Washington ESD unemployment eligibility if an employee quits - confused about the rules

What kind of documentation would she need? She never filed any formal complaints with HR because it's a small company.

Text messages, emails, witness statements from coworkers, anything showing the hostile behavior. Even a written timeline of incidents can help during the adjudication process.

How long did the adjudication process take for your case? She's worried about how long she'll be without income.

Mine took about 6 weeks total. The hardest part was getting through to an adjudicator to explain my situation properly.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to agents faster. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Wait, so you can quit and still get unemployment? I thought that was impossible!

It's not widely known, but yes. Many people don't apply because they assume quitting = no benefits. The burden is proving the quit was justified.

Good point. Should she mention specific incidents or keep it general on the initial application?

be specific but concise on the app then save the detailed explanation for when they contact her during adjudication

That sounds awful. Have you been able to talk to anyone at Washington ESD about your case?

I've tried calling dozens of times but can never get through. The phone system just hangs up on you after being on hold forever.

You should try that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier - claimyr.com. It basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person. Worked great when I needed to check on my adjudication status.

How many jobs does she need to apply for each week in Washington?

Minimum 3 job search activities per week. Can be applications, interviews, networking events, etc. She needs to keep a log.

Actually, being fired for misconduct can also disqualify you. The system tries to determine who's at fault, but it's not perfect.

Maybe, but they seem to approve fired people faster than people who quit for legitimate reasons.

I didn't think about that. Would that help with the unemployment decision?

It can show that the issues were serious enough to warrant an official complaint. Washington ESD adjudicators sometimes consider that as supporting evidence.

The system exists to provide temporary support for people who lose work through no fault of their own. That's why they investigate circumstances.

i get that but the process takes forever and people need money now not in 2 months

Good point! I'll tell her to file today. Better to apply and get denied than not apply at all.

Do employers usually contest quit claims? My old boss hasn't said anything yet but I'm worried they will.

depends on the employer some dont bother but others fight everything because it affects their unemployment tax rate

Thanks for the professional perspective! How often do these cases get approved in your experience?

Hard to say exactly, but cases with solid documentation have a much better chance. The key is proving the employer's actions made continuing work unreasonable.

Even before she knows if she's approved? That seems weird.

Yep, Washington ESD requires job search activities from week one. If she gets approved later they'll pay benefits for those weeks if she was compliant.

Is it legit though? Seems too good to be true that someone else can call for you.

Totally legitimate. They just dial repeatedly until they get through, then connect you to talk directly to the ESD agent. Saved me so much time and frustration.

You're absolutely right. I'm going to tell her to apply today and gather all her documentation. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!