Can I get Washington ESD unemployment benefits if I resigned from my job?

What counts as good cause exactly? My supervisor has been making my work life miserable but I'm not sure if that would qualify.

Harassment or a hostile work environment can qualify as good cause, but you'll need to document everything. Keep records of incidents, emails, witness statements if possible. The burden of proof is on you to show you had no reasonable alternative but to quit.

How long did the appeal process take? And what kind of documentation did you need?

The appeal took about 6 weeks total. I had emails showing the harassment, a log of incidents with dates and times, and two coworkers who were willing to provide statements. I also had my doctor's note about the stress affecting my health.

Six weeks without income though... that's really tough. Did you have any other support during that time?

That's actually a great idea. I've tried calling ESD before and could never get through. How does this service work exactly?

Basically they handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual person at ESD. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected. You can ask them directly about good cause requirements for your specific situation.

Yeah that's what I'm worried about. The situation is really bad but I can't afford to be without income for months.

That's exactly why I suggest documenting everything first and maybe talking to ESD before you quit. Get a clear picture of whether your situation would qualify.

What if your employer refuses to address the issues? I complained to HR multiple times about my supervisor but nothing changed.

If you've made good faith efforts to resolve the problem through proper channels and your employer failed to address it, that strengthens your good cause argument. Keep records of your complaints to HR and their responses (or lack thereof).

This is really helpful. I haven't formally complained to HR yet but maybe I should try that first and document their response.

Did you appeal the decision? What happened after that?

I was too discouraged to appeal at first but I should have. By the time I decided to fight it, I'd already found another job so it didn't matter anymore. But I still think they were wrong.

You should have appealed! The initial determination is often wrong, especially in quit cases. The appeals judges actually look at the evidence more carefully.

Actually, employers do contest quit cases pretty frequently because it affects their unemployment tax rate. But you're right that the bar is set pretty high for proving good cause.

That's why documentation is so important. You need to build a paper trail that clearly shows you had no reasonable choice but to quit.

Constructive dismissal is definitely a thing, but it's very hard to prove. You'd need to show that the working conditions were so intolerable that no reasonable person could be expected to continue working there.

How do you prove that though? It seems like it would be really subjective.

It requires extensive documentation and often witness testimony. Things like sudden major changes to your job that make it impossible to perform, deliberate harassment campaigns, unsafe conditions that the employer refuses to fix, etc.

That sounds way better than the endless phone tree. How much does something like that cost?

They don't talk about pricing upfront but honestly it was worth whatever it cost just to actually talk to a human being who could give me real answers instead of generic website info.

That makes sense. So I should give them a chance to fix things and document that they didn't?

Exactly. Put your complaints in writing, keep copies of emails, note dates and times of conversations. If they don't address legitimate concerns, that strengthens your good cause argument significantly.

What if the person causing the problem IS HR? My HR department is basically one person who's buddies with all the managers.

Good point. So even in the best case scenario it's not immediate relief.

The waiting period varies but it's usually at least a week or two even if you qualify. Plan accordingly for that gap in income.

I've been trying but the job market is tough right now. Plus it's hard to interview when you're dealing with a toxic work environment every day.

Sometimes the work situation is so bad it affects your ability to job search effectively. Mental health matters too.

That's kind of scary. So I need to be really prepared with evidence if I go this route.

Yes, and remember that ESD will contact your employer for their side of the story. Be prepared for them to potentially dispute your version of events.

Yeah I'm definitely going to look into that. Getting real advice seems way better than making assumptions about what might qualify.

How long do you have to file an appeal?

You have 30 days from the date of the determination letter to file an appeal. Don't wait if you disagree with their decision.

And definitely file the appeal even if you're not sure. You can always withdraw it later but you can't file it after the deadline.

Thanks, that's encouraging. I was starting to think it was hopeless if you quit for any reason.

It's definitely an uphill battle but not impossible. The key is solid documentation and understanding exactly what constitutes good cause under Washington law.

Smart approach. Better to know where you stand before you take the leap.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Just remember to keep detailed records of everything that happens from here on out.

Let us know how it goes with ESD if you do call them. Always helpful to hear how these situations work out.