Am I eligible for unemployment if I quit my job in Washington state?

I haven't been documenting stuff but I do have some text messages about the schedule changes. Is that enough proof for Washington ESD?

Text messages are definitely helpful! Also try to remember specific dates and incidents. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case will be during the adjudication process.

How long did the investigation take? I'm worried about going weeks without any income.

Mine took about 3 weeks for adjudication to complete. During that time I couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to check status. Super frustrating.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they help you get through to an actual agent without waiting on hold for hours. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

What happened with your appeal? Did you eventually get benefits?

took 2 months but yes i won the appeal. the hearing was scary but worth it in the end

There's no HR department, it's a small store. The manager IS the supervisor basically. The owner lives out of state.

Try contacting the owner directly if possible. Washington ESD wants to see that you attempted to fix the situation before leaving. Document that attempt too.

This is exactly why small businesses get away with treating employees like garbage. No accountability.

That's smart! I wish I had started doing that earlier. Should I start documenting now even if I haven't quit yet?

Absolutely! The more recent evidence you have, the better. Also check if your state allows one-party consent for recording conversations.

Ugh, I don't have much in savings. This whole situation is so stressful.

Look into local food banks and assistance programs while you wait. No shame in getting help when you need it.

What are the current job search requirements in Washington? I haven't been on unemployment before.

You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log. The requirements are on the Washington ESD website under WorkSourceWA.

Actually it depends on your situation - some people might have different requirements or exemptions. Check with Washington ESD directly for your specific case.

How much does that service cost? I'm already going to be broke if I quit my job.

It's worth checking out their site for details. For me, the value was huge compared to sitting on hold for hours or never getting through at all.

That's so discouraging. I just want to be treated with basic respect at work.

Don't let the negativity discourage you. Yes, the process can be challenging, but legitimate claims do get approved. Focus on building your documentation.

What was the appeal hearing like? I'm already nervous just thinking about it.

not as bad as i expected. it was over the phone and the judge asked both me and my former employer questions. having documentation really helped

Interesting point. My manager has threatened to fire me before but never followed through.

Document those threats too! Constructive dismissal is a real thing - if they're making your job impossible to perform, it's essentially forcing you to quit.

What counts as 'reasonable time'? I've been dealing with this for months already.

It's more about giving them notice of the specific problems and a chance to respond. Even a few days can be sufficient if you document the complaint and their response (or lack thereof).

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I think I'm going to try talking to the owner first and document everything, then make my decision.

Smart approach! Keep us updated on how it goes. Hopefully the owner actually listens and addresses the problems.

And remember if you do end up needing to contact Washington ESD during the process, Claimyr can save you a lot of headaches trying to get through their phone system.