How to win unemployment appeal for quitting - Washington ESD denied my claim

I have screenshots of inappropriate messages and my HR complaint form. Should I also get statements from coworkers who witnessed the behavior?

Absolutely yes on the coworker statements. Make sure they're specific about dates and incidents. Also include any medical documentation if the stress affected your health.

How long did your appeal process take? I'm worried about how I'll pay bills while waiting.

Mine took about 6 weeks from filing to the hearing decision. You can still file weekly claims during the appeal even though you're not getting paid yet.

Wait, you can file weekly claims during appeal? I thought you had to wait until it was approved.

You should keep filing weekly claims to preserve your eligibility dates. If you win the appeal, you'll get backpay for those weeks.

I used Claimyr last month when I couldn't get through about my adjudication issue. It actually worked - got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of calling for days. Check out claimyr.com.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

It's worth it when you need to talk to someone urgently about your claim. Way better than wasting hours calling and getting nowhere.

Most hearings are by phone now. You'll get a notice with the call-in information about a week before your scheduled hearing date.

ok good because I don't have reliable transportation to get to an office

What exactly counts as 'severe' in their definition? The behavior was making me physically sick from stress.

Physical symptoms from workplace stress can support your case. Get medical records if you saw a doctor about stress-related issues. The hearing officer will look at whether a reasonable person in your situation would have quit.

This is why I hate the unemployment system. They make you prove you're worthy of benefits you already paid into through taxes.

Did you file a second appeal after losing the first one?

You can appeal to the Board of Appeals if you lose at the lower level, but it's harder to win there. They mainly look for legal errors in the first hearing.

I understand your frustration, but many people do win appeals with proper documentation. The key is meeting their legal standards for good cause, not just showing you had problems at work.

Easy to say when you're not the one going through it. The stress of the appeal process is almost worse than the original job situation.

How do I request those records? Do I just call HR?

You can request them in writing. Most states require employers to provide personnel files to former employees within a certain timeframe.

You can have legal representation but most people represent themselves. The hearing process is designed to be accessible without a lawyer.

Yeah but my former employer is bringing their attorney so I feel like I'm at a disadvantage

If they're bringing a lawyer, you should definitely consider it. Legal aid organizations sometimes help with unemployment appeals if you can't afford a private attorney.

Was the agent helpful with appeal questions or did they just transfer you around?

The agent was really knowledgeable about appeals. Explained the timeline and what documents I needed to submit. Saved me a lot of confusion.

Wait, I thought you couldn't file weekly claims if your initial claim was denied?

You can and should file them to preserve your claim weeks. You just won't get paid until the appeal is resolved in your favor.

Really? I thought job search requirements only applied after you're approved for benefits.

It varies by case but better to be prepared. Shows you're serious about finding work and not just trying to get benefits.

Good advice. How long do these hearings usually last?

Mine was about 45 minutes. They'll ask you to explain why you quit, then your employer gets to respond, then there might be follow-up questions.

That's a great idea. Did they help you during the hearing too or just with preparation?

Just preparation, but it made a huge difference. They helped me organize my evidence and practice answering likely questions.

I have emails showing I reported the issues multiple times with no response. Should I print all of them or just the key ones?

Print the key ones that clearly show the pattern of problems and your attempts to resolve them. You can reference others if needed during the hearing.

That's helpful framing. I'll focus on showing how the situation was genuinely impossible to continue working in.

Exactly. Connect your specific evidence to the legal standard for good cause. Show it wasn't just a personality conflict but a legitimate workplace issue.