Also known as: good cause attributable to employer · good cause attributable to the employer · good cause · attributable cause
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A justification for an employee's voluntary resignation that is connected to the employer's actions, policies, or working conditions rather than purely personal reasons. The justification must be bona fide and employment-related to preserve eligibility for unemployment benefits in states requiring this showing. Wholly personal motives do not qualify.
Greta Goldstein resigned from Gulfstream Aviation after repeated pay cuts that made continued work unsustainable. In ensuing unemployment proceedings, the referee examined whether the compensation changes supplied good cause attributable to the employer. The agency granted benefits because the employer's reductions were bona fide and employment-related.
Gabriel Gonzalez left Greenleaf Farms after unsafe pesticide exposure caused documented health deterioration. He applied for unemployment benefits and proved the workplace conditions forced his resignation. The tribunal found good cause attributable to the employer and awarded benefits.
Grace Gupta quit Grove Manufacturing after her supervisor's harassment created a hostile environment. During her unemployment claim she showed the employer's conduct caused the departure. The hearing officer ruled the resignation was for good cause attributable to the employer.
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Gretchen Graham resigned from Granite Holdings after chronic safety violations endangered her health. She sought unemployment compensation and demonstrated the violations were the reason for leaving. The agency determined good cause attributable to the employer existed.
Georgia Gibbs left her position at Gulfstream Aviation after unpaid wages accumulated for months. In her unemployment hearing she proved the wage violations were employment-related and bona fide. Benefits were awarded on the ground of good cause attributable to the employer.
Gregory Gates resigned from Greenleaf Farms after the employer reduced benefits and increased unsafe hours. He applied for unemployment but the referee found the dominant reason was personal financial dissatisfaction. The claim was denied for lack of good cause attributable to the employer.
The employee must demonstrate a bona fide, employment-related reason for resigning, such as substantial reductions in compensation, unsafe working conditions, or harassment tied to the employer's policies. Purely personal reasons are insufficient.
Yes. Courts recognize that a substantial reduction in compensation imposed by the employer supplies the required connection to the employment relationship and permits the employee to resign without disqualification from benefits.
Yes. When an employee's illness or disease is directly caused by the employer's working environment, the resignation is attributable to the employer and avoids disqualification.
A pregnant employee must show that job-related circumstances adversely affected her condition and forced the resignation. If the employment environment caused the departure, good cause attributable to the employer is established.
…[in Sherbert and Thomas ] provided that a person was not eligible for unemployment compensation benefits if, ‘without good cause,’ he had quit work or refused available work. The ‘good cause’ standard created a mechanism for individualized exemptions.” Bowen v. Roy, supra , at 708 (opinion of Burger, C. J., joined…