What is good cause for unemployment in Washington ESD claims?

Good cause in Washington includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties or pay, or if your employer violated labor laws. The key is having documentation to prove your case.

I quit my last job because they cut my hours by 50% without notice and Washington ESD approved my claim. That falls under good cause as a substantial change in working conditions.

If you're struggling to get through to Washington ESD to discuss your specific situation, I had luck using claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me understand my options before I made the decision to quit.

be careful about quitting without having everything documented properly!! i made that mistake and got denied initially. had to appeal and it was a nightmare

The Washington ESD website has a section about voluntary quit determinations that lists all the good cause reasons. Medical reasons are also considered good cause if you have doctor documentation.

Domestic violence situations are also good cause. Washington has specific protections for people who need to leave jobs due to domestic violence or stalking.

This is all really helpful information. It sounds like I need to be more strategic about documenting everything before I make any moves.

I was in a similar situation last year. Made the mistake of quitting without proper documentation and had to go through a long appeal process. Even though I eventually won, it would have been much easier if I had prepared better.

Another thing to consider is whether you can get your employer to lay you off instead of quitting. Sometimes employers will agree to this if they know they're creating problems.

just wanted to add that Washington ESD takes these cases seriously but you really need solid evidence. vague complaints won't cut it

One more thing - if you do quit for good cause, make sure you apply for unemployment immediately. There are time limits on when you can file.

I used that claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when I was dealing with a good cause determination. Really helped me understand what Washington ESD was looking for in my case.

The adjudication process can be intimidating but if you have good cause and proper documentation, you should be fine. Just be honest and stick to the facts.

Don't forget that even if you get initially denied, you can appeal. The appeal process gives you another chance to present your case with additional evidence.

workplace discrimination is also good cause. if you can show a pattern of discriminatory behavior that's creating a hostile environment, that's definitely grounds for good cause

I went through this process two years ago and the key thing is being prepared for the adjudication interview. They ask very specific questions about your situation.

Another resource is the Washington State Attorney General's office. They have information about worker rights that might help you understand if your situation qualifies as good cause.

i know someone who got approved for good cause after their employer refused to follow safety protocols during covid. health and safety violations are definitely taken seriously

The bottom line is that Washington ESD wants to see that you made reasonable efforts to resolve the situation before quitting. If you can show that, and you have good documentation, you should be okay.

Good luck with whatever you decide. It's a tough situation but it sounds like you're being smart about getting all the information first.