If I quit am I eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington?

Generally speaking, you can't get unemployment if you quit voluntarily, but there are exceptions. Washington ESD will approve benefits if you quit for 'good cause' - things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job that weren't agreed to. You'll need to document everything and be prepared to prove your case.

I quit my job last year due to harassment and Washington ESD approved my claim after an adjudication process. The key is proving you had 'good cause' to quit. I had to go through a phone interview and provide evidence, but it worked out. Just make sure you exhaust other options first like talking to HR or management.

Before you quit, I'd suggest trying to reach a Washington ESD representative to discuss your specific situation. I know it's hard to get through on the phone, but I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually connect with ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth getting official guidance before you make the leap.

You need to be really careful here. Washington ESD is strict about voluntary quits. Even if you think you have good cause, they might not agree. I'd recommend talking to an employment attorney or at least your union if you have one before making any decisions.

whatever you do dont just quit without trying other stuff first!! i made that mistake and got denied. you have to show you tried to fix the problem before quitting or they'll say you didnt have good cause

Here are the main 'good cause' reasons Washington ESD accepts for voluntary quits: harassment or discrimination, unsafe working conditions, significant reduction in pay or hours, employer violated terms of employment, or domestic violence situations. You need solid evidence for any of these.

I'm dealing with something similar and have been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks to ask about this exact situation. The phone lines are always busy or I get disconnected. It's so frustrating when you need answers about something this important.

One thing I learned during my process - keep working as long as you can while you document everything. If you do end up quitting and getting approved, the benefit amount is calculated based on your recent earnings. Plus it shows you tried to stick it out.

The system is so messed up. I know people who got fired for cause and still got benefits, but someone trying to escape harassment has to jump through hoops. Makes no sense.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I think I'm going to start documenting everything more carefully and maybe try to reach ESD to discuss my specific situation before I make any decisions. This is really helpful information.

Just want to add - if you do quit and apply for benefits, be completely honest on your application about why you quit. Trying to hide it or lie about it will just make things worse if they find out later.

my sister went through this exact situation last year. she had to quit because of sexual harassment and washington esd approved her claim but it took like 6 weeks of back and forth. she said having a paper trail was crucial

Consider filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission if the harassment involves protected characteristics like gender, race, religion, etc. Having an official EEOC complaint on file can strengthen your unemployment case.

Whatever you decide, don't let them push you into quitting without fighting back first. Some employers try to make conditions so bad that you'll quit instead of them having to fire you. Document everything and maybe consult with someone who knows employment law.

I used to work for Washington ESD and can tell you they take good cause quits seriously, but you really need solid documentation. Witness statements, emails, incident reports - anything that proves the hostile environment. Also make sure you follow your company's complaint process first.

Been there done that. Quit due to harassment in 2023 and got approved for benefits, but I had to appeal the initial denial. The appeals process was stressful but worth it. Make sure you understand the timeline - you only have 30 days to appeal if you get denied initially.

If you're considering quitting, you might also want to look into whether your employer offers any employee assistance programs or mediation services. Sometimes there are internal resources that can help resolve conflicts before you have to take the drastic step of leaving.

The most important thing is don't rush into anything. I know it's miserable dealing with harassment but once you quit, you're at the mercy of the unemployment system. Take time to build your case properly if you're going to go that route.

One last thing - if you do quit and apply for benefits, be prepared for your employer to contest your claim. They often fight good cause quits because it can affect their unemployment insurance rates. Having rock-solid documentation becomes even more important in contested cases.

This whole thread has been super helpful. I'm in a similar situation and didn't realize there were so many factors to consider. Going to start documenting things better and maybe try that Claimyr service to get some official guidance from ESD.

I went through this exact situation about 18 months ago. The key thing that helped me get approved was keeping a detailed log - I wrote down every incident with dates, times, what was said/done, and who witnessed it. I also saved any emails or texts that showed the pattern of behavior. When I finally quit and applied for benefits, I had a 3-page timeline that clearly showed the escalating harassment. It took about 4 weeks for approval but having that documentation made all the difference. Start building your paper trail now, even if you're not sure you'll quit - you can always decide not to use it later.