Washington ESD unemployment if you resign - is it possible?

Yes, you can potentially qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington if you quit for 'good cause.' The key is documenting everything thoroughly. Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, discrimination, or significant changes to your job that weren't part of your original agreement. You'll need evidence though - emails, witness statements, documentation of complaints you made to HR.

I quit my job last year due to harassment and got approved for benefits after an adjudication process. Took about 6 weeks though and I had to provide a lot of documentation. Make sure you have everything organized before you file.

I was in a similar situation and couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks to even discuss my case. If you need to actually talk to someone about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really helped me get answers about my quit situation.

Whatever you do, don't just quit without documenting everything first. I made that mistake and got denied initially. Had to go through the whole appeal process which took months.

The Washington ESD website has a whole section about voluntary quit situations. Look under 'good cause' provisions. They specifically mention things like domestic violence, unsafe working conditions, and harassment as potential qualifying reasons.

been there done that. quit my job bc of similar issues and didnt get benefits. they said i should have tried to work it out first even though i told them my boss was crazy

Important note - you still have to be able and available for work and actively job searching even if you quit for good cause. Some people think quitting for good cause means different rules apply, but you still have to meet all the regular UI requirements.

I would strongly recommend consulting with an employment attorney before quitting if you're planning to file for unemployment. Many offer free consultations and can help you understand if your situation truly qualifies as good cause.

One more thing - when you file your claim, be very specific about why you quit in the initial application. Don't just say 'personal reasons' or 'job wasn't a good fit.' Use language like 'hostile work environment' or 'harassment by supervisor' so they know to look for good cause.

Just be prepared for a fight. Even with good documentation, Washington ESD tends to deny voluntary quit cases initially. You might need to appeal and possibly go to a hearing. Don't give up if you get that first denial letter.

Since you're dealing with harassment, you might also want to look into filing a complaint with the Washington State Human Rights Commission alongside your unemployment claim. Having that official complaint on record could strengthen your good cause argument.

Whatever you decide, don't quit impulsively. Plan it out strategically. Give yourself time to gather evidence, maybe consult with a lawyer, and have some savings built up in case the UI claim takes a while to get approved.

I used Claimyr too when I had questions about my good cause quit situation. Really helped me understand what Washington ESD was looking for in terms of documentation. The agent I spoke with was super helpful in explaining the process.

update on my situation from earlier - i actually did appeal my denial and won! took forever but they eventually agreed the working conditions were unreasonable. so dont give up if u get denied initially

Don't forget that if you do quit and file for unemployment, your former employer will get notified and can contest your claim. Be prepared for them to potentially dispute your version of events. That's another reason why documentation is so crucial.

In Washington you also have the option to try to negotiate a severance agreement instead of just quitting. Sometimes employers will agree to let you resign with benefits or even do a 'layoff' instead if they want to avoid potential legal issues.

Make sure you understand the difference between 'good cause attributable to the employer' and 'good cause not attributable to the employer.' Washington ESD treats these differently in terms of benefit eligibility and waiting periods.

I've been following this thread and it's really helpful! I'm in a somewhat similar situation. One question - if you quit for good cause, do you still have to serve any kind of waiting period before benefits start?

Has anyone tried using the WorkSource offices for advice on this kind of situation? I wonder if they have counselors who can help you think through the decision and understand your options.

Final thought - whatever you decide, keep taking care of your mental health through this process. Toxic work environments can really mess with your head, and the unemployment process can be stressful too. Don't hesitate to seek counseling or support.