TWC disqualified me for 'not liking work conditions' but I quit due to sexual harassment - help!

You need to appeal IMMEDIATELY. You only have 14 days from the date on that determination letter. The reason they denied you is because 'not liking work conditions' isn't good enough for benefits, but sexual harassment absolutely IS considered good cause to quit if you can prove it. Your caseworker sounds terrible and probably didn't even document the harassment properly in your file.

omg this SAME thing happened to me last year!! caseworker totally dismissed my harassment complaints and focused on everything else. system is rigged i swear

I'm a former HR director and have helped employees navigate TWC claims. Here's what's happening: Texas is an at-will employment state, but sexual harassment creates what's called "good cause attribution" to the employer, meaning you had good reason to quit. For your appeal: 1. Submit ALL documentation showing the harassment occurred 2. Provide evidence you reported it to management/HR before quitting 3. Explain why the work environment was intolerable 4. Submit your resignation letter mentioning harassment 5. List witnesses willing to testify at the hearing The burden of proof is on YOU to show that a reasonable person would have quit under these circumstances. The appeal hearing officer will be different from your initial caseworker.

My cosin went thru something like this at her job!! The TWC people can be so RUDE sometimes!!! I hope you get your benefits cause its not fair!!!!!

I've been through the EXACT same situation with TWC and sexual harassment. The initial interviewer totally dismissed it, but I won on appeal. Here's my advice: call TWC first thing tomorrow morning to confirm they received your appeal request. You'll probably get a busy signal for hours - I wasted days trying. I eventually used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a live TWC agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P88?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh When you connect, ask specifically about the status of your appeal and request that they note in your file that you quit due to sexual harassment, not because you "didn't like work conditions." This creates a record separate from what that terrible caseworker documented.

This is a perfect example of why the initial determination isn't the final word. Many TWC claims examiners are overworked and may not properly evaluate complex situations like harassment. From a legal standpoint, sexual harassment is absolutely considered "good cause" to leave employment when: 1. You can demonstrate it occurred 2. You made reasonable attempts to resolve it before quitting 3. A reasonable person would find the conditions intolerable For your appeal hearing, prepare a one-page timeline of events. Be ready to explain specific incidents, dates, who was involved, and your reporting attempts. The hearing officer will focus on whether you took reasonable steps to resolve the issue before quitting. Be aware the hearing is recorded and your former employer will likely participate to contest your claim. Stay professional regardless of what they say.

Of COURSE they denied you!!! The system is designed to reject as many claims as possible to save money. My wife went through something similar and had to fight for months. These caseworkers don't care about sexual harassment - they just want to check boxes and move on to the next case. It's disgusting how they treat people who are already traumatized. Keep fighting and DON'T give up!

One more important thing - when you have your appeal hearing, you need to clearly explain the difference between "didn't like work conditions" (which isn't good cause) versus "unsafe/hostile work environment due to sexual harassment" (which IS good cause). Use those exact terms. TWC hearing officers respond to specific legal terminology. Don't let them minimize what happened to you by using their watered-down language.

I want to clarify something important: under Texas Workforce Commission rules, if you quit due to sexual harassment, the burden actually shifts to the EMPLOYER to prove they took reasonable steps to prevent or correct the harassment once you reported it. Make sure to emphasize during your appeal that: 1. You reported the harassment through proper channels 2. The employer failed to take appropriate corrective action 3. The situation made continued employment unreasonable This is covered under TWC's Unemployment Insurance benefits precedent cases dealing with workplace harassment. The hearing officer should be familiar with this standard.

hey when is ur appeal hearing? mine took FOREVER to get scheduled, like 7 weeks after i filed the appeal request