Can you get unemployment if you quit your job in Washington - ESD eligibility rules?

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

Start documenting everything now - dates, witnesses, emails if you have them. Washington ESD will review your case during adjudication to determine if you had good cause to quit.

How did you survive financially during those 3 months waiting?

Had to borrow money from family and pick up some gig work. It was really tough but worth it in the end.

That's helpful, thank you. Do you know if verbal harassment counts as good cause? I don't have much in writing unfortunately.

Verbal harassment can qualify but you'll need to document it as much as possible. Write down dates, times, witnesses present, exactly what was said. Report it to HR first if possible to create a paper trail.

What was your situation if you don't mind me asking? And did you have to get a lawyer for the appeal?

workplace safety issues and my supervisor ignored multiple complaints. didn't need a lawyer but i had lots of documentation. filed complaint with L&I too which helped my case

This is exactly why I always tell people to document everything at work. You never know when you'll need it for something like this.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual Washington ESD agent. Used it last month and finally got through after trying on my own for over a month. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

I haven't seen a doctor about it yet but maybe I should before I make any decisions.

Definitely see a doctor and get everything documented. Mental health is just as important as physical health.

I understand the frustration but there are legitimate reasons why they have these requirements. Otherwise everyone would just quit whenever they felt like it and collect benefits.

Oh please. Like people are just quitting good jobs for fun during a recession. Most people who quit have serious reasons but Washington ESD makes you jump through hoops to prove it.

The system definitely has flaws but it's not impossible if you have legitimate good cause. The key is understanding what qualifies and documenting everything properly.

This is really helpful. Do you know if there's a specific timeframe for when you have to file after quitting?

You should file your claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. There's no specific deadline but benefits are only payable from the week you file, not retroactively to when you stopped working.

Also make sure you're actively looking for work and documenting your job search. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week minimum.

That's exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr really helps. I mentioned it earlier but it's specifically designed for getting through Washington ESD's phone system when you can't reach them normally. Might be worth looking into given how long you've been waiting.

Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open? Sometimes that works better than calling during peak hours.

Tried that too. Still busy or I get through to the main menu but then get disconnected when trying to reach a live person.

There's a one week waiting period for all unemployment claims in Washington, whether you were fired or quit. But if you quit without good cause, you'll be disqualified entirely until you work and earn a certain amount at a new job.

Got it, thanks. So the key is making sure your reason qualifies as good cause before you actually quit.

What if your boss is just really mean but not technically harassing you? Like just being a jerk all the time.

Being a jerk usually isn't enough for Washington ESD. It needs to be more serious - actual harassment, safety issues, or violations of employment law.

That could potentially be treated as a discharge rather than a voluntary quit, but you'd need strong evidence that they were trying to force you out. Document everything and be prepared to explain the situation in detail to Washington ESD.

I kept detailed notes fortunately. Changed my schedule with no notice, gave me impossible deadlines, moved my desk to a storage closet. Pretty obvious what they were doing.

That definitely sounds like constructive dismissal to me. You should have a good case if you documented all of that.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money.

It's way cheaper than losing weeks of potential benefits while trying to get through on your own. Plus they actually get you to a real person who can help.

Never heard of that but honestly anything beats sitting on hold for hours just to get hung up on.

We don't have HR, it's a small company. Should I still try to document things somehow?

Yes! Keep a detailed log of incidents with dates and any witnesses. Email yourself summaries so you have timestamps.

Thank you, I really needed to hear that. It's been affecting everything in my life.

Agreed 100%. Your health comes first always.

How long is the waiting period usually?

Typically one week, but the adjudication for quit cases can add 2-4 weeks on top of that depending on how complex your situation is.

What if the employer lies about what happened though?

That's why documentation is so important. Washington ESD will contact both sides and make a determination based on the evidence.

This is important information. There are also resources available through DSHS and other agencies for people in those situations.

Thank you for mentioning this. It's good to know there are protections in place for people in dangerous situations.

I agree the language can be confusing. The basic rule is you can get benefits if you quit for reasons that would make any reasonable person quit, and you tried to fix the problem first if possible.

The problem is everyone thinks their reason for quitting is good cause but legally it has to meet specific criteria. That's why they make it detailed.

That's a good point. How often do employers actually contest these claims?

In my experience it depends on the employer. Larger companies with HR departments are more likely to contest, especially if they think they have a case. Small businesses sometimes don't bother.

My employer contested mine even though they were clearly in the wrong. Some companies just contest everything automatically to make the process harder.

During adjudication, Washington ESD investigates your claim to determine if you're eligible. They'll contact you and your former employer to get both sides of the story. It can take several weeks or even months depending on how complex your situation is.

Do they usually call or send letters? I haven't heard anything from them yet.

They typically send letters first, but they might call if they need additional information. Make sure your contact information is up to date in your account.

I was in adjudication for 2 months and never got a call. Just letters asking for more documentation. Finally got approved last week though.

The system is designed to prevent people from quitting jobs just to collect benefits. It's not perfect but there are good reasons for the requirements.

I get that but when someone is being harassed or in an unsafe situation, they shouldn't have to stay just to qualify for benefits

I hadn't thought of that. Are consultations usually expensive?

Many employment lawyers offer free consultations for cases like this. Worth making a few calls to see what they say.

Good point, I was thinking I should try to find something else first but that could take months.

Exactly, and you can always look for work while your claim is being processed. Just make sure you meet the job search requirements.

This is such good advice. I wish someone had told me this at my last job. Would have made my life so much easier.

Yep, keep emails, take photos if it's safety related, write down dates and times of incidents. Basic CYA stuff but it really matters.

I don't think my boss would go for that, but maybe worth asking.

Even if they say no, having asked for accommodations could help your case later if you do end up quitting.

I've been deleting a lot of the nasty emails because they upset me. Should I try to recover them somehow?

Yes! Check if they're in your trash folder or if your IT department can help recover them. Those emails could be crucial evidence.

That's really helpful insight. So it's not just about my personal feelings about the situation?

Right, it has to meet an objective standard. Things like documented harassment, safety violations, or illegal activity by the employer are much easier to prove than personality conflicts.

This gives me hope. Can I ask what kind of documentation you had?

Email complaints to HR, written statements from coworkers who witnessed incidents, copies of my performance reviews showing the harassment wasn't performance-related, and a timeline of events. The more evidence the better.

Did you have to go through an appeal or were you approved on the initial claim?

Got approved on the initial claim, but I think having so much documentation upfront really helped. They could see I had legitimate good cause right away.

How exactly does that work? Do they just call for you or is there more to it?

They handle the actual calling process and waiting on hold, then connect you when they get through to an agent. Way better than spending hours trying to get through yourself.

Might have to try this. Been trying to reach someone about my quit claim for over a month with no luck.

How quickly were you able to talk to someone through that service?

Same day I signed up. No more sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. Worth every penny when you're dealing with something this stressful.

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

I think it's 3 job search activities per week, but check the current requirements on the Washington ESD website since they sometimes change.

Yeah, I'm glad I asked here first. Lots of good advice from people who've actually been through this.

That's what this community is for! We've all been through the Washington ESD system in some way.

Why would they contest it? Doesn't it cost them money either way?

It can affect their unemployment tax rate if too many former employees collect benefits. Some companies contest everything just as a matter of policy.

You're right, I've been putting that off but I really should take care of my mental health first.

Absolutely. Your health is more important than any job or benefit eligibility.