Why did I get denied for unemployment - Washington ESD rejection reasons

Schedule changes can definitely qualify as good cause for leaving, but you need to show you tried to work with your employer first. Did you ask for different shifts or try to find a compromise before quitting?

Washington ESD is really strict about voluntary quits. They have a whole list of what counts as 'good cause' and schedule changes that make it impossible to work should qualify. You need to appeal this decision ASAP - you only have 30 days from the date on the determination letter.

I had a similar denial last year and it was so frustrating trying to get through to Washington ESD to understand why. I kept calling the main number but could never reach anyone who could explain the decision. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent who could walk me through my options. Check out their website at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Schedule changes that interfere with child care responsibilities are definitely considered good cause under Washington state law. The problem is you need to prove you had no other reasonable alternatives. Did you look into childcare for overnight shifts or ask family for help?

ugh the washington esd system is so messed up. they deny everyone first and make you fight for benefits you're entitled to. it's like they want people to give up

When you file your appeal, make sure to include any documentation you have about the schedule change. Even text messages or emails about it can help. Also explain your childcare situation in detail - Washington ESD needs to understand why the new schedule was genuinely impossible for you.

I went through something similar when my job changed my hours to conflict with my college classes. The key is showing you had no reasonable alternative and that you tried to work it out with your employer first. It took about 6 weeks for my appeal to get processed but I eventually won.

Don't let them intimidate you with the denial. Schedule changes that make it impossible to continue working are specifically listed in the Washington ESD handbook as good cause for leaving. The burden is on them to prove you COULD have continued working under the new conditions.

Same thing happened to my sister except her job wanted her to work Sundays and she couldn't because of religious obligations. She appealed and won but it took forever to get a hearing scheduled.

I'm going through the appeal process right now for a different issue and it's been a nightmare trying to get information from Washington ESD. Their phone system is impossible and they don't respond to messages through the online portal. I actually ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it was a lifesaver - finally got to talk to someone who could explain what was happening with my case.

Whatever you do, don't miss the 30-day deadline for appealing. That's the biggest mistake people make. Even if you're not sure about your case, it's better to appeal and have them review it than to let the deadline pass.

childcare conflicts are definitely good cause for leaving employment under washington law. i had to quit a job years ago because they moved locations and i couldn't afford the gas money to drive there every day. won my appeal because they accepted that transportation issues count as good cause

Make sure when you write your appeal statement that you focus on the facts and keep it professional. Don't get emotional or bash your former employer. Just explain what happened, what alternatives you considered, and why continuing to work wasn't feasible.

I work for a different state agency and see UI appeals all the time. The most common reason people lose is they don't provide enough detail about why they couldn't continue working. Be very specific about your childcare situation and what you tried to do to make it work.

One more thing - while you're waiting for your appeal, you should keep filing your weekly claims even though you're not getting paid. If you win the appeal, you'll need to have been filing to get the back pay for those weeks.

Good luck with your appeal! Childcare conflicts are one of the stronger grounds for good cause determinations. Just make sure you document everything clearly and don't give up if it takes a while to get resolved.