Washington ESD unemployment after quitting job - what qualifies?

What kind of documentation do they want? I have some emails but mostly it's verbal stuff that's hard to prove.

Start keeping a written log of every incident with dates and times. If there are witnesses, get their contact info. Washington ESD will review all evidence during adjudication.

We don't really have HR, it's a small company. I did try talking to the owner once but nothing changed.

Document that conversation too. Write down when you talked to them and what was said. That shows you made an effort to fix things.

How much does that cost? I'm already broke which is why I need to figure this out.

It's worth checking out their site for details, but for me it was way better than spending hours trying to get through to Washington ESD myself. Time is money when you're dealing with unemployment.

That's what I'm worried about. How do I know if my situation is bad enough to qualify?

Look up RCW 50.20.050 - that's the Washington law that defines good cause. Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties can qualify.

What happened with your appeal? Did you eventually get benefits?

Yeah but it took like 3 months and I had to do a phone hearing. Was super stressful and I almost gave up.

That's an interesting point. How would I go about that without it looking like I'm trying to get fired on purpose?

Just stand up for yourself professionally. Document everything they do wrong. If they fire you for legitimate complaints about workplace issues, that's wrongful termination territory.

This is risky advice though. You could end up with a termination on your record which might hurt future job searches.

Yes! That's covered under Washington's good cause provisions. You'd need to show they deliberately made conditions intolerable to force you out.

How do I prove that though? It's not like they're going to admit they're trying to make me quit.

Good point. I didn't realize you could appeal and still potentially get benefits for the time you're waiting.

Yeah, if you win the appeal they'll pay you retroactively from when you first applied. But the process can take months so don't count on quick resolution.

I hadn't thought of that. Would they help with the unemployment case specifically?

Some will. They know the laws inside and out and can help you document everything properly. Plus if there's potential for a bigger case they might take it on contingency.

That makes sense. I'm definitely going to need to explain the whole situation to someone who can make the decision.

The phone system at Washington ESD is brutal though. I spent weeks trying to get through before I found other options.

How many jobs do you have to apply to each week?

It varies but usually 3-5 per week. You have to log them in the system and they can audit you anytime. Don't mess around with that requirement.

Thanks, it really is frustrating. I just want to get out of this toxic situation without completely screwing myself over financially.

totally understand. document everything and don't let them intimidate you into staying in a bad situation.

This is really helpful, thank you. I'm going to start documenting everything today and see if I can build a strong enough case.

Good plan. And remember, your mental health matters too. Don't sacrifice your wellbeing just because the system makes it difficult.

That's encouraging! How long did the whole process take from when you first applied?

About 6 weeks total. Initial denial, then appeal, then they did interviews with me and my former coworkers. Worth it in the end though.

I didn't know they helped with that. Is that separate from the unemployment claim process?

It's separate but they can sometimes provide support and resources. Plus you'll need to register with them anyway for your job search requirements.

Yeah, I can see how this would be hard to explain through just forms and documents. Thanks for all the advice everyone.

agree with this completely. these situations are too complicated for the automated system to handle properly.

That's smart. I've been so focused on just getting out that I hadn't thought about lining up alternatives first.

It's always easier to find a job when you have a job. Plus if you get fired while job searching, that's much better for unemployment than quitting.

Thank you, I really appreciate all the advice from everyone. This gives me a much better idea of what I need to do.

Already started a log after reading these responses. Better late than never I guess.

Exactly. And remember to back up any digital records somewhere safe in case you lose access to work systems.

Glad it helped someone else too. It's comforting to know other people have dealt with this successfully.