Quiting because being perceived as the scapegoat?

by Julia
(California)

I am currently on a performance improvement plan. I have always fulfilled the plan required, yet my employer continues to claim new, unreasonable requirements after the plan has been initiated. Before turning in my work before the deadline, I consistently ask my employer to verify that the work that I am doing is valid and within requirements. She claims that the document is within guidelines, yet doesn't fully evaluate it, and after the due date she changes her mind, deems it inadequate and lacking with little further guidance.

I have tried to use alternative methods to better communicate with my employer. I have come up with a constructive communicated plan to meet once a week to ensure and answer any questions that I have in order to understand expectations.

I feel harassed, causing undue stress. I am being picked on unnecessarily. I feel like I have appropriately taken the steps to address our issues, yet she is always unsatisfied.

I have yet to go to the doctor, but confident that my employer is causing much anxiety.

Is unemployment an option in this case? It seems my options are either wait to get fired, which is what I don't want to do, or I am seeing if I can seek unemployment benefits because she has decided to replace me without much warning. And, I am job searching currently.



Hi Julia,

I not sure everyone recognizes that my efforts on the subject of quitting a job are to give pause to anyone considering the act of quitting .. even to avoid getting fired.

My problem with what you have told me is that you did detail the kind of treatment you are experiencing from a manager, but failed to provide just as minored detailed information about your efforts to preserve the employment and creating an issue of what you perceive to be your managers questionably motivated efforts to create an intolerable work environment for you with those higher up the employment food chain.


It's always best, if possible, to define the parameters of good cause for what amounts to individual's "unique circumstances".


Quitting in anticipation of discharge is rarely good cause for quitting .. I know that Ohio has a precedent that allows for this, but the burden is not insignificant.

Rather .. I think it is easier to make the case for quitting while still employed. And the link above should take you to the information which will help you get a handle on what you need to do first.

Whether your complaint is something that any reasonable person would also end up quitting for is what the UI department judges.

A judgment based on the "reasonable person standard" is what you must understand can also seem arbitrary .. depending on who is doing the judging as an objective finder of the facts.

This is why I do not provide guarantees of the information I provide to you.

But those efforts to preserve the employment .. must be present .. regardless .. in almost all cases.

So yes, continue to look for another job .. and since there are few to be had .. my new advice is to start at least some kind of small business for yourself while you still have a job so in case when and if you do get unemployment benefits .. you can counter any issue raised based upon your availability for work .. if you do make something and report it on a continuing claim.

I'm quite serious about this .. since I've had many people tell me they stopped receiving benefits due to this very thing.

Whether you think you have good cause to quit or not .. is your decision.