Can I still collect Washington ESD unemployment if I quit my job voluntarily?

Generally speaking, if you quit your job voluntarily, Washington ESD will likely deny your unemployment claim unless you can prove you had 'good cause' for leaving. Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, discrimination, or significant changes to your job duties or pay. You'll need solid documentation to support your case.

I actually quit my last job and got approved for unemployment, but it wasn't easy. Washington ESD put my claim into adjudication for almost 6 weeks while they investigated. I had to provide tons of documentation proving my employer was violating safety regulations. The key is having everything documented BEFORE you quit.

I used Claimyr.com recently to finally get through to an Washington ESD agent about my claim issues. They have this automated system that keeps calling until it gets you connected to a real person. Saved me so much time and frustration - there's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone before making your decision about quitting.

DONT QUIT! seriously, try to get yourself fired instead if the situation is that bad. I know it sounds crazy but getting terminated for performance issues is way easier to get unemployment for than quitting. Washington ESD is super strict about voluntary separations.

The main issues I'm dealing with are: 1) My supervisor is constantly verbally abusive and creates a hostile work environment 2) They've cut my hours significantly without notice 3) I'm being asked to do tasks way outside my job description that I'm not trained for. Would any of these qualify as good cause?

whatever you do, make sure you apply for unemployment immediately after you quit. don't wait around thinking about it. the longer you wait the more questions they'll ask about why you didn't apply right away.

Also important to note - even if Washington ESD initially denies your claim, you have the right to appeal. Many people give up after the first denial, but the appeal process often results in approval if you have legitimate good cause. The appeals process can take months though, so be prepared for that financially.

I quit my job last year for what I thought was good cause and got denied. Ended up having to take a crappy retail job just to survive. Make absolutely sure you have rock solid documentation before you quit.

Check if your situation might qualify for constructive dismissal - that's when working conditions become so intolerable that a reasonable person would feel forced to quit. It's treated more like being fired than quitting voluntarily.

Have you considered talking to an employment lawyer before you quit? Many offer free consultations and might help you understand if you have grounds for wrongful termination or if quitting would hurt your unemployment case.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I ended up using it again last week to get clarification on my job search requirements and it worked perfectly. Much better than spending my whole day trying to call Washington ESD directly.

whatever you decide, start looking for another job NOW before you quit. it'll look better to Washington ESD if you can show you were actively job searching and trying to avoid unemployment.

One more thing to consider - Washington ESD has specific requirements about what constitutes 'good cause.' You generally need to show that you made reasonable efforts to resolve the issues with your employer before quitting. This could include talking to supervisors, filing complaints with HR, or requesting reasonable accommodations.

I went through something similar - ended up quitting due to harassment and got my unemployment approved after appeal. The key was having emails and witness statements. It took about 4 months total but I did eventually get all my back benefits.

Don't forget that even if you get approved for unemployment after quitting, you'll still need to meet all the regular requirements like job searching and being available for work. Washington ESD doesn't go easier on you just because you had good cause to quit.

The verbal abuse from your supervisor could definitely qualify as good cause, especially if it's affecting your mental health. Keep track of specific incidents with dates and any witnesses who heard it happen.

I've heard the waiting times for adjudication have gotten better recently but still expect at least 3-4 weeks if Washington ESD needs to investigate your quit. They'll contact your employer too so be prepared for that.

honestly the unemployment system is so screwed up I wouldn't count on getting benefits even with good cause. better to try to stick it out until you find another job if at all possible.

Make sure you save any text messages or emails from coworkers who witnessed the problems. Third party accounts can really help your case with Washington ESD.

If you do decide to quit, write a resignation letter that clearly states your reasons. Keep it professional but specific about the issues that forced you to leave. This can be important evidence later.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I think I'm going to start documenting everything more carefully and maybe try to get through to Washington ESD to discuss my situation before making any final decisions. This has been really helpful.