What to say to get NYS Department of Labor unemployment when you quit - need help with my claim

You need to be very careful here because quitting usually results in automatic disqualification from unemployment benefits. However, NYS Department of Labor does recognize 'good cause' reasons for leaving. These include hostile work environment, unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties or pay. The key is documenting everything - you'll need proof like emails, witness statements, or complaints you filed with HR. When you file your claim, be completely honest about quitting but emphasize the circumstances that forced you to leave.

ugh same thing happened to me! i quit because my boss was a nightmare and at first nys dol denied my claim. but then i appealed and explained how he was creating a hostile environment and they reversed it. took like 2 months total but i eventually got benefits including back pay

Don't try to game the system or lie about your reason for leaving. NYS Department of Labor will contact your employer and verify everything. If they catch you being dishonest, you could face fraud charges and have to pay back benefits plus penalties. That said, if you genuinely had good cause to quit - like harassment, unsafe conditions, or constructive dismissal - document everything thoroughly. Get a consultation with an employment lawyer if possible before filing. For reaching NYS Department of Labor directly about your specific situation, I found claimyr.com really helpful - they can get you through to actual agents without the usual phone hassles. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.

The system is so messed up! They make it impossible to get benefits even when you have legitimate reasons for leaving. I had a coworker who quit because of discrimination and it took her 6 months to get approved. Meanwhile people who get fired for attendance issues get benefits right away. Makes no sense!!

just say you were fired lol problem solved

I work in HR and see these cases all the time. The key phrases NYS Department of Labor looks for are 'constructive dismissal' or 'forced to resign due to intolerable working conditions.' But you absolutely must have documentation - emails, witness statements, complaints filed with HR or management, medical records if stress-related, etc. The burden of proof is on you to show you had no reasonable alternative but to quit. File your claim truthfully and be prepared for an initial denial and appeal process.

I went through something similar last year when I had to quit due to my manager's constant verbal abuse and unreasonable demands. NYS Department of Labor initially denied my claim, but I successfully appealed by focusing on "good cause" reasons. Here's what worked for me: 1) I used the exact phrase "constructive dismissal due to hostile work environment" in my appeal, 2) I gathered every piece of evidence I could - screenshots of nasty emails, notes from meetings with dates/times, even a coworker who witnessed some incidents, 3) I documented how the situation affected my health (had to see a doctor for stress). The whole process took about 3 months but I eventually got approved with back pay. Don't give up after the first denial - most quit cases get denied initially but many are overturned on appeal if you have solid documentation.