I could really use some help.

[u/CapAppropriate6689]

If anyone has any advice on this page, I would really appreciate Any help. I went applied for unemployment, July 11th after strong encouragement from a friend that I should. I waited longer then I should because the employer told me I voluntarily resigned but my friend told me that I actually have a case of workplace discrimination and wrongful termination and should apply for unemployment. This is what I sent to unemployment: “I was forced to resign due to workplace discrimination and retaliation. After 19 years with Island County, I experienced escalating harassment from my supervisor that targeted my documented disabilities (PTSD, ADHD, Bipolar). Despite repeated requests for reasonable accommodations over 2+ years, I was denied help and subjected to verbal abuse behind closed doors and other hostilities by my supervisors.

In early 2025, this harassment caused a mental health crisis with suicidal ideation. My psychiatrist removed me from work, and I began state-approved PMLA leave on February 6, 2025.

My state-approved PMLA leave ran through May 3, 2025. Since this was a Saturday, my actual return-to-work date was Monday, May 5, 2025 - not May 1st as the County incorrectly claimed in an email to me and will likely try to incorrectly claim to you. I have the emails and claim documented.

On April 30, 2025, I saw my psychiatrist for clearance to return, but he determined I wasn't ready due to ongoing workplace trauma. That same day, I emailed HR requesting a leave extension and formally reporting the discrimination I had endured.

Instead of helping, on May 6, 2025 (the day after my actual return date), HR Director sent me an ultimatum demanding I return to work May 7th or they would consider it a "voluntary resignation." This was issued while I had just filed a discrimination complaint and requested medical leave extension.

I was forced to "resign" because continuing employment was impossible under these retaliatory conditions. A reasonable person in my situation would have felt compelled to leave. I did not voluntarily quit - I was constructively discharged in retaliation for reporting discrimination.

I am actively seeking new employment while pursuing legal action for these violations.”

I have been having no luck with legal assistance and my situation is becoming more and more desperate. Unemployment has me as active status pending adjudication and it has been six weeks.

[u/CapAppropriate6689 → u/[deleted]]

I am so sorry you are going through all this it is just awful 😞 I have ptsd from the entire experience. It getting late in my neck of the woods and I’m shutting down for the night I will tell you it took me twelve weeks and the county challenged the unemployment claim but I did get it finally back pay and then some. I would like to tell you more I can be in touch with you through the process but it’s bed for me for now. Stay well and keep your chin up.

[u/CapAppropriate6689 → u/[deleted]]

Do you have anything in writing emails texts anything at all that you may be able to use if the employer is fighting this will really help you. Can anyone you worked with write something up or be willing to? It’s a really tough situation. Can you get a doctor verify your disability in writing. You contact HR about your situation so there should be some record of this. If you contact the EEOC which you should know that you have 300 days after termination to do so for ADA violations/ discrimination so take your time and get your facts together. Lay a time line out succinctly with dates and names and attach any documentation that you have to back the time line up. Let me know what you hear from unemployment and I may be able to help you more. Idk how to DM but if you do we can talk more deeply. Best of luck to you.

[u/CapAppropriate6689 → u/CapAppropriate6689]

Sorry I see no witnesses because they were all involved. Your best angle may be the names of managers at the old store and individuals involved and a detailed account of what happened. Followed with the name of the managers and those involved after you transferred highlighting the assistant manager becoming your store manager. They have a legal obligation to provide you accommodation look that up. There’s quite a bit to that. When you made reports to managers of mistreatment, there should have been some sort of documentation on their end and they should’ve investigated what you were telling them if they don’t have any way to show that they did this then you may have a way to stick it to them there. When you reported to HR, again there should be some sort of record and investigation into the situation you described to them if there isn’t then that could be problematic for them, and then there is the district manager. The timeline alone is suspect you transferring stores on your own volition not because management help to facilitate or accommodate you by providing you with an option that may fix the situation, then a new store manager being an old manager from the previous store therefore the discrimination and hostile work environment continued. Your cries for help there no accommodation for obvious reasons. Then you go to the HR department and it sounds as though nothing was done on their part, followed by the district manager clearly retaliating against you.