Washington ESD unemployment benefits if forced to resign - need help

I've been keeping screenshots of the schedule changes but I don't have much else documented. Should I try to get something in writing from my supervisor about the ultimatum?

Yes, if you can get it in writing that would be huge. Even if not, write down dates, times, and what was said as soon as possible while it's fresh in your memory.

How long did adjudication take for you? I'm worried about how I'll pay rent if this drags out for months.

mine took about 6 weeks but i had pretty clear documentation of harassment. the key is having specific examples not just general complaints

how much does that cost though? seems like another expense when you're already struggling

I thought the same thing but it was worth it to actually talk to someone who could move my case forward instead of waiting months in limbo.

I'll look into that if my claim gets stuck. Right now I'm just trying to figure out if I should quit or try to stick it out.

We don't really have HR - it's a small company. Should I still try talking to the owner about this?

Definitely yes. Send an email to the owner explaining the situation and asking for help resolving it. Keep a copy of that email - it shows you tried to fix things before quitting.

And if they don't respond or blow you off, that's documentation too that they weren't willing to address the hostile work environment.

that's not totally true - my friend got approved for UI after quitting a toxic job but she had really good documentation

Your friend got lucky then. Most people I know who quit get automatically denied even with good reasons.

I work in retail management. Not sure if that makes a difference for unemployment eligibility.

retail can be tricky because they often claim you could have transferred to another location or worked different shifts

This is really helpful. Do text messages count as documentation? My supervisor has sent me some pretty unprofessional texts about my schedule.

Absolutely! Screenshot those texts and back them up. Anything that shows the hostile behavior or unreasonable demands will help your case.

Make sure you get the phone numbers visible in the screenshots so they can verify it came from your supervisor.

That's a common misconception. You can get UI if you quit for 'good cause' - things like harassment, unsafe conditions, significant changes to your job without your agreement, etc.

Oh wow, I wish I had known that when I quit my last job due to harassment. Too late now I guess.

That's a good point. Some of the tasks she's giving me are literally impossible to complete in the time allowed but I should probably still try my best.

Exactly. And email her afterwards explaining why you couldn't complete everything - that creates a paper trail showing the unreasonable expectations.

Ugh, I hadn't thought about that. My supervisor would definitely lie about what happened if it came to that.

That's why the documentation is so important. Let the evidence speak for itself rather than relying on he-said-she-said.

That sounds exhausting. Are you getting any benefits while the appeal is pending?

No, once they appeal you don't get anything until the hearing is resolved. That's why I'm working three part-time jobs now just to survive.

That's so unfair. The system really is stacked against workers who are already dealing with abuse.

I can't afford a lawyer right now but I'll look into free consultations. Thank you for the suggestion.

Check with your state bar association - they often have low-cost legal clinics for employment issues.

I'm planning to talk to the owner this week and document that conversation. Hopefully they'll actually listen.

good luck! even if they dont fix anything at least youll have tried which is what matters for ui

Did they help you prepare for the adjudication interview or just get you connected to ESD?

They just help you get connected to actual ESD agents, but that was exactly what I needed. The agent walked me through what documents to submit and how to frame my case.

What's the difference? I thought good cause was good cause.

Good cause connected to' work is things like harassment, unsafe conditions, or major changes to your 'job. Good' cause can include personal reasons like domestic violence or health issues. Both can qualify you for UI but they have differentrequirements.

Your situation with the hostile supervisor sounds like it would fall under 'good cause connected to work' since it's directly related to your job conditions.

That's what I'm worried about. I need to pay bills and if it takes months to get benefits I don't know what I'll do.

Start looking for other jobs now even before you quit. You might be able to line something up so you don't have to rely on UI at all.

Or at least have some part-time work lined up to help with expenses while you wait for the UI decision.

That's a really good point. I can probably put together a timeline of when things got worse and worse.

Exactly. And if you have any witnesses to the behavior - coworkers, customers, anyone - see if they'd be willing to provide a statement.

A few people have mentioned that service. I might try it if I can't get through on my own.

Yeah, the regular phone lines are basically impossible. I tried calling for weeks and never got through to a human.

I haven't looked into the job search requirements yet. Is it just applying for jobs or are there other things you have to do?

You need to apply for jobs, but you also need to register with WorkSource and might need to do other activities like networking events or job fairs. Check the Washington ESD website for the current requirements.

Thank you, this whole thread has been really helpful. I feel like I have a better plan now for how to handle this situation.

Good luck! Stand up for yourself but do it smart. You deserve to work in a place that treats you with respect.

This is excellent advice about keeping a detailed journal. I'd also suggest backing up all your documentation in multiple places - cloud storage, email to yourself, etc. I've heard horror stories of people losing crucial evidence when their work computer got wiped or their phone broke. The performance review idea is really smart too - it helps establish that you were a good employee before the harassment started.

That's such good advice about backing up documentation! I learned this the hard way when my laptop crashed and I lost some screenshots of inappropriate messages from my former manager. Now I always email important evidence to my personal account immediately. Also, if you're keeping a journal, try to write entries as close to when incidents happen as possible - it makes them more credible if you end up in a hearing because you can show they were written in real-time, not reconstructed later from memory.