Can I resign and collect unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Generally you can't collect unemployment if you quit voluntarily, but there are exceptions. Washington ESD allows benefits if you quit for 'good cause' which includes things like hostile work environment, unsafe conditions, or significant changes to your job. You'll need to document everything - keep records of the schedule changes, any hostile behavior, emails, etc.

I quit my job last year for similar reasons and got approved for benefits. The key is proving it was 'good cause' and not just because you didn't like your job. Washington ESD will investigate and might contact your employer to get their side of the story.

Before you quit, I'd recommend trying to reach Washington ESD directly to discuss your specific situation. The phone lines are always busy but there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth talking to someone official before making the decision.

Wait, can't you just get fired instead? Like if you stop showing up or something? That way it's not a voluntary quit.

I'm dealing with something similar right now. My supervisor has been cutting my hours from 40 to 20 per week and says it's 'temporary' but it's been going on for 2 months. I'm thinking this might count as constructive dismissal?

Document everything! I cannot stress this enough. When I quit my toxic job, I had been keeping detailed records for months - screenshots of schedule changes, notes about hostile interactions, everything. Washington ESD approved my claim because I had solid evidence.

The system is so messed up. You can work somewhere for years and then get treated like garbage but you're supposed to just take it or lose your benefits? It's ridiculous.

Also consider reaching out to your state labor department about the hostile work environment. Sometimes having an official complaint on file can strengthen your unemployment case if you do decide to quit.

Had a friend who quit because her boss was sexually harassing her. She got approved for benefits but it took like 6 weeks because of the investigation. Just be prepared for potential delays.

One more thing - if you do quit for good cause, you'll still need to meet all the other unemployment requirements like actively looking for work and filing your weekly claims. The good cause determination just means you won't be disqualified for voluntary separation.

If you're dealing with schedule changes and hostile behavior, you might want to see if your company has an HR department first. Sometimes going through proper channels can either fix the problem or create documentation that helps your case later.

i quit my job last month without good cause and got denied benefits. now i'm screwed until i find something else. make sure you really have good cause before you quit!!

Another option for getting through to Washington ESD quickly is that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. If you want to discuss your specific situation with an agent, it might be worth trying. They basically handle the calling for you so you don't waste hours trying to get through.

The hostile work environment thing is real. I had a boss who would scream at employees in front of customers. When I finally quit, Washington ESD approved my benefits because multiple coworkers were willing to back up my story about the hostile environment.

Before you do anything drastic, have you considered looking for another job while you're still employed? That way you have income while you search and you don't have to deal with the unemployment system at all.

Just to clarify - you have to have worked at least 680 hours in your base period to qualify for benefits, regardless of whether you quit or got fired. Make sure you meet the basic eligibility requirements first.

My advice would be to start documenting everything now, even if you're not sure about quitting yet. Keep a log of incidents, save any emails or texts, and note any witnesses. That way if you do decide to quit, you'll have evidence ready.

The whole system is designed to make it as hard as possible to collect benefits. They'll look for any reason to deny your claim, especially if you quit voluntarily.

If you do quit and apply for benefits, be completely honest about your reasons. Don't try to make it sound worse than it was, but don't downplay legitimate issues either. They can usually tell when people are being dishonest.

One last thing - if you get denied initially, you can appeal the decision. Sometimes they deny good cause claims on the first review but approve them on appeal. Don't give up if you really believe you had good cause to quit.

Good luck whatever you decide. Toxic work environments are no joke and you shouldn't have to put up with abuse just to keep your job. Just make sure you're prepared for the unemployment process if you do decide to quit.

I went through something similar a few years ago. My manager was making my work life unbearable - changing deadlines constantly, micromanaging everything, and creating a really stressful environment. I was scared to quit because I needed the income, but I finally reached out to Washington ESD before making any decisions. They explained that constructive dismissal (when working conditions become so bad that a reasonable person would quit) can qualify as good cause. The key is showing that you tried to address the issues and that the situation was genuinely intolerable, not just unpleasant. Start documenting everything now - dates, times, witnesses, any communications about the hostile behavior or schedule changes. Even if you decide not to quit, having this record could be helpful. Your mental health and wellbeing matter too.

I was in a very similar situation about a year ago. My boss was constantly changing my schedule with less than 24 hours notice, which made it impossible to plan anything or even pick up a second job to make ends meet. I also dealt with verbal abuse during team meetings that made me dread going to work every day. I ended up quitting and was approved for unemployment benefits under the "good cause" provision. The investigation took about 3 weeks, and the key was having detailed records of every incident. I kept a notebook with dates, times, and descriptions of each hostile interaction, plus screenshots of last-minute schedule changes sent via text. When they called for the phone interview, I was able to give them specific examples with exact dates. Washington ESD also contacted two of my former coworkers who witnessed some of the hostile behavior, which really helped my case. The financial stress during those 3 weeks was tough, but staying in that environment was affecting my mental health so badly that I couldn't function. Don't let anyone make you feel like you have to accept abuse just to keep a paycheck - that's exactly what the good cause provisions are designed to protect against.

I'm dealing with a similar hostile work environment situation right now. My supervisor has been making snide comments about my work in front of other employees and recently started giving me impossible deadlines that set me up for failure. The stress is affecting my sleep and I dread going to work every day. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really eye-opening - I didn't realize Washington ESD had these "good cause" protections for people who quit due to toxic conditions. I'm going to start documenting everything like you all suggested. It's encouraging to see that people have actually been approved for benefits in these situations, though the 3-6 week waiting period during investigations sounds really challenging financially. Has anyone found ways to manage during that gap period besides borrowing from family?

I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful. My manager has been cutting my hours randomly, being verbally aggressive in meetings, and creating such a stressful environment that I'm having anxiety attacks on Sunday nights just thinking about Monday. What really resonates with me is hearing from people who actually got approved for benefits after quitting for good cause - I was starting to think it was impossible. The documentation advice is spot on. I've started keeping a detailed log of every incident with dates, times, and witnesses present. Even saved screenshots of text messages about sudden schedule changes. One thing I wanted to add for anyone in this situation - I called the Claimyr service that was mentioned earlier and they actually got me through to a real ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual busy signals. The agent confirmed that hostile work environment and significant schedule changes can definitely qualify as good cause, but emphasized that documentation is absolutely crucial. They said having witnesses willing to speak to ESD during the investigation makes a huge difference too. It's validating to know that we don't have to just accept abuse to keep our jobs. Mental health matters and toxic workplaces can seriously damage your wellbeing. For anyone on the fence about quitting, start documenting now even if you're not sure yet - having that evidence ready gives you options.