Washington ESD good cause to quit for unemployment - need to know if I qualify

Washington ESD has pretty strict rules about good cause. You'll need to prove you had no reasonable alternative but to quit. Harassment definitely can qualify but you need documentation - emails, witnesses, HR complaints, etc. Did you report the harassment to HR or management?

The hour reduction might also qualify as good cause if it's substantial enough. Washington ESD usually considers a reduction of 25% or more as potentially qualifying. How much did they cut your hours?

I had to quit for good cause last year due to unsafe working conditions. The key is proving you tried to resolve the issues first and that quitting was your last resort. Washington ESD will want to see that you made reasonable efforts to address the problems before leaving.

Honestly, getting through to Washington ESD to even file your claim can be a nightmare. I spent weeks trying to call them about my situation. If you do decide to quit, be prepared for a long wait to get someone on the phone. I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through - they have a system that calls Washington ESD for you. Check out claimyr.com if you get stuck trying to reach them.

be careful about quitting!! i quit my job last year thinking i had good cause and washington esd denied my claim. took months to appeal and i barely won. they're really strict about it

Some other good cause reasons Washington ESD recognizes include: domestic violence situations, medical conditions that make work impossible, significant changes to job duties or working conditions, and relocation of the workplace. The key is always documentation and showing you had no other choice.

I work in HR and see this stuff all the time. Washington ESD investigators are thorough - they'll contact your employer to get their side of the story. Make sure everything you claim is accurate and well-documented. They hate inconsistencies.

My sister quit her job for harassment and got approved for UI benefits. The trick is documenting EVERYTHING - dates, times, witnesses, what was said. She kept a detailed journal of every incident.

Whatever you do, don't just walk out without notice. Washington ESD looks more favorably on people who tried to handle things professionally. Give proper notice if possible and document that you did.

The adjudication process for good cause quits can take FOREVER with Washington ESD. Mine took 8 weeks to get a decision. Be prepared to wait and have some savings if possible.

Make sure you understand the difference between voluntary quit and discharge too. If you can get them to fire you instead of quitting, it might be easier to get benefits. Sometimes employers will agree to that if they know you're going to quit anyway.

I used Claimyr too when I was dealing with a good cause quit situation. Couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks and was getting desperate. They got me connected to an agent who walked me through exactly what documentation I needed. Definitely worth it if you're stuck.

constructive discharge is another thing to look into - thats when they make working conditions so bad that any reasonable person would quit. sounds like with the harassment and hour cuts you might have a case for that

Just want to add that even if you have good cause, you still need to be actively looking for work to keep getting benefits. Washington ESD requires job search activities every week you claim.

The Washington ESD website has a good cause worksheet you can fill out. It helps you organize all your documentation and reasons. Definitely use that when you file your claim.

My advice is to consult with an employment attorney before you quit if possible. Many offer free consultations and can tell you if your situation truly qualifies as good cause. Better to know for sure before you leave your job.

washington esd denied my good cause claim initially but i appealed and won. dont give up if they deny you - the appeals process is there for a reason. you can have a phone hearing and present your case

If you do quit, make sure your resignation letter clearly states it's due to the harassment and hour reduction. Don't just say you're leaving for 'personal reasons' or Washington ESD might not consider it good cause.

One more thing - keep copies of EVERYTHING. Pay stubs, emails, your resignation letter, any responses from your employer. Washington ESD might ask for documentation weeks or months later and you want to have it ready.

Good luck with whatever you decide! The process can be stressful but if you truly have good cause and document it well, you should be able to get benefits. Don't let a bad employer force you to stay in a terrible situation.