What is involuntary unemployment - Washington ESD denied my claim saying I quit voluntarily
Washington ESD denied my unemployment claim because they said I quit voluntarily, but I feel like I had no choice. My supervisor was making my work environment hostile and I had to leave for my mental health. I thought this would count as involuntary unemployment but apparently not? Can someone explain what exactly qualifies as involuntary unemployment in Washington state? I'm really confused about the distinction and whether I can appeal this decision.
56 comments
Join the conversation
Michael Adams
Involuntary unemployment means you lost your job through no fault of your own - like layoffs, company closures, or being fired for reasons other than misconduct. If you quit, even under bad circumstances, Washington ESD usually considers it voluntary separation unless you can prove 'good cause.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•So does hostile work environment count as good cause? I have some documentation of the issues with my supervisor.
0 coins
Michael Adams
•It can, but you need solid evidence. Document everything - emails, witness statements, HR complaints. The bar is pretty high for constructive dismissal cases.
0 coins
Natalie Wang
I went through something similar last year. Washington ESD initially denied my claim when I quit due to unsafe working conditions. Had to appeal and provide tons of documentation to prove I had 'good cause' to quit.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•How long did the appeal process take? I'm worried about going weeks without any income.
0 coins
Natalie Wang
•About 6 weeks total. I used Claimyr to get through to an adjudicator faster - they have a service that helps you reach Washington ESD agents by phone. Check out claimyr.com, they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ
0 coins
Noah Torres
•Never heard of that service but might be worth it if it actually works. The phone lines are impossible to get through on.
0 coins
Samantha Hall
The key distinction is whether you had reasonable alternatives to quitting. Washington ESD looks at factors like: 1) Did you try to resolve the issue first? 2) Was the situation severe enough that a reasonable person would quit? 3) Do you have documentation? For hostile work environment, you typically need to show you complained to HR or management first.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•I did talk to HR but they basically brushed me off. I have the email chain showing I tried to address it.
0 coins
Samantha Hall
•That's good evidence for your appeal. Make sure to include all communications showing you attempted to resolve the situation before quitting.
0 coins
Ryan Young
ugh the whole system is rigged against workers. they make it so hard to prove 'good cause' that most people just give up. meanwhile employers can fire you for almost any reason and you get benefits no problem
0 coins
Sophia Clark
•I mean, there has to be some standard otherwise everyone would just quit their job and claim unemployment.
0 coins
Ryan Young
•sure but when youre dealing with harassment or unsafe conditions you shouldnt have to jump through hoops to get help
0 coins
Sophia Clark
For what it's worth, involuntary unemployment also includes situations like reduced hours (partial unemployment), temporary layoffs, and being fired for non-misconduct reasons. It's basically any job loss that wasn't your choice or fault.
0 coins
Katherine Harris
•What about if you get fired for attendance issues due to a medical condition? Is that considered misconduct?
0 coins
Sophia Clark
•Depends on whether you followed proper procedures for requesting accommodations under ADA. If you have documented medical issues and requested reasonable accommodations, it might not be considered misconduct.
0 coins
Noah Torres
I tried calling Washington ESD to get clarification on my own situation but gave up after being on hold for 3 hours yesterday. This system is broken.
0 coins
Michael Adams
•That's exactly why some people use services like Claimyr. They specialize in getting through to Washington ESD agents when you can't reach them yourself.
0 coins
Noah Torres
•Is it legit though? Seems too good to be true that they can actually get you through to someone.
0 coins
Natalie Wang
•I was skeptical too but it actually worked for me. Way better than spending entire days trying to get through on my own.
0 coins
Katherine Harris
The appeal process is your best bet if you truly had good cause to quit. Washington ESD has specific criteria they follow, and an administrative law judge will review all the evidence during your hearing.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•Do I need a lawyer for the appeal hearing or can I represent myself?
0 coins
Katherine Harris
•You can represent yourself. Many people do. Just be prepared with all your documentation and be ready to explain why you had no reasonable alternative to quitting.
0 coins
Madison Allen
btw make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during the appeal process. if you win the appeal you'll get back pay for those weeks
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•Good point, I wasn't sure if I should keep filing or not since I was denied.
0 coins
Samantha Hall
•Definitely keep filing. It protects your claim dates and ensures you don't miss out on benefits if your appeal is successful.
0 coins
Joshua Wood
I had a friend who quit due to harassment and initially got denied. She appealed with witness statements from coworkers and won. The key was showing she made reasonable efforts to address the problem before quitting.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•That gives me hope. I do have a coworker who witnessed some of the incidents.
0 coins
Joshua Wood
•Get them to write a statement if they're willing. Third-party witnesses can be really powerful evidence.
0 coins
Justin Evans
Washington ESD defines good cause pretty narrowly. It has to be something that would compel a reasonable person to quit - not just workplace annoyances but serious issues like discrimination, safety violations, or significant changes to your job duties without notice.
0 coins
Emily Parker
•What about if they cut your hours drastically? I went from 40 hours to 15 hours a week and couldn't afford to stay.
0 coins
Justin Evans
•That might qualify as constructive dismissal. Significant reduction in hours or pay can be considered good cause, especially if it wasn't temporary.
0 coins
Ezra Collins
The whole involuntary vs voluntary thing is such a gray area. I've seen people get denied for situations that seemed obviously unfair, and others get approved for questionable reasons. It really depends on the adjudicator you get.
0 coins
Victoria Scott
•That's why documentation is so important. The more evidence you have, the less subjective the decision becomes.
0 coins
Ezra Collins
•True, but it's still frustrating how inconsistent the decisions can be across different cases.
0 coins
Benjamin Johnson
I work in HR and see these situations a lot. Washington ESD looks for patterns - did the employee try internal remedies first, was there escalation, are there multiple incidents documented. One bad day usually isn't enough for good cause.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•This wasn't one bad day - it was months of issues that I documented. I have emails going back several months.
0 coins
Benjamin Johnson
•That's much stronger evidence then. A pattern of documented issues over time definitely helps your case for good cause.
0 coins
Zara Perez
Don't give up on the appeal! I know someone who got denied three times but finally won at the Board of Appeals. Sometimes you have to fight for what's right.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•Three times?? That sounds exhausting. How long did the whole process take?
0 coins
Zara Perez
•About 8 months total, but they got back pay for all of it once they won. It was worth fighting for.
0 coins
Daniel Rogers
Question - if you quit for good cause and win your appeal, do you still have to do job searches while collecting benefits? Or is it treated the same as being laid off?
0 coins
Samantha Hall
•You still have to meet all the regular requirements including job searches. Good cause for quitting doesn't exempt you from the ongoing eligibility requirements.
0 coins
Daniel Rogers
•Thanks, that's what I figured but wanted to confirm.
0 coins
Aaliyah Reed
The timeline on appeals can be rough. I'd suggest looking into other support options while you wait - food banks, utility assistance, etc. Don't struggle in silence.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•I hadn't thought about other assistance programs. Do you know where to find information about what's available?
0 coins
Aaliyah Reed
•Start with 211 - dial 2-1-1 and they can connect you with local assistance programs. Also check your county's social services website.
0 coins
Ella Russell
Just want to add that mental health issues caused by work can definitely qualify as good cause in Washington. If you have documentation from a healthcare provider about how the work environment affected your mental health, include that in your appeal.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•I do have records from my doctor about the stress and anxiety. I'll make sure to include those.
0 coins
Ella Russell
•Perfect. Medical documentation really strengthens your case for showing the work situation was genuinely harmful.
0 coins
Mohammed Khan
One more thing to consider - if you win your appeal, Washington ESD might also remove any disqualification from your record, which could help if you ever need to file for unemployment again in the future.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•I didn't know that. Good to know there are long-term benefits to appealing beyond just getting the immediate benefits.
0 coins
Gavin King
•Exactly. A voluntary quit disqualification can follow you, so it's worth fighting if you truly had good cause.
0 coins
Nathan Kim
Good luck with your appeal! It sounds like you have a solid case with the documentation and witness. The process is stressful but don't let that discourage you from fighting for what you're entitled to.
0 coins
Chloe Mitchell
•Thank you everyone for all the advice and encouragement. I feel much more confident about moving forward with the appeal now.
0 coins
Natalie Wang
•You've got this! And remember if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD during the process, Claimyr can really help cut through the phone line frustration.
0 coins