ESD denied me after quitting during layoff process - toxic workplace defense?

Your situation definitely falls under constructive discharge which ESD recognizes as a valid reason to quit! The key is proving the work environment became so intolerable that any reasonable person would quit. The fact that you were already scheduled for layoff actually strengthens your case significantly. Make sure your adjudicator understands: 1. You were already being laid off (provide the written notice) 2. The specific ways your employer prevented you from doing your job 3. The hostile environment after giving notice When the adjudicator calls, calmly explain the timeline and be specific about the work obstruction. Don't just say it was "hostile" - describe exactly what they did (stonewalling, withholding information, etc). I went through something similar last year when my company was closing our department and my manager started giving me impossible deadlines before the official layoff date. I quit early and still got approved because I documented everything thoroughly.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but ESD almost ALWAYS denies benefits when u quit no matter what. i went thru this exact thing in 2023, company was closing my store and i was gettin laid off in 3 months but manager started scheduling me for crazy split shifts she knew i couldnt work with my kids school schedule. quit after 2 weeks of that BS and got denied even with the layoff notice. had to appeal and wait 3 more months with no money coming in. The system is designed to screw workers!!!! good luck

just went thru something similar last month!!! got approved but it took FOREVER. my trick was calling ESD literally 47 times until I got through. have u been able to actually talk to anyone there yet?

If you're struggling to get through to ESD, you might want to try Claimyr. I was in adjudication for weeks and couldn't get past the busy signals. Claimyr connected me to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes after I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 My claim was in adjudication for a situation somewhat similar to yours - I had reduced hours before an official layoff and quit early. Being able to actually speak to someone made all the difference in getting it resolved. Especially since you already have your documentation together, you just need someone to actually look at it.

theres a box u can check on ur weekly claim where it asks if u contacted ur previous employer about returning to work... DONT CHECK IT or ull get flagged for more adjudication!!! learned this the hard way

My situation wasn't exactly the same, but I did have a constructive discharge case approved last year. The key thing that helped me was having a clear TIMELINE of events. Don't just dump all your evidence on them - organize it chronologically and highlight the specific incidents that made continuing work impossible. Also, in your adjudication interview, stick to FACTS not emotions. Instead of "they were mean" say "On March 15, I emailed asking for access to the client database and received no response for 3 days, making it impossible to complete the Johnson project." Based on what you've shared, you have a strong case since: 1. You were already being laid off (not your choice to separate) 2. You have documentation of how they prevented you from doing your job 3. The hostility increased after you gave notice Good luck! It's stressful but hang in there!

The fact that you were already being laid off is CRUCIAL information that should work in your favor. Don't let anyone tell you differently. When I worked for ESD (years ago), we handled cases like yours differently than standard voluntary quits. The adjudicator will want to understand: 1. Was the layoff definitely happening? (sounds like yes) 2. Was the date firmly established? (you said May/June) 3. Did working conditions deteriorate after the layoff announcement? (sounds like yes) 4. Do you have evidence of the deterioration? (sounds like yes) The only potential issue I see is that you gave notice first before they created the hostile environment. However, the fact that you were already being laid off means you weren't quitting to avoid work - you were merely adjusting the timing of an inevitable separation. Be sure to continue filing your weekly claims during adjudication, and answer everything truthfully. And be prepared for the possibility that even if denied initially, you have strong grounds for appeal.

forgot to answer ur question about how long adjudication took... mine was 6 WEEKS!!! total nightmare. and yeah the calling thing is brutal. i literally had to set aside a whole day just for calling over and over

whatever u do DONT tell them u found another job if u haven't started yet!!! my friend did that and they immediately closed her claim even tho she didn't start for another month!