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What does voluntary quit mean on unemployment - Washington ESD says I quit voluntarily?

So I got a determination letter from Washington ESD saying my claim was denied because I "quit voluntarily" but I'm confused about what this actually means. I left my job because my boss was making the workplace hostile and I couldn't handle it anymore. Does that count as voluntary quit? I thought voluntary quit was only if you just decided to leave for no reason. Can someone explain what Washington ESD considers a voluntary quit vs other reasons for leaving? I really need these benefits and don't understand why they're saying I quit voluntarily when I felt like I had no choice.

Voluntary quit in Washington ESD terms means you initiated leaving your job, regardless of the circumstances that led to it. Even if you felt forced to leave due to working conditions, if you're the one who said "I quit" or stopped showing up, they classify it as voluntary. However, you might have good cause for quitting which could make you eligible.

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What counts as good cause? My supervisor was constantly yelling at me and making unreasonable demands.

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Hostile work environment can definitely be good cause. You'll need to document the harassment and show you tried to resolve it through proper channels first.

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I went through this exact same thing last year. Washington ESD initially denied my claim for voluntary quit but I appealed and won. The key is proving you had good cause - like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job that you didn't agree to.

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How long did the appeal process take? I'm really stressed about money right now.

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About 6 weeks from when I filed the appeal to when I got the hearing decision. But I had to wait longer to actually get my back benefits paid out.

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Six weeks?? That's crazy long. Did you have any income during that time?

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Just went through the same headache trying to reach Washington ESD about my voluntary quit determination. Spent hours on hold getting disconnected. Finally used claimyr.com to get through to an actual person who explained the appeal process properly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Game changer for actually talking to someone at Washington ESD.

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Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

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Totally legit. I was skeptical too but got connected to a Washington ESD rep in like 20 minutes instead of spending all day redialing.

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VOLUNTARY QUIT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T GET BENEFITS!! Sorry for caps but people don't realize this. You can quit your job and still get unemployment if you had good cause. Washington ESD has specific criteria for what counts as good cause for quitting.

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What are the specific criteria? The letter I got doesn't really explain much.

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Harassment, unsafe conditions, significant change in job duties, domestic violence situations, health issues - there's actually quite a list. You need to prove it though.

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been there done that with the voluntary quit thing. washington esd is really strict about it but if you have documentation of the hostile work environment you mentioned you should appeal immediately. don't wait because there's a deadline

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How much documentation do I need? I have some text messages from coworkers about my boss being awful.

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text messages help but also get witness statements if possible and any emails or written complaints you made to HR

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Also keep records of any doctor visits if the stress affected your health. That can support your case.

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The appeal deadline for voluntary quit determinations is 30 days from the date on your determination letter. Don't miss this deadline or you'll lose your chance to challenge it. File the appeal even if you're still gathering documentation.

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Can I file the appeal online or do I have to mail something in?

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You can file appeals online through your eServices account on the Washington ESD website. Much faster than mailing.

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Here's what most people don't understand about voluntary quit - Washington ESD looks at whether you explored other options first. Did you talk to HR? Did you request a transfer? Did you ask for accommodation? If you just walked out without trying to resolve the issues, it's harder to prove good cause.

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I did talk to my manager about the problems but they said that's just how my supervisor is and I need to deal with it.

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That conversation needs to be documented in your appeal. Shows you tried to resolve it through proper channels before quitting.

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What if your company doesn't have HR? Small companies sometimes don't have anyone to complain to.

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My sister got denied for voluntary quit initially but she used some service to get through to Washington ESD and they helped her understand what evidence she needed for her appeal. I think it was claimyr or something like that? She said it was way easier than trying to call directly.

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Yeah that's the same service someone mentioned earlier. Might be worth trying if you can't get through the regular way.

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How much does something like that cost though? I'm already broke from not having a job.

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The Washington ESD voluntary quit rules are actually pretty reasonable if you understand them. You just have to prove that a reasonable person in your situation would have quit too. Document everything and be specific about dates, incidents, and attempts to resolve the problems.

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That makes sense. I wish they explained it that way in the determination letter instead of just saying "claim denied.

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The determination letters are terrible at explaining things. That's why so many people give up when they actually have a valid case for appeal.

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Don't let them intimidate you with the voluntary quit determination. I see this all the time - people have legitimate reasons for leaving but Washington ESD's initial review is pretty surface level. The appeal process is where you get to actually present your case properly.

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That's encouraging to hear. I was starting to think I was screwed.

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Definitely appeal. The worst they can do is uphold the denial but you might get it overturned.

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quick question - if you get the voluntary quit determination overturned, do you get back pay for all the weeks you should have been getting benefits?

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Yes, if you win your appeal you get retroactive benefits back to when you first filed, as long as you kept filing your weekly claims.

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Good to know! I was wondering if it was worth appealing if it takes months to resolve.

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The thing about voluntary quit cases is you really need to tell a compelling story in your appeal. Don't just list complaints - explain how the situation made it impossible for you to continue working there and what you tried to do to fix it before leaving.

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Should I write this myself or get help from someone? I'm not great at formal writing.

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You can write it yourself but make sure to be detailed and stick to facts. Avoid emotional language and focus on specific incidents with dates.

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I had a voluntary quit determination last month and the stress of not knowing if I'd get benefits was killing me. Used that claimyr service someone mentioned to finally talk to a Washington ESD worker who walked me through exactly what I needed for my appeal. Worth every penny just for the peace of mind of talking to someone who knew what they were talking about.

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At this point I'm willing to try anything. The regular Washington ESD phone line is impossible.

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Same experience here. Regular phone line is a joke but these services actually work.

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Just remember that even if you had good cause to quit, you still need to meet all the other unemployment requirements like being able and available for work and doing your job search. Winning the voluntary quit appeal is just the first step.

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Yeah I've been doing my job search activities even though my claim is denied. Figured it couldn't hurt.

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Smart move. Shows you're serious about finding work and following the rules.

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The voluntary quit thing is so frustrating because Washington ESD makes it sound like you're completely ineligible when really it's just an issue that needs to be reviewed more carefully. Don't give up after the first denial.

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Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel much more confident about appealing now.

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Good luck with your appeal! Hope it works out for you.

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