Can I quit my job for unhealthy conditions at my workplace?

Question

Is it the winter month and there is no heat at where I work and now I am starting to get sick all over again with phenomonia,this goes on every year,he promises to get heat but he never does and 3 times I have caught phenomonia,hospitalized and had surgery from the year before for working in a cold workplace. I am not young anymore,but,I cannot stand working in a cold place where you have to wear 3 to 4 layers of clothing to keep warm and even that doesn't work,so,would I be able to quit and collect unemployment for this reason. Need Help!!!!

Answer 1

I don't know where you live and that may make a difference. Check with your unemployment office and see what they say. There may be a process you have to go through. Some unemployment offices don't allow EI to be collected if someone quits. Where I am there is a special appeal process you have to go through if you quit and think you should still be allowed to collect EI. Make sure you have your medical records and a doctors note saying the conditions at your workplace are bad for your health. Document that your employer had promised to get heat but does not. In some places the Labour Law allows you to quit for unsafe work conditions. Depending on the severity of this situation, you could see if this qualifies for that..

Answer 2

There's a Agency called OSHA.
They deal with employee rights and working condition ETC.
They helped my co-workers and I get (2) cigarette breaks out of the Vault we were working in. Long Story but the Companies policy was once your in the vault make sure you have everything you need because NO ONE was allowed back out until quitting time AFTER patt downs. OSHA stepped and said that it was cruel and inhumane to hire smokers and not tell them they be locked in and unable to smoke for 8 hours so they had to start letting each smoker out at least twice in an 8 hour period
non-smokers had to stay in. If they could help with that I'm sure there's help for you. Start with talking to some one at the unemployment agency about your work conditions and why you want to quit.
Good Luck & God Bless

Answer 3

I agree with checking with OSHA about possible workplace laws that may be broken by your employer.

But by itself, being cold is not going to give you pneumonia. Something is wrong with YOUR immunity if you get sick that easily. Can you bring a space heater to work with you? Take a good quality multivitamin and some antioxidants to help raise your immunity. What bad habits do you have that may be bringing your immunity down...like smoking, excess alcohol, your weight, poor eating habits, inadequate sleep, etc. These sort of things are within your control to raise your resistance.

Answer 4

Many people work in unairconditioned situations.

Find another job.

You didn't get sick from the cold you got sick from a bacteria and low immune response. If you build your immune system up you will not get sick. But it will still be cold.

I worked in a building with no air and no heat for 18 years and never got sick; Just wasn't fun.

Answer 5

We have OSHA in the US to protect us from unfair working conditions. Report your boss to the state Occupational Safety and Health Association in your state.
Here's the federal link:
http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/index.html

Answer 6

I doubt you can collect unemployment for quitting. You might talk to your family Dr. With a letter from your Dr. you might get more help with your boss or the unemployment office.

Answer 7

check out OSHA. they ensure safety in the workplace.
www.osha.gov..occupational safety and hazard administration. there should be a poster there at your workplace