I resigned from my job can I get unemployment - Washington ESD eligibility question

You can potentially get benefits even if you resigned, but Washington ESD will review your case to determine if you had 'good cause' for leaving. Hostile work environment situations can qualify as good cause if you can document it properly. You'll need to provide evidence like emails, witness statements, or HR documentation when you file your claim.

i quit my job last year for similar reasons and got approved after they did an investigation. took about 6 weeks though because they had to contact my old employer and everything

Had a friend who was in a similar situation recently and couldn't get through to Washington ESD to discuss her case. She ended up using some service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped her actually reach an agent. They have this video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone directly about your specific situation.

The key thing is proving 'good cause' for your resignation. Washington ESD considers things like harassment, unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties, or reduction in hours/pay as potential good cause. Document everything you can remember and be prepared for them to contact your former employer.

UGH the system is so messed up! They make it nearly impossible to get benefits even when you're clearly entitled to them. I've been fighting with Washington ESD for months over my claim and it's like they WANT people to suffer. The whole adjudication process is designed to wear you down until you give up.

You should definitely apply regardless. I've seen people get approved for voluntary quit situations when they had good cause. Washington ESD will do what's called a 'fact-finding interview' where they'll ask you detailed questions about why you left. Be honest and provide as much documentation as possible.

my cousin went through this exact thing and she said the trick is to frame it as 'constructive dismissal' rather than voluntary quit. basically arguing that the employer made conditions so bad you had no choice but to leave

Whatever you do, don't lie on your application. Be completely honest about resigning but explain the circumstances. If you try to hide that you quit, it'll come back to bite you later and they could charge you with fraud.

I work in HR and I can tell you that if you filed complaints and they did nothing, that actually strengthens your case for good cause. Keep copies of everything you submitted to HR and any responses (or lack thereof) you received.

Just a heads up - even if you get approved, there might be a waiting period before benefits start. And your former employer can still appeal the decision if they disagree with Washington ESD's determination.

Been following this thread and wanted to mention that I had luck with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I was stuck in adjudication for over a month and used them to finally get through to an agent who could explain what was holding up my case. Worth looking into if you're having trouble getting answers.

One thing people don't realize is that Washington ESD looks at whether you made a 'reasonable effort' to resolve the problem before quitting. Sounds like you did by going to HR. That's going to help your case significantly.

Just to be clear - you'll still need to meet all the other eligibility requirements like being able and available for work, actively seeking work, etc. The good cause determination just deals with the reason for separation from your last job.

I went through something similar about a year ago. Toxic boss, hostile environment, the whole nine yards. Got approved for benefits after about 5 weeks of investigation. The key was having detailed documentation of every incident and showing I tried to resolve it internally first.

Don't let anyone tell you that quitting automatically disqualifies you. That's one of the biggest misconceptions about unemployment benefits. Washington state recognizes that sometimes people are forced to quit due to circumstances beyond their control.

Make sure when you apply online that you're thorough in explaining your reasons for leaving. Don't just put 'resigned' - use the text boxes to explain the hostile work environment and reference your HR complaints.

One more thing - if you do get denied initially, don't panic. You can appeal the decision and often win on appeal even if the initial determination goes against you. The appeals process allows you to present more detailed evidence.

Honestly, I used that Claimyr thing too when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication. Saved me weeks of frustration trying to reach someone. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to get things moving.

Bottom line - apply for benefits and let Washington ESD make the determination. You've got documentation, you tried to resolve it internally, and you had legitimate reasons for leaving. That's exactly the kind of situation the good cause exception is designed for.