Denied ESD benefits after quitting due to unsafe work environment - appeal advice needed

Ugh I hear u, ESD NEVER sides with workers at first!!! I had similar issue (not exactly unsafe but hostile AF) and got denied too. APPEAL IMMEDIATELY!!! You only have like 30 days from the date on ur denial letter. Call everyday until you reach someone who will help!

For your appeal to succeed, you need to carefully document the unsafe working conditions. ESD denies most voluntary quit claims initially because the burden of proof is on you to show you had "good cause" to quit. Here's what helped in my case: 1. Written timeline of all safety incidents with dates 2. Any emails/texts discussing safety concerns with management 3. Documentation showing you tried to resolve the issue before quitting 4. Witness statements from former colleagues if possible 5. Any medical documentation if you experienced anxiety/stress from the situation The key legal standard is whether a "reasonable person" would feel they had no choice but to quit. The fact that 4 others quit before you strengthens your case significantly.

Yes, those statements would definitely help establish a pattern of unsafe conditions. Their experiences show this wasn't an isolated incident but an ongoing workplace safety issue that management failed to address properly. Make sure their statements are signed and dated.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! Hostile manager + safety concerns + denied unemployment. I was incredibly frustrated trying to reach someone at ESD for weeks before my appeal hearing. The wait to speak with someone was ridiculous - I'd be on hold forever only to get disconnected. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual ESD agent. They connected me within about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. The agent was able to explain exactly what documentation I needed for my appeal. There's a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 For my actual hearing, I won by showing: 1. Emails documenting safety concerns 2. Proof I'd given management reasonable time to fix issues 3. Evidence that continuing to work there would have been dangerous Good luck! The appeal process is stressful but many decisions get reversed.

these esd ppl just deny everyone the first time i swear!! they did the same to me when i quit my toxic job. but i didnt appeal cuz i got a new job quick. tbh quitting is always hard to get benefits for.... did u try getting any documention from that job abt the safety issues? like incident reports or anything? that might help ur case

Everybody thinks they can just quit and get unemployment. That's not how it works! It's called UNemployment for when you lose your job, not when you CHOOSE to leave. No wonder ESD denied you! The system is for people who get laid off, not people who can't handle workplace drama.

When I had my hearing, it was over the phone and lasted about 45 minutes. The judge asked very specific questions about the timeline of events. Make sure you have notes in front of you with all the important dates - when incidents occurred, when you reported them, when you went on leave, when you confirmed no training happened, your resignation date, etc. Speak slowly and clearly. If you don't know an answer, just say "I don't recall the exact date" rather than guessing. Be very specific about the safety incident that nearly made you call police - that's your strongest argument.

One other important point - make sure you're continuing to look for work and documenting your job search activities while your appeal is pending. You need to complete and document at least 3 job search activities each week. Even though your initial claim was denied, if you win on appeal, they'll ask for your job search logs for the weeks you're claiming. Many people forget this and lose out on benefits they would have otherwise received.

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I'll definitely be documenting everything carefully, getting statements from former coworkers, and making sure I maintain my job search records. I'll try that Claimyr service to get through to ESD - I've been calling for days without success. I feel much more prepared for my hearing now. Will update when I have news!