Washington ESD unemployment after quitting job due to harassment - am I eligible?

Yes, you can potentially qualify for UI benefits if you quit for "good cause." Harassment definitely falls under this category in Washington state. When you file your claim with Washington ESD, make sure to explain the situation thoroughly and provide any documentation you have. They'll investigate your case during the adjudication process.

I went through something similar last year. Washington ESD approved my claim after I quit due to a toxic supervisor. The key is proving you had "good cause" - which harassment absolutely is. Make sure you mention any attempts you made to resolve the situation with HR or management.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status or provide additional information, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help people actually reach ESD agents by phone instead of getting stuck in the endless phone tree. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone about your harassment documentation.

The system is so messed up! They make it impossible to reach anyone and then act like we're trying to cheat the system when we actually need help. I hope your case goes better than mine did.

Make sure you understand the difference between voluntary quit and constructive discharge. If the harassment was severe enough that any reasonable person would have quit, it might be considered constructive discharge which is treated more like being fired. Document everything including how it affected your work performance and mental health.

ugh i quit my last job too but for different reasons and they denied me. still fighting it. good luck with yours though harassment is def different than what i dealt with

Also remember that you'll need to be actively searching for work and available for work while your claim is being processed. Don't let the harassment situation prevent you from meeting your job search requirements - Washington ESD still expects you to look for new employment.

One thing that helped my case was getting a statement from a coworker who witnessed some of the harassment. If you have any colleagues who saw what happened, see if they'd be willing to provide a written statement.

Whatever you do, be completely honest on your unemployment application. Don't try to hide the fact that you quit - explain the circumstances clearly. Washington ESD will find out anyway and lying on your application is way worse than quitting for good cause.

my friend had a similar situation and her claim got approved but it took like 6 weeks because they had to investigate everything. just be patient with the process

If Washington ESD does contact your former employer as part of their investigation, that's normal. They'll want to hear both sides of the story. Having your documentation ready will help counter any claims from your employer that the harassment didn't happen.

Just wanted to say I'm sorry you went through that harassment situation. It takes courage to leave a toxic work environment and you did the right thing prioritizing your wellbeing.

One more tip - when you file your weekly claims (assuming your initial claim gets approved), you'll probably see questions about why you left your last job. Be consistent with what you put on your initial application. Any discrepancies could cause problems.

How long were you at the job before the harassment started? And how long did you endure it before quitting? Sometimes Washington ESD looks at whether you gave the employer enough time to address the issue.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DENY CLAIMS! They'll probably make you jump through a million hoops just to prove what you already know happened. But don't give up if they initially deny you - appeal everything!

Make sure you file your claim as soon as possible. There can be delays in processing and you want to get in the queue ASAP. The sooner you file, the sooner you might start receiving benefits if approved.

been following this thread and just wanted to mention that if you do end up needing to call Washington ESD during your case, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier really does work. i was skeptical at first but when you're dealing with harassment claims you need to be able to actually talk to someone

Don't forget that even if your unemployment claim gets approved, you should still consider filing a complaint with the Washington State Human Rights Commission about the harassment. That's a separate process but important for protecting other employees.

Quick question - did you get any kind of severance or final paycheck weirdness when you quit? Sometimes employers try to mess with your final pay when you quit for harassment reasons.

Final reminder - make sure you have all your personal documents organized before filing. You'll need your Social Security number, previous employer information, and details about your last day of work. Having everything ready will make the application process smoother.