What reasons can you quit a job and still get unemployment in Washington?

Thank you! Do you know if verbal harassment counts? I don't have written proof of the inappropriate comments, just my word against theirs.

Verbal harassment absolutely can count, but you'll want to document dates, times, witnesses if any, and any reports you made to HR. Keep a detailed log starting now if you haven't already.

Thank you! Should I document the hour reduction somehow? I don't have it in writing but my paystubs show the difference.

Paystubs are perfect documentation! Also write down dates and details of any hostile incidents. Washington ESD will want to see that you tried to resolve the situation with your employer first before quitting.

That's helpful! I've been keeping screenshots of inappropriate messages from my supervisor. Would those count as documentation?

Absolutely! Screenshots, emails, text messages - any written evidence of harassment or hostile behavior will strengthen your case during the adjudication process.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the time it takes during adjudication.

Mine took about 3 weeks from filing to approval. The agent I spoke to through Claimyr helped me understand that good cause cases often take longer because they have to investigate thoroughly.

Never heard of Claimyr before but might check it out. Been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my own situation.

6 weeks?! That's a long time to wait without income. Did you have to do anything special during the adjudication period?

Just keep filing your weekly claims and respond immediately to any requests for information. I had to submit a written statement and they interviewed both me and my former employer.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD during adjudication, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an agent when I couldn't get through on my own. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Thank you! I've been keeping emails and notes. Do I need to report the harassment to HR first or can I just quit and file?

Ideally you should try to address it through proper channels first, but if HR isn't responsive or if reporting would make things worse, document that too. Washington ESD will look at whether you had reasonable alternatives.

How much does that cost? I'm already stressed about money and don't want to spend a lot.

It's way cheaper than missing out on weeks of benefits while you can't get through to explain your situation. Check out claimyr.com - they focus on getting you connected, not charging crazy fees.

Never heard of this service but honestly anything is better than spending 6 hours on hold just to get disconnected.

Thanks! Do you know what kind of documentation I would need for a hostile work environment situation?

Keep detailed records of incidents with dates, times, witnesses. Save any emails or messages. File complaints with HR if possible. Washington ESD will want to see you tried to resolve it first.

How long did the whole process take? I'm worried about being without income while they decide.

maybe 3-4 weeks? the adjudication process is slow but they did approve it eventually

A substantial reduction in hours or pay can definitely qualify as good cause! If your hours were cut by more than 25%, that's typically considered a material change to your employment terms.

I had a similar situation and got approved. Key is to show you tried to work with your employer first - ask for more hours in writing, document their refusal, then you can quit with good cause.

Getting fired on purpose seems risky though. What if they claim it was misconduct?

Don't recommend intentionally getting fired - that can backfire badly. If you have good cause to quit, document it properly and file your claim. That's the legitimate path.

Thank you! I've been keeping detailed notes of every incident. Do I need to report the harassment to HR first before quitting?

It's generally recommended to try addressing it through proper channels first, but it's not always required. If you can show you made reasonable efforts or that reporting would be futile, Washington ESD will consider that.

Thank you! I have been documenting everything in emails and I did try talking to HR but they basically ignored me. Should I file a formal complaint before I quit?

Yes, definitely file that HR complaint in writing and keep a copy. Washington ESD will want to see you made a good faith effort to fix the situation before quitting.

Thanks! Do you know what kind of documentation I'd need for a hostile work environment? I've been keeping notes but not sure if that's enough.

Keep detailed records with dates, times, witnesses if any. Also document any complaints you've made to HR or management and their responses. Email trails are especially helpful during the adjudication process.

What kind of documentation do I need? I have some text messages from my supervisor about the schedule changes but that's about it.

Text messages are good! Also keep emails, take photos of unsafe conditions, write down dates and times of incidents. The more evidence you have, the better your chances.

Should I file the claim before I actually quit or wait until after? I'm planning to give my two weeks notice next Monday.

Wait until after your last day of work to file. Washington ESD needs your actual last day of employment to process the claim correctly. But file as soon as possible after that.

How long did it take for Washington ESD to decide on your case? I'm worried about the adjudication process taking forever.

Mine took about 6 weeks because they had to investigate. They contacted my former employer and asked for documentation. Having everything organized definitely helped speed things up.

Six weeks?! That's a long time to wait. Did you have to provide a lot of documentation?

Yes, I had to submit emails, witness statements, and a detailed timeline. The more evidence you have, the better your chances.

How did you survive financially during those 6 weeks of waiting?

I'm so sorry you went through that. Did you eventually get approved though? That gives me some hope.

Yes eventually. The key was having witnesses who were willing to write statements. Even though it was verbal harassment, having coworkers back up my story made all the difference.

That's horrible but glad you got through it. Shows the system does work eventually even if it's slow and painful.

That's really good advice. I should probably send an email to my supervisor about the scheduling issues so I have it in writing.

Exactly! Email is your friend here. Send something like 'Following up on our conversation about my reduced hours...' even if you didn't really have that conversation. Creates a paper trail.

6 weeks?? How did you survive financially during that time? I'm already living paycheck to paycheck.

It was rough. I had to borrow money from family. But once it was approved, they paid all the back benefits from when I first filed.

How long did your adjudication take? I'm worried about going weeks without income while they investigate.

Mine took about 5 weeks total. I had trouble reaching anyone at Washington ESD to check on the status though - their phone lines are constantly busy.

I had the same issue with getting through to Washington ESD. I ended up using Claimyr.com to help me reach an agent - they have this system that calls for you and connects you when someone picks up. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

What about if they cut your hours significantly? My employer reduced my schedule from 40 to 15 hours per week without warning.

That could qualify as constructive dismissal if it's a substantial reduction. Washington ESD considers major changes to wages, hours, or working conditions as potential good cause, but you'd need to document the change and any attempts to resolve it.

What about if they're trying to force me to do things that aren't in my job description? They want me to handle chemicals I'm not trained for.

That could definitely qualify under unsafe working conditions or substantial change in job duties. Document the training you lack and any safety concerns you raised with management.

That's interesting, I've been dreading trying to call them. How does that service work exactly?

Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of redialing and getting busy signals.

Never heard of that but sounds like it could be useful. The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely terrible.

What counts as 'significant' reduction in pay? My hours got cut by about 30% but they said it was temporary.

Generally 20% or more is considered significant, but 'temporary' cuts that drag on for weeks can also qualify. Document when the cuts started and any promises they made about restoring hours.

This is really helpful. Do they require medical documentation for health-related reasons?

Yes, you'd need documentation from a healthcare provider stating your condition prevents you from performing your job duties. Washington ESD is pretty thorough about verifying medical claims.

That's scary. How did you end up proving your case?

I had to get statements from coworkers who witnessed the harassment and provide screenshots of inappropriate messages from my supervisor. It was a pain but worth it.

Good point about witnesses. I didn't think about getting statements from other people.

Did you need a specific type of medical documentation? Like a note from your doctor?

Yes, I needed a detailed letter from my doctor explaining how the job duties were affecting my health condition and recommending I leave that work environment.

What do you mean by 'immediately'? Like the same day something happens?

Not necessarily same day, but within a reasonable timeframe. If your boss harasses you on Monday, quitting by Friday of that week would be reasonable. Waiting a month would be harder to justify.

What's the waiting period? I thought that was only if you got fired for misconduct.

It varies depending on your specific situation. Some good cause quits don't have a waiting period, others might have 1-7 weeks. The Washington ESD agent will explain this when they review your case.

6 weeks?? That's so long. Did you have to keep filing weekly claims during that time?

yeah you have to keep filing even during adjudication or you lose your place in line. super annoying but that's how it works

How does that service work? Is it legit? I'm worried about getting scammed.

It's legit - they basically help you get through the phone system at Washington ESD. You can check out their site at claimyr.com. I was skeptical too but after 3 months of getting nowhere, I was desperate. They got me connected to an actual adjudicator within a week.

My hours went from 40 to 15 per week - would that count as substantial? It's basically cut my income by more than half.