As a worker in Washington, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance if you are laid off or unfairly fired. But what happens if you are the one who decides to quit? Are there any circumstances in which you would still be eligible for unemployment?
As FindLaw states, there actually are some situations in which an employee who quits their job is still eligible for unemployment. However, you are only eligible if you quit your job for valid reasons that were somehow caused by an employer. You must also be able to prove that you would have been injured or harmed if you stayed on the job. Typically speaking, the court will judge based on whether or not a reasonable person in your situation would have remained employed.
You also need to provide a compelling reason for quitting. Not being offered opportunities for advancement or other dissatisfactions with the job itself unfortunately is not considered a compelling reason in many courts. Instead, they look for things like:
- Discrimination
- Harassment
- Threats of termination
- Hazardous or unsafe working conditions
- A large reduction in pay or hours
- Being given an ultimatum between resigning or being fired
If you believe that you have been unfairly boxed into a situation that forced you to quit your job, consider contacting an insurance law attorney. They will be able to determine whether or not you have a case. If you do, they can help you seek compensation or unemployment benefits, which can help you until you are able to get back on your feet.