PA UC eligibility after quitting - job added new transportation duties not in job description

She should 100% apply!! This is what's called a "necessitous and compelling reason" to quit in PA UC language. When an employer makes a SUBSTANTIAL change to your job duties that wasn't part of the original agreement, it can be considered good cause to leave. Having proof of the original job description without that requirement is HUGE - tell her to definitely include that with her application!!

Your friend should definitely apply, but needs to be prepared for some back and forth with UC. They typically deny first and make you appeal. When she applies, she'll need to be VERY specific about how the transportation requirement was a substantial change to her employment conditions. The key things she needs to document: 1. Original job description without transportation duties 2. When the new requirement was added 3. Any conversations she had objecting to the change 4. Why using her personal vehicle was unreasonable (insurance concerns, wear and tear, etc) PA considers "necessary quits" eligible when the employer makes substantial changes to working conditions. Having to use a personal vehicle definitely qualifies as substantial.

ur friend is gonna get DENIED!!! they always deny u when u quit no matter what. the system is rigged against workers. i quit when they suddenly made me work 12 hour shifts instead of 8 and UC said i shouldve just dealt with it. waste of time tbh

I had to deal with the Pennsylvania unemployment system recently when my hours were cut, and let me tell you - if your friend is going to apply, she should absolutely call to explain her situation rather than just applying online. The website doesn't let you fully explain these nuanced situations about why you quit. However, I had the WORST time trying to reach anyone at UC. Called 78 times in one day (literally counted) and couldn't get through. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual UC agent within about 20 minutes. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 Completely worth it because the agent was able to note all the specific details about my situation in the system. For your friend's case, being able to explain the whole story about the transportation requirement would be super important.

your friend should definitely apply but tell her to be super clear about the TRANSPORTATION part being the issue!!! i was on unemployment last year & the key is being very specific about how the job changed from what she agreed to. quitting because they changed duties is different from just quitting because you dont like your job anymore. also tell her to use phrases like "substantial change in employment conditions" in her application - that's what they look for!!

As a former PA unemployment adjudicator, I can tell you that this situation falls under Section 402(b) of the PA UC Law - voluntary quit with necessitous and compelling cause. The key elements here: 1. The transportation requirement was not part of the original job description (she has documentation) 2. Using a personal vehicle creates potential liability, insurance, and financial burdens 3. This represents a unilateral and substantial change to employment terms Your friend should apply immediately and be prepared for an adjudication interview. They will contact the employer, so she should have all documentation ready. If denied initially (which happens frequently), she should immediately appeal. Appeal hearings provide a much better opportunity to present her full case with documentation. In my experience, cases like this with proper documentation often win on appeal even if initially denied.

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies! I've passed all this info along to my friend. She's going to apply this week and make sure to highlight the substantial change in job duties and include her original job description. She did try to work it out with her manager first (offering to help coordinate transportation but not use her own car) so she'll mention that too. I'll update this thread once she hears anything about her claim. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly!

Just wanted to add that your friend should also document any expenses she would have incurred if she had agreed to the transportation requirement. Things like additional gas, wear and tear on her vehicle, potential insurance premium increases, and mileage. PA UC considers whether the employer's demands create an undue financial burden on the employee. If she can show that using her personal vehicle would have cost her X dollars per month with no compensation from the employer, that strengthens her case that this was an unreasonable change to her employment terms. The fact that she offered alternative solutions (coordinating but not using her own car) shows she was trying to be reasonable and work with them.