Opinion ID: 2570655
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Statutory and Regulatory Framework: Good Cause to Quit and the Employer-Initiated Layoff Exception

Text: ¶ 16 In general, the ESA provides unemployment benefits to any unemployed person unless that person is statutorily disqualified from receiving benefits. Safeco Ins. Cos. v. Meyering, 102 Wash.2d 385, 388-89, 687 P.2d 195 (1984). A person may not receive benefits if she or he leaves work voluntarily without good cause. RCW 50.20.050(1). ¶ 17 WAC 192-150-100 describes one set of circumstances in which the good cause provision will not disqualify a person from receiving unemployment benefits. [5] This so-called employer-initiated layoff exception reads: (1) You will not be considered to have been separated from employment for a disqualifying reason when: (a) Your employer takes the first action in the separation process by announcing in writing to its employees that: (i) The employer plans to reduce its work force through a layoff or reduction in force, and (ii) That employees can offer to be among those included in the layoff or reduction in force; (b) You offer to be one of the employees included in the layoff or reduction in force; and (c) Your employer takes the final action in the separation process by accepting your offer to be one of the employees included in the layoff or reduction in force, thereby ending your employment relationship. (2) This section does not apply to situations where an employer modifies benefits or otherwise encourages early retirement or early separation, but the employer and employee do not follow the steps in subsection (1)(a) through (c). WAC 192-150-100. Subsection (1) of the employer-initiated layoff exception has three requirements: announcement of RIF (subsection (a)), employee offer (subsection (b)), and employer final action (subsection (c)). All three requirements must be satisfied in order for the employee to qualify for the exception.