Denied ESD benefits after being forced out of job - can WA unemployment EVER side with employees?

yep same thing happened to me last year. boss made me work 65+ hours, denied vacation i'd been approved for, then when i got sick & couldn't come in they wrote me up. when i quit they told ESD i was 'unreliable' & ESD just took their word for it!! i sent in doctor notes & everything but ESD didn't care. system is 100% rigged

I understand your frustration, but don't give up yet. Washington's definition of "good cause" for quitting is specific, and how you present your case makes a huge difference. You need to appeal within 30 days and specifically frame your situation as a "constructive dismissal" with evidence showing your working conditions changed substantially. The key is demonstrating that any reasonable person would quit under those circumstances. Did your employer reduce your hours by more than 25%? That's explicitly covered under WAC 192-150-120. Or did they substantially change your job duties? That's under WAC 192-150-150. Make sure to cite the specific regulations that apply to your situation in your appeal.

Been there! Appeals are actually where many people win their cases. ESD's first-level decisions often favor employers, but the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is generally more balanced. You NEED to request a hearing ASAP and prepare thoroughly. Start by writing down every single incident with dates/times. Have your evidence organized chronologically in a binder (employers often show up unprepared). Practice explaining what happened calmly - getting emotional hurts your case. I won my appeal after being in almost the exact situation!

My hearing was scheduled about 4 weeks after I appealed, then it took another 2 weeks to get the decision (which was in my favor). So about 6 weeks total. One thing that REALLY helped me was having a witness - a former coworker who confirmed the hostile environment. Do you have anyone who could testify on your behalf?

lol welcome to washington state where employers can do whatever they want. its all about who you know here, the rich protect the rich. i've been through 3 appeals and lost every time even with a lawyer. total waste of $$$ and time

Before you give up, have you been able to actually speak with an ESD agent about your case? I was in a similar situation (though mine was because they drastically changed my job duties after 5 years). Getting denied initially is unfortunately common, but I was able to talk to an actual person who helped me understand exactly what evidence I needed for my appeal. The problem is actually REACHING someone at ESD. I spent 3 weeks trying to get through before discovering Claimyr (claimyr.com). It connected me to an ESD agent within 25 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever or getting hung up on. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Once I actually spoke with someone, they were really helpful in explaining the appeal process. Made a huge difference for me.

I handle unemployment cases professionally, and constructive dismissal claims are tricky but definitely winnable in Washington. Here's what you need to focus on for your appeal: 1. Document the CHANGES in your working conditions - courts care more about how conditions changed than how bad they were 2. Show you complained to management before quitting (this is crucial) 3. Present evidence of how the conditions affected you (medical records can help) 4. Demonstrate the changes were employer-driven, not business necessity ESD initial determinations are often rushed and don't fully consider evidence. The appeal hearing is your real opportunity. Be factual, specific, and unemotional when presenting your case.

just wondering did u tell ur boss in writing why u were quitting? my friend won her case bc she sent an email explaining exactly why she was leaving and how they violated labor laws etc. without that they can just make up whatever reason they want

One more tip - for your appeal hearing, create a simple timeline document showing: 1. Your original job duties/hours when hired 2. Each significant change with exact dates 3. Each time you complained/reported issues 4. Any responses from management 5. How your working conditions differed at the end vs. beginning Administrative judges appreciate organization and clarity. Keep emotions out of it and stick to facts. And if you can show you tried to resolve the issues before quitting, that strengthens your case significantly.