What reason should I put for unemployment on my Washington ESD application?

If you were forced to quit due to hostile work environment or constructive dismissal, that's usually considered 'good cause' in Washington. You should select the option that best describes being forced to quit due to working conditions. Document everything - emails, texts, schedule changes, etc.

I had a similar situation last year. Put down that you quit with good cause and explain the circumstances in the comments section. Washington ESD will investigate and if your employer can't justify the hostile conditions, you'll likely get approved.

Whatever you do, be 100% honest. Washington ESD will contact your employer and if your stories don't match up, you could be denied for providing false information. I've seen people get in trouble for that.

I had trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask questions about my application. Ended up using claimyr.com to get through to an actual person - they have this system that calls back when an agent is available. Really helped me understand what documentation I needed. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

just put down whatever and see what happens. they approve most claims anyway these days

The Washington ESD adjudication process for quit cases can be really thorough. Make sure you have documentation of any attempts you made to resolve the issues with your employer before quitting. Did you talk to HR or your supervisor about the problems?

Ugh this is exactly why I hate the unemployment system. You get treated badly at work, forced to quit to protect your mental health, then have to jump through hoops to prove you 'deserved' to quit. It's ridiculous.

Look for the option that says something like 'quit with good cause' or 'constructive dismissal.' Washington has specific categories for situations where you're basically forced out. The exact wording might be different but there should be an option that fits your situation.

Been there with a toxic boss situation. Put down that you quit due to working conditions and be prepared for them to contact your employer. The adjudication process isn't fun but if you have documentation you should be fine.

Whatever you choose, make sure you're consistent in all your responses. The adjudicator will look at everything - your application, your employer's response, any additional documentation. Any contradictions can hurt your case.

The Washington ESD website has some guidance on what constitutes good cause for quitting. Might be worth reading through that before you submit your application. Better to get it right the first time than have to appeal later.

honestly the whole process is a nightmare. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment and that was for a layoff which should have been straightforward

I used Claimyr when I was dealing with Washington ESD questions about my separation reason. Being able to actually talk to someone made a huge difference in understanding what information they needed. Way better than trying to guess based on the website.

Make sure you keep copies of everything you submit. If your claim gets denied and you have to appeal, you'll need all that documentation again. The appeals process requires even more proof than the initial application.

Had a friend who put 'laid off' when they actually quit and got caught during the investigation. Ended up having to pay back everything plus penalties. Not worth the risk.

The adjudication process for quit cases usually involves them calling both you and your employer to get statements. Be prepared to explain your side clearly and have your documentation ready to reference during the call.

Same situation happened to my sister last year. She was scared to put that she quit but the hostile work environment was well documented. Got approved after adjudication and the employer didn't even contest it once Washington ESD started asking questions.

Just submitted my application last week using Claimyr to talk to someone first about the best way to explain my situation. The agent I spoke with helped me understand exactly what details Washington ESD would need to see in my explanation. Made the whole process way less stressful.

Remember that Washington ESD has to prove misconduct on your part if they want to deny benefits for quitting. If you quit due to employer actions that would cause a reasonable person to quit, that's usually considered good cause.

Update us on how it goes! I'm sure other people will have similar questions about quit vs other reasons.