If I resign can I collect unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

What counts as good cause exactly? I've been keeping some emails but didn't file formal HR complaints because we don't really have an HR department.

Good cause includes harassment, unsafe working conditions, significant changes to job duties or pay, discrimination. Document everything you can - even if there's no HR, any written communication helps.

How long did the adjudication process take for you? I'm worried about being without income for weeks while they investigate.

Mine took about 6 weeks, which was really stressful financially. Make sure you have some savings if possible before you make the decision to quit.

6 weeks?? That's insane. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD about my regular claim for 3 weeks with no luck.

Never heard of that before, is it legit? I've been calling Washington ESD for days and either get disconnected or told to call back later.

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They basically navigate the phone system for you and connect you to an actual person. Way better than spending hours on hold just to get hung up on.

This might be helpful for getting clarity on my situation before I actually quit. Thanks for sharing!

I can't really afford a lawyer right now, which is part of why I need to know my options. The situation at work is getting worse every day though.

There are some free legal aid clinics that might help with employment issues. Worth looking into before you make any big decisions.

Did you eventually win your appeal? What evidence did you need to provide?

Yes but it was a nightmare. Had to get statements from coworkers, medical records showing stress-related issues, documentation of every incident. The whole process was exhausting.

That's why it's so important to document everything while you're still employed. Don't wait until after you quit to start gathering evidence.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - the regular phone system is basically broken. At least with their service I could actually talk to someone who could help.

might have to check that out, this is ridiculous

It's mostly verbal but there have been some inappropriate comments in writing. Also unrealistic deadlines that set me up to fail, then public criticism when I can't meet them.

The written comments could be really helpful for your case. Make sure you save everything and maybe forward important emails to your personal account for safekeeping.

Be careful about forwarding company emails to personal accounts - some places consider that theft of company property. Better to screenshot or print if possible.

I haven't really looked into other options yet. I'm in Washington state - do you know what kind of protections might exist?

Washington has pretty strong worker protection laws. You might want to file a complaint with the state Department of Labor & Industries about the harassment before you quit - it could strengthen your unemployment case.

Thanks for the warning. I'm trying to be strategic about it but some days I just want to walk out. What would you have done differently?

I would have documented everything better and maybe consulted with someone who knew the system before making the decision. Also would have saved more money first.

That's a good point - constructive dismissal can qualify for benefits. You'd need to show that any reasonable person would have quit under those circumstances.

How do you prove that though? Is it just about showing the working conditions were unreasonable?

You need to show a pattern of behavior that made your job untenable. Single incidents usually aren't enough unless they're really severe.

My supervisor's boss is part of the problem unfortunately. It's a small company so there aren't many people to escalate to.

That makes it harder but also potentially strengthens your case if you can show the problems were systemic and there was no internal recourse available.

That's really helpful insight! What kind of documentation was most convincing in the cases you saw?

Written communications showing the problems, medical documentation if stress affected your health, witness statements from coworkers, and records of any complaints you filed internally.

What about if you don't have coworkers willing to speak up? A lot of people are afraid of retaliation.

Good point, I hadn't really thought about the ongoing requirements. I assume I'd need to be actively looking for work?

Yes, you'll need to log job search activities and be available for work. Can't just take a mental health break on unemployment unfortunately.

Should I mention that I'm planning to file for unemployment in the resignation letter?

I wouldn't mention unemployment specifically, but definitely document the reasons clearly. That letter could be important evidence later.

Exactly - keep it professional but detailed about the specific issues that made your position untenable.

There's no real HR department at my company, just the owner and a couple managers. I'm worried that bringing it up will just make things worse before I'm ready to leave.

I understand the concern, but having a paper trail of trying to resolve issues internally can be really important for establishing good cause.

How quickly can I file after quitting? Do I need to wait for any paperwork from my employer?

You can file your claim online the same day or day after your last day of work. Don't wait for anything from your employer - you can always provide additional documentation later.

And if you have trouble reaching them during the process, remember that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. Really saved me a lot of headaches when I needed to get through quickly.