PA UC approval at risk after employer appeals my voluntary quit - 22-year employee

This is definitely a challenging situation. In PA, quitting voluntarily usually disqualifies you from benefits UNLESS you can prove you had a 'necessitous and compelling reason' to quit. It sounds like the UC office initially agreed that the disrespect/hostile work environment was sufficient cause. When an employer appeals, there will be a hearing where both sides present their case. The referee will make a new determination based on the evidence. As for seeing the appeal reason - log into your UC dashboard and check under 'Determinations & Issue Status.' Sometimes the employer's specific reason is listed there, but often you'll just see that an appeal has been filed. You'll receive official notice by mail with hearing details.

omg this EXACT same thing happened to me last year!! except it was my boss talking about my medical condition instead of family. i quit after 7 years and UC approved me at first, then my employer appealed saying i didn't have good cause to quit. the hearing was super stressful and I almost had a panic attack during it!!!

When you originally filed your claim, you had to provide a reason for separation. The employer also submits their version. Since you were initially approved, your reason was deemed valid by the UC examiner. Now the employer is challenging that determination. For your hearing, bring ALL documentation related to the incident: - Any texts or emails discussing the incident - Names of witnesses who might have seen your reaction or interaction after - Timeline of events (when it happened, when you resigned, etc.) - Documentation of any previous issues with this employer - Your resignation letter/email if you submitted one The key factor will be whether the referee agrees this incident created a work environment so hostile that a reasonable person would feel compelled to quit. Be prepared to explain why this wasn't just a single unpleasant incident but something that made continued employment impossible.

this is Y i always tell people to NEVER QUIT!!! let them fire u instead! when u quit ur basically giving up ur rights to unemployment no matter what the reason is. the system is rigged against workers!!

I was in a similar situation last year. Trying to reach someone at the PA UC office to get advice before my hearing was IMPOSSIBLE. I spent days getting busy signals and disconnections. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual UC rep in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The rep gave me crucial advice about what documents to bring to my hearing. Definitely worth talking to someone official before your hearing date so you're fully prepared.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but voluntary quits are REALLY hard to win on appeal. I was in HR for 15 years and employers win these cases more often than not. The butt-dial thing will be tough because they'll argue it was a one-time incident and not a pattern of harassment. Did you try to resolve the issue before quitting? Did you report it to HR or anyone higher up? The ref will want to know why you didn't seek other solutions before quitting.

Make sure you're fully prepared for the hearing format. It will likely be conducted by phone. The referee will ask both you and your former employer questions. You'll each have the opportunity to present your case and evidence. Be concise and stick to the facts - emotional arguments generally don't work well. Focus on: 1. The specific incident and why it made continuing employment impossible 2. Your attempt to resolve the issue 3. The employer's dismissive response 4. Your 22-year history with the company (to show you wouldn't leave without serious cause) Keep in mind that if you lose the appeal and have already received benefits, you may have to repay them. However, you can request a waiver of overpayment if repayment would cause financial hardship.

One more thing I think is important to mention: document EVERYTHING from now until your hearing. If your former employer contacts you or if you receive any communications about the case, save them. Also, start writing down a detailed timeline of events while it's fresh in your memory: when the incident occurred, exactly what was said, your response, any witnesses, when you submitted resignation, etc. Having a clear chronology will help tremendously during the hearing when you might be nervous and forgetful.

OMG I just realized something!!! Was anyone else with u when u got the butt-dial?? Because if someone else heard it too that would be HUGE for ur case!! My lawyer for my UC appeal said witnesses are super important!!!