What reasons can you quit a job and still get unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

That's really helpful! My hours went from 40 to about 15-18 per week so that's more than a 50% cut. Do I need to document this somehow?

Definitely keep records of your schedules, pay stubs showing the reduction, any emails or texts about the hour cuts. Washington ESD will want proof of the substantial change in working conditions.

How much documentation do I need? I have some text messages from my supervisor about schedule changes but not much else written down.

Start documenting everything NOW. Keep a daily log of incidents, save all communications, and if possible get witness statements from coworkers. Washington ESD will investigate and contact your employer, so you need solid evidence.

I did ask my manager about it twice and she just said 'business is slow' but other people are still getting their full hours. Should I document those conversations somehow?

Yes, write down the dates you spoke with her and what was said. If you have any witnesses or emails, even better. The more documentation the stronger your case.

Did you have to talk to HR or management before quitting? My company is too small for HR and my supervisor IS the management.

In small companies it's harder but you should still try to address it in writing if possible. Even an email to your supervisor saying 'I need to discuss these scheduling issues' creates a paper trail showing you tried to resolve things.

What if they cut my hours so much I can't pay my bills? I went from 40 hours to maybe 15 hours a week.

That could definitely qualify as good cause! A significant reduction in hours that makes the job unsuitable is grounds for quitting and getting UI. Document the hour reduction with pay stubs and any communications about it.

Wait, really? My hours got cut from full time to part time and I didn't know I could still get unemployment if I quit. How do you prove it was a 'significant' reduction?

Wow that's exactly my situation! How did you prove that your replacement was getting more hours?

I had coworkers who were willing to provide statements about the scheduling differences. Also my replacement posted on social media about working overtime which helped my case.

Wait how long did it take to actually get your first payment after they approved you? I'm in adjudication now for a similar issue.

Once approved it was pretty fast, like within a week I got my first payment. But the adjudication process itself took almost a month.

There's nowhere to transfer to, it's a small business with like 12 employees total. And honestly I'm scared to confront my supervisor because she's already targeting me.

I get that it's scary but you need some kind of paper trail showing you tried to address the issues. Even something like 'I wanted to follow up on our conversation about scheduling' in an email can help your case later.

The phone situation is absolutely terrible. I discovered this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to an Washington ESD agent. They have this system that calls for you and waits on hold until they reach someone. Check out claimyr.com - there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

That sounds too good to be true honestly. How much does it cost?

It's worth checking out their site for details, but the main thing is it actually works. I was able to get clarification on my good cause situation within a day instead of weeks of failed calling.

That's what I'm worried about. What if I quit and then they deny my claim? Then I'm screwed with no job and no benefits.

That's why documentation is so crucial. If you have solid evidence of the hostile work environment, hour reduction, or other qualifying issues, your chances are much better. Don't quit on impulse - build your case first.

Six weeks?? How did you survive financially during that time? I have maybe two weeks of savings.

Had to borrow money from family and picked up some gig work. It sucked but it was worth it in the end. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while the adjudication is pending.

This is exactly why I'm scared to quit. The uncertainty of whether you'll get approved is terrifying when you have bills to pay.

Oh interesting, I didn't know services like that existed. Is it expensive?

It's way cheaper than losing weeks of benefits because you can't get through to clarify your situation. Plus they're pretty good at getting you connected quickly instead of waiting on hold forever.

I used Claimyr too when I had questions about my adjudication. Definitely worth it when you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about complex situations like quitting for good cause.

This is super helpful! My situation seems to fit #2 and #3. Should I wait to quit until I have more documentation?

Yes, definitely build your case first. Keep detailed records for at least 2-3 weeks if possible. Include dates, times, witnesses, and any communications. The stronger your documentation, the better your chances.

What counts as 'significant' reduction in hours? My employer cut me from 35 hours to 25 hours - is that enough?

I hadn't heard that term before. What exactly counts as constructive dismissal?

It's basically when your employer makes your job so difficult or unpleasant that you have no choice but to quit. Major hour reductions, harassment, unsafe conditions, significant changes to job duties without notice. The key is showing you had no reasonable alternative but to leave.

Definitely apply! If you clearly communicated your availability when hired and they're scheduling you outside those hours, that could be good cause. Just make sure you have documentation of your class schedule and any communications about your availability.

i do have emails where i told them about my school schedule when i got hired. and i have my class schedule printed out. think thats enough?

That's a good start. Also document any conversations you had about the scheduling conflicts and whether you tried to resolve it before quitting.

My reduction is definitely more than 20%. Going from 40 to 15 hours is like a 62% cut. And my performance reviews have all been good.

That sounds like a strong case for good cause then. Just make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after quitting and be completely honest about the circumstances.

Wait, so there's still a waiting period even if I quit for good cause? How long?

It varies but usually 1-2 weeks. Plus whatever time the adjudication takes. That's why having some savings or a plan is important before you quit.

That's actually really helpful to know. What kind of questions do they typically ask during adjudication?

They'll want to know exactly what happened, when it happened, who you talked to about it, what your employer said, whether you looked for other solutions, why you couldn't continue working. Be prepared to provide specific examples and dates.

Yeah, I'm learning so much from everyone's experiences. It's crazy how much you need to know just to protect yourself.

The system is definitely not designed to be user-friendly. But knowledge is power - at least now you know what to do if you're ever in that situation again.

Good point. Should I put my reason for quitting in my resignation letter?

I would keep it factual and brief. Something like 'Due to the significant reduction in my scheduled hours, I am unable to continue in this position.' Don't get emotional or accusatory, just state the facts.

Unsafe working conditions have always been good cause for quitting, and that includes health and safety issues. If your employer isn't following required safety protocols or putting you at unreasonable risk, that could definitely qualify.

Thanks, that's what I was hoping. My restaurant job is basically pretending COVID doesn't exist and I'm immunocompromised.

That's good advice but honestly my current situation is affecting my mental health so much that I'm not sure I can keep going much longer.

I totally get that. Maybe consider calling in sick for a day or two to give yourself some breathing room while you plan your next move? Sometimes a short break can help you think more clearly.

This is so true. I was so burnt out from my toxic job that I couldn't even focus on job applications. Had to quit for my sanity but then struggled financially for months.

What's an example of compelling family reasons? Is that like if you need to care for a sick family member?

Exactly - things like caring for a sick family member, domestic violence, or other urgent family situations. But the requirements and documentation are different from good cause related to work conditions.

Good point. I already told one coworker about how awful my supervisor is but I didn't mention anything about unemployment benefits.

Just be careful about what you say going forward. You want to protect yourself and your potential claim.

Did you eventually win your appeal? How did that process work?

Yes but it was a nightmare. Had to have a phone hearing, present all my evidence, and my former employer tried to dispute everything. Thank god I had a witness who was willing to testify. The whole thing took like 4 months total.

I know right? It's like they assume everyone is trying to scam the system instead of people genuinely needing help.

The system is definitely designed to make it hard to get benefits. They'd rather pay out as little as possible than help people who actually need it.

I understand the frustration but there are legitimate reasons for the requirements. Without documentation requirements, it would be too easy for people to quit any job and claim it was hostile. The system has to balance helping people with preventing abuse.

I have my original job offer letter that mentions full-time hours, and my recent paystubs showing the reduced hours. Would that be enough evidence?

That's a great start! Also keep any communications about the schedule changes - emails, texts, even handwritten notes from your supervisor. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case.

That's good advice. I tend to downplay things so I'll make sure to be accurate about how bad the situation really is.

Exactly. Stick to the facts and let the evidence speak for itself. Your situation sounds legitimate so don't worry about overselling it.

Thanks for the recommendation. I might need to use that once I figure out my next steps.

Yeah, especially for complex situations like yours where you want to make sure you understand all the requirements before making a decision.

Thank you so much. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful and supportive. I feel like I have a much better understanding of my options now.

That's what this community is for! Keep us updated on how things go, and remember that you deserve to work in a respectful environment.

Agreed! And remember, even if the unemployment process is complicated, there are resources and people willing to help. Don't let fear of the system keep you trapped in a bad situation.

How quickly were you able to get through with that service?

Same day I signed up, they called me back within a few hours to let me know they had connected me with an agent. So much better than the endless busy signals.

That's an important distinction. 'Good cause without fault' is when the employer does something wrong (like reducing hours without cause). 'Good cause with fault' might be something like quitting due to transportation issues that aren't the employer's fault.

In my case it sounds like it would be 'without fault' since they're cutting my hours for no performance reason?

Most likely yes, especially if other employees are still getting full hours and your performance is good.

thats so frustrating! did you at least get back pay for those 6 weeks?

Yes eventually I got all the back payments, but those 6 weeks were really rough financially. Make sure you have some kind of backup plan while you wait.

How long did the appeal process take?

The appeal hearing was scheduled about 3 weeks after I filed it, and I got the decision about a week after the hearing. So about a month total.

That's actually not bad advice if you can manage it ethically. Like if you're being constructively dismissed anyway, sometimes it's better to let them terminate you rather than quit.

I thought about that but I don't want to risk having a termination on my record when I'm job hunting.

Fair point, depends on your industry I guess. In some fields nobody cares about termination reasons, in others it matters more.

You still have to do job searches. Good cause for quitting affects your eligibility to receive benefits, but doesn't change the ongoing requirements like job search activities once you're approved.

Got it, that's what I figured but wanted to make sure. Thanks!

That's really good advice. I'm going to start keeping a log of every conversation about my hours and any other issues that come up.

Smart move. Even if it seems like overkill, having too much documentation is way better than not having enough when you need to prove your case.

That's great to hear! I think I'm going to try that service too since this whole good cause thing seems pretty complicated to navigate on your own.

Yeah it really helped to talk through my specific situation with someone who actually knows the Washington ESD rules inside and out. Way better than trying to interpret the website information.

Good point, I hadn't thought about the timing aspect. I was planning to wait until I actually quit but sounds like I should file right away.

Exactly. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file your claim, so every day you wait is money you can't get back even if you're eventually approved.