What’s a Good Reason under Law to Quit My Job?

Employees are automatically eligible for unemployment compensation benefits (UC benefits) when the employment relationship has ended at no fault of their own.  For example, employees who suffer layoff due to economic issues or are fired without serious misconduct are all eligible for UC benefits. Employees who voluntarily leave their job must prove that they had a good reason under the law to quit their position at a company.

What’s a Good Reason under Law to Quit My Job?

An employee who leaves his or her job without a good reason is not eligible to collect UC benefits. Certain circumstances can become good reason for a voluntary quit. Employees need to know when and how they become eligible for UC benefits after quitting.

Good Reasons for Quitting My Job in Pennsylvania

If you quit without a good reason, you are not eligible for UC benefits in any state. But, each state does outline possible eligibility for UC benefits after quitting for a good reason. Pennsylvania shows some examples of a good reason quit. Lawyer call these good reasons to quit “necessitous and compelling.”

Demotion

A hard-working employee with a great record at the company is demoted. Usually, employees are promoted at this time, but a demotion occurs instead without a legitimate reason or misconduct.

Job Transfer

Sometimes an employee receives a new assignment with another branch of the company. This transfer would need to cause a hardship on the employee, requiring a drive of more than 50 miles.

Work Hour Change

An employee is given a new set of work hours that is radically different than their original schedule. It’s likely they may have to deal with finding new childcare or conflicting work schedules.

Negative Pay Change

When a big salary change occurs, this can negatively impact the employee in a scary way. Pennsylvania notes a more than 25% change in pay rate as a negative pay change.

Job Tasks

New job responsibilities are assigned to an employee, and these duties are demeaning and patronizing due to their level of experience and knowledge.

Spouse Receives Job Transfer

An employee’s spouse receives a job that requires a geographical change for the entire family. The employee will have to quit their current job to go with his or her spouse.

Job Offer

Sometimes an employee receives a job offer too good to miss so that job is accepted, and he or she must quit their current position.

Hostile Work Environment

An employee who suffers nonstop mistreatment by a coworker or manager and approaches their HR department but continues to experience this ongoing harassment.

Medical Reasons

Someone with medical problems that are further aggravated by their employment may be eligible for UC benefits after quitting due to their health issue or disability.

Good Reason Quit: Determine Eligibility for UC Benefits

Despite the above reasons, the state unemployment office still makes the decision about your eligibility. If you file for your UC benefits and your employer claims you are not eligible, you will have the chance to explain why you are. However, you will likely need to file for a referee hearing to legally explain your reasoning.

A lawyer is a vital tool for proving your good reason quit and your eligibility for UC benefits. In Pennsylvania, employees are given many good reasons for quitting. Proving the good reason in a legal environment can be particularly challenging since your employer will very likely have their own lawyer, trying to negate every one of your arguments.

If you believe you had good reason to quit your job and should be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits, contact an unemployment attorney to pursue your UC benefits.

Chat with an employment attorney: (412) 626-5626 or lawyer@lawkm.com.