Preparing for ESD appeal hearing next week - need tips to not mess up my case

I went through an appeal hearing last year and won after initially being denied. Here's what helped me:\n\n1. Write down your timeline of events with specific dates\n2. Gather any evidence showing the hostile work environment (emails, texts, witness statements)\n3. Review the RCW 50.20.050 section on good cause for voluntary quits\n4. Practice explaining your situation clearly and concisely\n\nThe judge in my hearing was actually fair and let me fully explain my situation, unlike the adjudicator. Be prepared for your former employer to possibly attend and dispute your version of events.\n\nRepresentation isn't necessary but can help if you have a complex case. The Unemployment Law Project offers free or low-cost assistance: https://unemploymentlawproject.org/

Thank you so much for this advice! I've started writing everything down but didn't think about looking up the specific law section. Did your former employer show up to your hearing? Mine is a small business and I'm worried the owner will lie about what happened.

lol ur adjudicator sounds just like mine!! she was sooo rude and kept cutting me off. i swear they all have quotas to deny claims. my hearing got cancelled cuz my employer didnt show up and i won by default. hope ur boss doesnt show either!

That would be amazing if they don't show up! Did you have to wait long for your decision after the hearing was cancelled?

I recommend preparing thoroughly for your appeal hearing. The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) judges are typically much more impartial than ESD adjudicators. Here's what you should focus on:\n\n- Document specific incidents that made your workplace hostile\n- If verbal abuse occurred, note dates and what was said as best you can recall\n- Explain what steps you took to resolve issues before quitting (talking to supervisor, HR, etc.)\n- Be prepared to explain why these conditions would cause a reasonable person to quit\n\nFor legal representation, the Unemployment Law Project offers free consultations and may be able to help. Their services are often low-cost or free depending on your financial situation. Free WorkSource workshops on appeal preparation are also available.\n\nI've been through two appeal hearings (won both) and found that clear, factual statements without emotional language were most effective. Good luck!

Thank you for such detailed advice! I don't think I documented things well enough when I was working there because I was just trying to survive each day. I did send some texts to my mom and friends about what was happening - would those be useful evidence?

Getting through to ESD to ask questions before your hearing can be really helpful, but it's nearly impossible to reach them these days! I was in your exact position last year and spent DAYS trying to get answers about the appeal process. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual ESD agent who explained what to expect at the hearing. Totally worth it - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3\n\nThe agent gave me specific advice for my situation that really helped me prepare. Remember that the appeal judge hasn't made up their mind yet, unlike that rude adjudicator you dealt with!

does this claimyr thing actually work? i've been trying to reach esd for 2 weeks about a different issue

Yes, it worked for me both times I used it. Got through to ESD in about 30-40 minutes instead of spending days redialing. The agents were able to explain the appeal process and what evidence would be most helpful.

I HAD THE WORST ADJUDICATOR TOO!!! Literally interrupted me every 5 seconds and twisted everything I said. These people are NOT trained properly!!! My appeal hearing was completely different though. The judge was super professional and listened to everything. BRING ALL YOUR EVIDENCE!!! Screenshots, emails, anything that proves your case. \n\nI didn't get a lawyer and still won my appeal. Just be honest and stick to FACTS not emotions. Dont let your ex boss make you angry during the hearing either - they might try to provoke you to make you look bad!!!

That's so good to hear that the judge was better than the adjudicator! Did you have to wait long after the hearing to get your decision? And how long after winning did you actually get your back payments?

Got my decision letter about 10 days after the hearing. The payments took another 2 weeks to process after that. So about a month total from hearing to money in my account. Worth the wait though!!!

When I had my appeal hearing in 2024, I found it helpful to organize my presentation into three main sections: 1) The conditions that made the workplace intolerable, 2) The efforts I made to resolve those conditions before quitting, and 3) Why those conditions meet the legal standard for

$800-1500? Yikes, that's way more than I can afford right now. I think I'll have to represent myself. Thank you for the tip about organizing my presentation into those three sections - that's really helpful structure!

my friend had hearing last month, she said judge was nothing like the mean adjudicator. just tell the truth and bring proof if u have it. she won her case without a lawyer.

One more thing I forgot to mention - during my hearing, the judge asked some unexpected questions about whether I looked for other jobs before quitting. Make sure you're prepared to explain if you tried to find other work before leaving your toxic job, as this can sometimes be relevant to good cause determinations.\n\nAlso, if you've been filing weekly claims during this waiting period, double-check that they're all properly submitted in the system. Sometimes claims can get stuck or show errors during the appeal process, and you don't want to miss out on any weeks of potential payment if you win.

That's a great point - I actually did apply to a few places before quitting because things were getting so bad, but I hadn't found anything yet when the situation became unbearable. I'll make sure to mention that! And yes, I've been religiously filing my weekly claims even though they all say \

am i the only one who thinks its crazy we need to prepare like lawyers just to get benefits we paid into?? the whole system is designed to make us give up

EXACTLY!!! And then they wonder why people get so frustrated and angry on the phone with them. We're just trying to survive!!!

Regarding your earlier question about texts to friends/family as evidence - yes, these can be helpful if they were written contemporaneously with the events. They show you were reporting these issues at the time they occurred, not fabricating them later. Make sure to redact any personal information about your friends/family if you submit these.\n\nAlso, for hostile work environment cases, it's crucial to demonstrate that you brought concerns to management when possible. If you have any documentation showing you reported problems to a supervisor or HR, these will significantly strengthen your case. If you didn't formally report issues, be prepared to explain why (fear of retaliation, no HR department, supervisor was the problem, etc.).

This makes me feel better! I did email my boss about the scheduling issues a couple times, and I have those. I also talked to him in person about the verbal abuse but he just said I was \