Washington ESD unemployment if I quit job because of stress - am I eligible?

Washington ESD considers quitting for 'good cause' which can include hostile work environment, but you'll need documentation. Did you report the supervisor's behavior to HR or management before quitting? They'll want to see you tried to resolve it first.

same thing happened to my brother except he was a truck driver. took forever to get approved because washington esd had to investigate if it was really good cause. he ended up having to go through adjudication for like 6 weeks

You should definitely apply right away even if you're unsure about eligibility. Washington ESD will make the determination during adjudication. For stress-related quits, they look at whether a reasonable person would have quit under the same circumstances. Document everything - the yelling incidents, any witnesses, medical visits related to stress, communications with HR.

Been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my own adjudication issue. Their phone system is impossible! Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth it if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

The system is SO broken! They make you jump through hoops to prove you had 'good cause' but what about companies that treat employees like garbage?? I quit my last job because of harassment and it took THREE MONTHS to get approved. Had to appeal and everything.

Key things Washington ESD looks for in stress-related quit cases: 1) You tried to resolve the issue first 2) Medical documentation if health was affected 3) Specific incidents with dates/witnesses 4) Evidence the employer knew about the problem. It's not automatic approval but you have a shot with the right documentation.

idk much about quitting but my cousin got unemployment after she quit her job at a restaurant. she said the manager was making inappropriate comments and creating a hostile environment. took a while but she got approved

Important reminder: Washington ESD defines 'good cause' as circumstances that would compel a reasonable and prudent person to quit. For workplace stress, they consider factors like: severity of conditions, efforts made to resolve issues, availability of alternatives, and impact on health/safety. Your panic attacks and HR documentation should help your case.

Just want to say good luck with your claim. The adjudication process for quit cases can be stressful but if you have documentation you should be okay. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to check on my claim status and it was actually pretty easy to get through to an agent.

One more tip: when you file, select 'quit' as your separation reason and in the comments section mention 'good cause due to hostile work environment affecting health.' This flags your claim for proper adjudication review rather than automatic denial.

Filing tomorrow myself for a similar situation. Boss was verbally abusive and created impossible working conditions. Really hoping Washington ESD sees it as good cause because I can't go back to that environment.

Still can't believe how hard they make it to get benefits when you quit a toxic job. Like we're supposed to stay in abusive situations just to keep unemployment eligibility? The whole system needs reform.

Update on my situation - that Claimyr service really did help me get through to Washington ESD. Finally got my adjudication questions answered and my claim was approved. Definitely worth checking out if you need to speak with an agent about your quit situation.

Final advice for OP: Apply immediately, be thorough with documentation, and don't let anyone tell you that quitting automatically disqualifies you. Washington ESD has provisions for good cause quits, especially when health and safety are involved. Your situation sounds like it has merit.

hope it works out for you. toxic workplaces are everywhere and people shouldn't have to choose between their mental health and financial security

Been following this thread because I'm in a similar boat with a supervisor who's making my life miserable. Reading everyone's experiences has been really helpful in understanding my options.

Just wanted to add that Washington ESD adjudicators do take workplace stress seriously when there's proper documentation. My sister got approved after quitting due to harassment, but she had medical records and witness statements.

good luck with your claim! the waiting period for adjudication is nerve-wracking but hang in there

One last thing - if your claim goes into adjudication and you need updates on the status, seriously consider using Claimyr to get through to an agent. Saved me weeks of frustration trying to get information about my case.

Best of luck OP. You've got good documentation and a legitimate case for good cause. The process may take time but don't get discouraged. Washington ESD does approve quit cases when the circumstances warrant it.