should satisfy that requirement. Did you file an appeal when they denied your claim?
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Kendrick Webb
This is such a frustrating situation! I'm dealing with something similar where my manager keeps changing my schedule last minute and cutting my hours. Is that considered good cause? I'm a single parent and the unpredictable schedule makes it impossible to arrange childcare. I'm worried about quitting but also can't keep missing work because I can't find a babysitter on 2 hours notice.
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Aidan Percy
•Significant changes to work schedule that affect your ability to perform the job can qualify as good cause, especially when it impacts childcare arrangements. Document every schedule change and how it affects you. NYS Department of Labor considers whether a reasonable person would quit under similar circumstances.
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Hattie Carson
If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to get clarification on your specific situation, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI). It was really helpful when I needed to discuss my good cause documentation before filing my claim. Sometimes you need to talk to a real person to understand how your particular circumstances fit the rules.
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Fernanda Marquez
•how much does that cost? im already broke from dealing with this job situation
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Hattie Carson
•It's way cheaper than missing out on benefits because you didn't understand the requirements properly. The peace of mind was worth it for me when I was unsure about my situation.
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Destiny Bryant
good cause is basically when your job becomes impossible to keep doing. toxic boss counts but you gotta prove it happened
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Axel Bourke
•Thanks, that's what I'm hoping. I have plenty of proof so hopefully that will be enough for the adjudication process.
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Libby Hassan
I went through a similar situation last year with NYS Department of Labor and was approved for benefits after quitting due to workplace harassment. The key things that helped my case were: 1) I had documented dates, times, and details of each incident, 2) I had email evidence showing I tried to address it through proper channels, and 3) I could show the harassment was affecting my work performance and mental health. Since you already reported to HR twice and have screenshots, you're in a good position. Just make sure when you file your claim that you clearly explain how you tried to resolve the situation first and why continuing to work became unreasonable. The adjudicator will want to see that you made good faith efforts before quitting. Good luck!
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