Quitting Your Job Due to Stress or Bad Treatment in Illinois: Can You Still Get Unemployment Benefits?

December 19, 2025

Many Illinois office workers reach a breaking point—constant stress, unfair treatment, a toxic boss, overwhelming workloads, or a hostile environment that makes every day feel unbearable. You’ve been “fed up” for months (or years), and finally, you decide to resign. It’s a huge relief to walk away, but then reality hits: bills still need to be paid. You apply for unemployment benefits through the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), only to receive a denial letter stating you “voluntarily left work without good cause attributable to the employer.”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In my practice as an Illinois employment attorney specializing in unemployment appeals, I see this scenario frequently. The good news? A denial isn’t the end of the road. Many initial denials for “voluntary quit” can be overturned on appeal if you have the right evidence and arguments.

The Basic Rule: Voluntary Quits Usually Disqualify You from Benefits

Under Section 601A of the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act (820 ILCS 405/601), if you leave work voluntarily without good cause attributable to your employing unit, you are ineligible for unemployment benefits.

• “Voluntary” means you chose to resign (even if it felt like you had no choice).
• “Good cause attributable to the employer” means the reason for quitting must stem from something the employer did (or failed to do) that made continuing the job unreasonable.
• General job dissatisfaction, personality conflicts, or “just being stressed out” typically do not qualify as good cause. IDES often views these as personal reasons, not the employer’s fault.

This is why most people who quit due to everyday workplace frustration get denied benefits initially.

When Stress or Bad Treatment Might Qualify: “Constructive Discharge”

There’s an important exception called constructive discharge. This occurs when your employer creates (or allows) working conditions so intolerable that a reasonable person would feel forced to resign. In essence, your “voluntary” quit is treated as if you were fired through no fault of your own.

Examples that Illinois courts and IDES have recognized as potential good cause include:

• Ongoing harassment (sexual, racial, or otherwise) that the employer knew about but failed to stop.
• Retaliation after you complained about discrimination, safety issues, or wage problems.
• Severe changes to your job, like drastic pay cuts, demotions, or impossible workloads imposed to push you out.
• A hostile work environment involving repeated bullying, threats, or discrimination.

Mere “rudeness” or a difficult boss usually isn’t enough. The conditions must be objectively intolerable—not just upsetting to you personally. You also generally need to show that you tried to resolve the issues internally (e.g., complaining to HR or management) before quitting.

If proven, constructive discharge can make you eligible for benefits, just as if you were laid off.

Steps to Take Before (and After) You Quit

1. Document Everything: Save emails, texts, performance reviews, complaints to HR, witness statements, and notes about incidents. Medical records showing stress-related health issues (e.g., anxiety diagnosed by a doctor) can help support your case.
2. Report Problems Internally First: Give your employer a chance to fix the issues. This strengthens your argument that the problems were attributable to them.
3. Apply for Benefits Anyway: Even if you quit, file a claim with IDES immediately. Explain your reasons clearly in the application and fact-finding interview.
4. Appeal a Denial: If denied (which is common for voluntary quits), you have 30 days to request a hearing before a Referee. This is where many cases turn around—I help clients prepare evidence, question witnesses, and argue constructive discharge or other exceptions.

In my experience, well-documented cases involving harassment, retaliation, or health impacts from workplace conditions often succeed on appeal.

Don’t Go It Alone—Get Help with Your Appeal

Unemployment appeals can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already stressed from leaving a tough job. As an Illinois attorney who focuses on representing workers in IDES hearings, I’ve helped many office professionals overturn denials and secure the benefits they deserve during their transition to something better.

If you’ve been denied unemployment after resigning due to workplace stress or mistreatment, contact me for a consultation. We can review your situation and build a strong case for your appeal.

Pietrucha Law Firm, LLC Serving clients throughout Illinois – www.pietruchalaw.com

Remember: Walking away from a bad job takes courage. You may still have options for financial support while you find your next opportunity.