Can I get ESD benefits after quitting due to workplace harassment and extended home assignment?

I went thru somthing kinda similar last year!! Except I was suspended after reporting saftey violations not harassment. After 6 weeks of no answers I just quit too. ESD denied me at first but I appealed and WON! The key is that you have to show you had no reasonable alternative but to quit. Did you try contacting HR about when you'd be allowed to go back? If u can show you tried to resolve it before quitting that will help your case ALOT.

This is actually what's known as a "constructive discharge" situation, which can qualify for UI benefits even though you technically quit. When an employer creates working conditions that would compel a reasonable person to resign (like leaving you in limbo for months), ESD may determine you had good cause to leave. Here's what you should do: 1. When filing, select "quit" but choose the reason as "employer actions made continued work impossible" 2. Document EVERYTHING - dates of harassment, copy of complaint, all attempts to contact HR/management 3. Be prepared for possible initial denial and appeal process 4. Continue your job search and document all job search activities (3 per week) Your harassment complaint followed by extended home assignment with no communication creates a strong case. The burden will be on you to prove you had no reasonable alternative but to quit.

You should absolutely disclose that you were being paid during home assignment, as not disclosing could be considered misrepresentation. However, continued pay doesn't necessarily undermine your case. The key issue is that you were left in professional limbo with no resolution path. Focus on the fact that you were given no timeline for resolution, no meaningful updates on investigation progress, and no indication of whether your job would continue long-term. Essentially, you were in employment purgatory - technically employed but with no ability to move forward professionally. Many judges would consider this a form of workplace retaliation following your harassment complaint.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you're facing an uphill battle. ESD typically considers voluntary quits as disqualifying unless you can 100% prove you had no other option. Being left on paid home assignment probably won't meet that threshold in their eyes - they'll likely say "you were still being paid, why quit?" I've seen so many claims denied for much clearer reasons. The adjudicators are overworked and tend to deny anything complicated. Get ready for a frustrating fight.

I'm going through the adjudication process right now for a similar situation (though mine involved safety concerns, not harassment). The most frustrating part has been trying to get someone on the phone at ESD to explain my situation. I spent DAYS calling that 800 number only to get disconnected or wait for hours. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an ESD agent in under 30 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The agent was able to add detailed notes to my file explaining my situation, which I'm hoping helps during the adjudication review. Definitely worth it for complex cases like ours where you need to actually speak to someone.

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to file my initial claim tomorrow and make sure I carefully document everything about the harassment complaint, the extended home assignment with no communication, and my attempts to get updates. Based on your suggestions, I'll: 1. Select "quit" but indicate employer actions made continued work impossible 2. Include documentation of all my attempts to resolve the situation 3. Be prepared for a possible appeal if denied initially 4. Consider using Claimyr if I need to speak with an actual person at ESD I'll update this thread once I hear anything about my claim. Wish me luck!

One final piece of advice - when you do get to the adjudication interview (they'll schedule a phone call), be very careful about how you explain your decision to quit. Avoid saying things like "I thought they were going to fire me" as that can be interpreted as quitting to avoid discharge, which usually isn't considered good cause. Instead, focus on: 1. The harassment you experienced 2. The company's failure to provide a timeline for investigation resolution 3. The professional limbo affecting your career progression 4. The emotional/psychological impact of being isolated without communication Stick to facts, dates, and documented attempts to resolve the situation. Good luck!