If I quit my job can I collect unemployment - Washington ESD rules?

What would count as 'good cause'? The hostile work environment is getting pretty bad - my manager yells at employees in front of customers and has threatened to write people up for taking legally required breaks.

That could potentially qualify if you can document it properly. Washington ESD considers things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties as possible good cause. You'd need evidence though.

How did your appeal turn out? And yeah I've heard the Washington ESD phone lines are impossible to get through on.

Eventually won the appeal but it took 3 months. I ended up using this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at ESD. They have some kind of system that keeps calling until you get connected. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

I haven't made any formal complaints to HR yet because I'm worried about retaliation. Should I do that first before quitting?

Yes, absolutely. File a formal complaint with HR and keep copies of everything. If they don't address it or if there's retaliation, that strengthens your case for good cause. Also keep a log of incidents with dates and times.

This is exactly right. I used to work in HR and we always told people to document everything and follow the proper complaint procedures first. It shows you made a good faith effort to resolve things.

It really is stressful! I'm sorry you're dealing with this too. Are you documenting everything that's happening?

i started keeping notes on my phone but i'm not sure if that's enough proof? also scared they'll find out and fire me before i can quit

Phone notes are better than nothing but try to get emails or texts if possible. And honestly, if they fire you for documenting harassment, that would actually help your unemployment case.

While the system can be frustrating, people do win appeals for good cause quits. It's not automatic but it's possible with proper documentation.

Maybe if you have a lawyer and unlimited time to fight it. Most people can't afford to wait months for an appeal while they have no income.

That's the problem - it's hard to job search when you're dealing with a toxic workplace that's draining all your energy. But you're probably right about the risk.

I get that but unemployment benefits aren't guaranteed even in the best circumstances. At least try to line up some interviews before you make the jump.

Like I mentioned earlier, I used Claimyr to get through. It's honestly the only way I've been able to reach them. The regular phone system is completely broken.

Is that service legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

Yeah it's legit. They don't ask for personal info or anything sketchy. They just keep calling the ESD number until someone picks up, then connect you. Saved me probably 40+ hours of calling.

Good point about the notice. Even though they don't deserve it, I should probably still do things the right way.

That's encouraging to hear! How long did the whole process take from when you first applied?

About 8 weeks total including the appeal. The hardest part was actually getting through to ESD to explain the situation during the appeals process.

8 weeks isn't too bad compared to some horror stories I've heard. Did you have any income during that time?

I had some savings but it was really tight. Definitely wouldn't recommend quitting without some kind of financial cushion.

Thanks for the reference! I'll try to look that up, though yeah their website is pretty awful to navigate.

That's actually a really good idea. Even just a consultation might help me understand my options better.

Washington State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. Might be worth checking out.

Yeah that's exactly the position I'm in. It's affecting my sleep, my relationships, everything. But I'm also the sole breadwinner right now so I'm scared to take the risk.

I get it completely. Maybe start job searching now while you're still employed, even if it's hard. Having options makes the decision easier.

I keep seeing people mention this service. Might be worth looking into if I end up going down this path.

That's great! You're building a solid case for good cause if things don't improve. Keep copies of everything they give you.

Good for you for speaking up! Hope they actually do something about the situation.

Smart move. Even if HR doesn't fix everything, you've established that you tried to work within the system first.