Left job due to hostile work environment - what to expect from ESD for 'good cause' claim?

I went through this exact situation in January 2025. Here's what happened: 1. I filed my initial claim citing hostile work environment 2. ESD sent me a questionnaire asking for specifics about why I left 3. My employer contested the claim (they almost always do) 4. ESD initially denied me because they said I "didn't exhaust all remedies" with HR first 5. I appealed with documentation showing HR was part of the problem 6. Had a phone hearing with an Administrative Law Judge where I presented my evidence 7. Won my appeal and got backpay for all weeks My advice: Be SUPER specific in your initial claim. Don't just say "hostile workplace" - list specific incidents with dates. Document that you tried to resolve it through proper channels. Also, make sure you meet the definition of "good cause" under WAC 192-150-125. Having contemporaneous documentation (emails you sent at the time, not just statements after the fact) helped me tremendously.

they WILL deny u first!! hapened to me and everyone i kno. ESD always sides w/ employers first round then u gotta fight 4 it. make sure ur still doing ur weekly claims even when denied!!!

I left my job in October due to my manager screaming at me daily and making racist comments. I filed for unemployment and got denied right away. Then I appealed and waited FOREVER - like 12 weeks! - for a hearing. Meanwhile no benefits. The hearing was super intimidating with my ex-boss and their lawyer on the call. I ended up losing because I didn't have enough "evidence" even though I told HR multiple times. Just be prepared that it's an uphill battle and have EVERYTHING documented.

Hey, I went through this recently and managed to get approved after initially being denied. The key was getting through to an actual ESD agent who could understand my situation. Tried calling for three weeks straight with no luck - always disconnected. Then I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to ESD in under 25 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I spoke with helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed to submit for my appeal about the hostile work environment. Made a huge difference speaking to someone rather than trying to figure it out from the website.

One more thing to add - for hostile work environment claims, ESD is specifically looking for evidence that meets legal harassment standards. They want to see: 1. That the behavior was severe OR pervasive (one really bad incident OR ongoing pattern) 2. That it was based on a protected characteristic (gender, race, religion, etc.) OR was objectively intolerable for any reasonable person 3. That you reported it through proper channels 4. That the employer failed to remedy the situation Be very precise in your documentation. "My boss yelled at me" is not as compelling as "On 3/15/25, my supervisor screamed 'you're too stupid to work here' in front of the entire department after I asked for clarification on project requirements."

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS!!! I quit my toxic job after my boss threw a stapler at me (!!!) and ESD still said I "quit without good cause" because I didn't file a police report. Then they wanted me to pay back $4,200 I'd already received and used for rent! The appeal process is a JOKE - the "judge" was clearly buddies with my ex-employer's lawyer. Don't expect fairness from this broken system.

I help people with ESD claims, and for hostile work environment situations, documentation is absolutely critical. Here's what you should prepare: - Written timeline of incidents with specific dates and details - Copies of any emails/texts showing you reported the issues - Names of witnesses (with contact info if possible) - Medical documentation if the situation affected your health - Any performance reviews showing you were a good employee With hostile work environment claims, ESD primarily wants to see that 1) the situation was genuinely intolerable, 2) it wasn't just a personality conflict, and 3) you made reasonable efforts to resolve it before quitting. Remember to continue filing your weekly claims even while waiting for a determination.

when i left my toxic job last year i just said i was laid off lol... way easier than proving hostile work environment... they never even checked with my employer

Thank you all for the advice! I'm definitely feeling more prepared now. I'm gathering all my documentation, continuing therapy, and will be explicit about the timeline of events when I file. I'm still nervous about the process but at least I have a better idea of what to expect now.