Need advice: Can I file a bonding claim with ESD but keep working while it processes?

wait u cant do that. its fraud if ur still working while claiming unemployment

I think you're confused about what a bonding claim is? Bonding claims are for employers who need protection when hiring people with criminal records. They have nothing to do with employer misconduct or hostile work environments. What you probably want is to file for regular unemployment with a "good cause quit" reason.

To answer your actual question: No, you cannot be approved for unemployment before you actually separate from your job. The system is designed to only provide benefits after you're no longer employed. However, what you CAN do is document everything about the hostile work environment now to strengthen your case later. Save emails, keep a journal of incidents with dates/times, and note any witnesses. This will help support your "good cause quit" claim once you do leave. And yes, your employer will be notified when you file - they have to be given a chance to dispute your claim. That's just how the system works.

i had a hostile work environment too and quit but ESD denied me and said i should have tried to fix the problem first. they didn't care about the texts from my boss calling me names. the system is rigged!! 😠

Since you're worried about retaliation, you should know that Washington state has strong anti-retaliation laws. If your employer takes negative action against you for documenting or reporting harassment/hostile work environment, that strengthens your case even more. As others have mentioned, you need to actually quit before filing, but preparation is key. You might want to speak with an employment attorney for a free consultation - many offer this. They can give you specific advice about your situation and how to maximize your chances of qualifying for benefits when you do leave. Also, do you have any PTO or sick leave you could use while looking for another job? That might be a safer approach than quitting without having something else lined up.

When I was having trouble reaching ESD about my claim status, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent in about 25 minutes instead of trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Might be helpful once you do file your claim, since these good cause quit situations often need to be discussed with an actual person.

Thanks everyone for the clarification and advice. To recap what I've learned: 1. I meant "good cause quit" not bonding claim (oops) 2. I can't get pre-approved for benefits - have to actually quit first 3. Need to formally report issues to HR/management before quitting 4. Document EVERYTHING with dates/times/witnesses 5. Look into using my PTO while job hunting I'll start putting together my documentation and make a formal complaint to HR tomorrow. Really appreciate all the help!