Which type of unemployment is voluntary - Washington ESD claim eligibility questions

Voluntary unemployment typically refers to situations where you quit your job by choice, while involuntary unemployment is when you're laid off or terminated through no fault of your own. However, Washington ESD looks at the specific circumstances. If you quit for 'good cause' related to work conditions, you might still qualify for benefits. You'll need to provide documentation about the hostile work environment.

I was in a similar situation last year. Quit because of a toxic manager who was making my life hell. Washington ESD initially denied my claim saying it was voluntary separation, but I appealed and won. The key is proving you had no reasonable alternative but to quit.

Actually, I had success getting through to Washington ESD to discuss my voluntary quit situation using a service called Claimyr. They helped me get connected to an actual person who could explain the good cause standards. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Wait, so if I quit because I found a better job but then that job fell through, would that be considered voluntary unemployment? I'm scared to file because I don't want to get in trouble for lying.

From what I understand, Washington ESD recognizes several good cause reasons for voluntary separation: unsafe working conditions, discrimination, harassment, significant changes to job duties or pay, domestic violence situations, and a few others. The burden is on you to prove good cause though.

UGH the whole system is so confusing! I quit my job because my hours got cut to basically nothing but I'm worried they'll say it was voluntary. How are you supposed to live on 5 hours a week?

I'm dealing with adjudication right now for a voluntary quit situation. Been waiting 3 weeks with no updates. The uncertainty is killing me - I don't know if I should look for temporary work or wait for a decision.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr when I was dealing with my voluntary quit claim. Instead of guessing about the process, I got to speak with someone at Washington ESD who explained exactly what documentation I needed and how the good cause determination works. Game changer for my stress levels.

Voluntary unemployment usually means you quit without good cause, but good cause is pretty broadly defined. Health issues, family emergencies, workplace harassment, unsafe conditions - lots of things can qualify. The challenge is proving it to Washington ESD's satisfaction.

Been through this whole process twice now. The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD looks at whether a reasonable person in your situation would have quit. If you can make that case with documentation, you have a good shot even if it was technically voluntary.

honestly the whole voluntary vs involuntary thing is kinda bogus... like if your boss makes your life miserable until you quit, is that really voluntary? the system is set up to make it hard for regular people to get help

For what it's worth, I was able to get through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Turns out my situation (quit due to unpaid wages) definitely qualified as good cause. Wish I'd known about that option weeks ago instead of stressing about it.

The distinction between voluntary and involuntary unemployment matters a lot for initial eligibility, but don't give up if you quit for good cause. Document everything, be honest on your application, and be prepared to explain your situation during adjudication. Washington ESD does approve voluntary quit claims when there's legitimate good cause.

I went through a similar situation last year where I quit due to workplace retaliation after reporting safety violations. Initially felt terrified that Washington ESD would automatically deny me since I "voluntarily" left, but it turned out constructive dismissal and retaliation are definitely considered good cause. The adjudication process took about 5 weeks, but I was approved. My advice: be completely honest about your situation, gather any evidence you have (emails, witness contacts, dates of incidents), and don't let the "voluntary" label scare you away from filing. The hostile work environment you described could very well qualify as good cause - Washington ESD recognizes that sometimes quitting is the only reasonable option a person has.