Can you get unemployment if you quit in Washington ESD?

What exactly counts as good cause? My situation is pretty complicated.

Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties or pay, or domestic violence situations. You'd need to document everything thoroughly.

What kind of proof would I need? I don't have anything in writing about the harassment.

Document everything you can - emails, witness statements, dates and times of incidents. Keep a detailed log of what's happening.

How long did the whole process take? I'm worried about going without income for too long.

It took about 3 months from when I first applied to when I started receiving benefits. The adjudication process was really slow.

3 months?? That's insane. How are people supposed to survive during that time?

Is that legitimate? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

Yeah it's legit - they don't ask for any personal info, just help you get connected. I used it when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines.

How long did the appeal process take? I'm worried about being without income for months.

Took about 8 weeks total. The hardest part was just getting someone on the phone to talk about my case.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I recently found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you get through to agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

What about if they're cutting my hours significantly? I went from 40 hours to 15 hours a week.

A substantial reduction in hours can qualify as good cause in Washington. You'd need to show it was a significant change from your normal schedule.

Same thing happened to me! I was able to get benefits when they cut me from full-time to part-time. Washington ESD approved it as constructive dismissal.

Really? They cut me from 40 hours to about 15 hours per week. Would that qualify?

probably yeah. thats a huge reduction. you should document when it happened and if they gave you any reason

A reduction of that magnitude would likely qualify as good cause. Washington ESD considers substantial changes to work conditions as potential grounds for benefits.

I've talked to my supervisor but HR is basically non-existent at my company. It's a small business with maybe 12 employees.

Document those conversations anyway. Even if it's just an email recap of what you discussed, it shows you tried to address the issues.

What should I be documenting exactly?

dates times what was said who was there. basically everything that makes you want to quit. keep emails and texts too

HR is useless at my company. They protect management, not employees.

I understand, but you still need to show you tried. Even if HR doesn't help, having a record that you complained can support your unemployment claim later.

This is so true. I didn't file any complaints before quitting and it hurt my case big time.

That's so frustrating. Sometimes quitting really is the only option people have.

Exactly! And then they make you jump through hoops for months while you're struggling financially.

It's mainly the hour cuts and my boss has been really hostile lately. Yelling at employees in front of customers, unrealistic expectations, that kind of thing.

The hostile behavior could potentially count as creating an intolerable work environment. Keep a detailed log of incidents with dates and witnesses if possible.

How did the appeal process work? Was it complicated?

you have to request a hearing within 30 days of the denial. then you present your case to a judge over the phone. having documentation helped a lot

How would I do that without getting fired for cause?

Just stop going above and beyond, stick to your job description, don't volunteer for extra work. Sometimes toxic managers will find reasons to let you go.

Be careful with this approach though. If they fire you for performance issues they could claim it's misconduct and you'd still be denied.

What kind of harassment did you face? Was it from coworkers or management?

Management. Verbal abuse, yelling, unrealistic demands, public humiliation. I kept a detailed journal and had coworkers willing to provide statements.

I doubt my boss would go for that given how things have been lately.

Worth asking though. Some employers prefer it because it avoids potential wrongful termination issues.

Be careful with that approach - if Washington ESD finds out you arranged to be laid off, that could disqualify you too.

What kind of evidence would be strong enough? I don't have recordings or anything like that.

Witness statements, written complaints you filed, emails, anything that documents the pattern of behavior. Even your own detailed log can help.

Did you have a lawyer for the appeal?

nah couldnt afford one. did it myself with help from some online resources and advocacy groups

For appeal hearings, you can also use Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD agents who can explain the process better than the automated system. Really helpful when you need specific guidance about your case.

How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

i think its 3 per week but check the washington esd website to be sure. requirements change sometimes

What about if they're asking me to work unsafe conditions? We don't have proper safety equipment.

That could definitely qualify. Document the unsafe conditions, report them to your employer in writing, and if they don't fix it, you may have good cause to quit.

I quit for safety reasons and got approved. Had to file a complaint with L&I first though to show I tried to get it fixed.

That's so discouraging. I just want to know if I'll have some income while I look for another job.

I get it, but don't let that stop you from trying if you have a legitimate case. Just be prepared for the long haul and start documenting everything now.

What counts as job search activities?

applying for jobs, going to job fairs, networking events, interviews, working with WorkSourceWA. they have a whole list on their website

How would they find out?

They contact your employer to verify your reason for leaving. Your employer will tell them you quit, so you better have the same story.

This happened to my friend. She tried to claim she was laid off when she actually quit and got caught. Now she owes back all the money plus penalties.

Is there any way to speed up the adjudication process?

Not really, but staying in contact with them and providing any additional documentation they request quickly can help avoid delays.

I hadn't thought of that. Do you know how to find employment attorneys?

The Washington State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. You can also check with legal aid organizations if you qualify for free legal help.

I've been trying but it's hard to interview when you're working full time and dealing with a toxic boss.

i get it but its still better than being unemployed with no guaranteed income

Thank you everyone for all the advice. I have a lot to think about and document before I make any decisions.

Good luck whatever you decide. Just remember that your mental and physical health are important too.

Will do! Hopefully it helps other people in similar situations too.

How much does something like that cost?

They don't publish pricing but it's worth it considering how impossible it is to get through otherwise. You can check their site for current info.

I can't really afford a lawyer right now, which is part of why I need to figure out the unemployment situation.

Many employment lawyers do free consultations, and some work on contingency if you have a strong case for wrongful constructive dismissal.

It did happen pretty suddenly. One week I was working normal hours, the next week my schedule was cut way back.

Definitely document when that happened and any explanation (or lack thereof) that you were given. That timeline could be important.

That's what I'm worried about. I need to know I can survive financially if I quit.

Do you have any savings to fall back on? Or family who could help out short term?

Good to know. I was thinking if they denied me initially that would be the end of it.

Nope, the appeal process exists for exactly these kinds of situations. Many people don't realize they can challenge the initial decision.

Definitely planning to be upfront about everything. I just want to make sure I present my case in the strongest way possible.

That's smart. Honesty combined with good documentation is your best bet for approval.

That does sound helpful. Did they give you specific advice about documentation?

Yeah, the agent walked me through exactly what kind of evidence would strengthen my case. It made a big difference in how I approached the application.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I think I'm going to start documenting everything more carefully and then make my decision.

Good luck! Keep us posted on how it goes.

Hope it works out for you. Nobody should have to deal with a hostile work environment.