Quit before being fired. Do I have a case?

I was in my job (Wa State) for a little over a year. In that time I was given four reviews were out of 18 areas evaluated I was Meeting Expectations in 15, 1 exceeding expectations and two meeting some expectations. About three months after my last review I was called into a meeting with my boss and a HR representative. I was told I was not meeting expectations and that I had a choice of separating from the company on my own or creating a performance plan that shows how I would show immediate and sustained performance improvement. When I asked why I was not meeting expectations I was not given any reasons except not meeting the values of the company and was told that it was my responsibility to show how I was going to meet expectations and that I was responsible to make it work. I was not given any guidance or help in creating this plan. The total burden was place on me. I met with my boss two times after this and was told two separate times the plan was not good enough and I could never get him to tell me specifically how I was not meeting expectations. How do a I correct something if I don't understand what is wrong. I was given a two page document outlining general job requirements that I thought I was already meeting. I was asked to sign this document that said I agree that I was not meeting expectations and that if I did not meet expectations that I would be fired. Rather than being fired and giving them time to build a case against me I quit. To be clear I was never told why I was not meeting expectations. The closest they came was that I was not meeting the values of the company which I feel I was more than doing.


The company is not doing well and this approach has been used on at least five previous employees that I know of. The same day I had my meeting they let a Director in my division go as well. It is obvious that they are taking this approach for budget reasons, but of course it is difficult to prove.

Do I have a case for UI? The burden to show good cause is on the employer, but I am worried that I quit in anticipation of discharge. I not only think reasonable people in my position would do the same, but I saw people prior to me in this exact same situation do the same as I.


Hi,

Oh my. That is clever .. isn't it? This will very likely be protested as a voluntary quit in anticipation of discharge because continuing work was an option for you, but you know what .. I would file anyway and give it a try .. just because they made it impossible to even meet the expectation of writing your own performance improvement plan. I would think at least they would have some kind of guide to do this .. since they rejected your effort.

I'd be happy to assist you with a strategy or argument if you like, but I suggest you first check over the company policies to find out what you should have expected from the employer.