SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is answering HR questions as part of a series for USA Today.

Do you have an HR or work-related question you'd like him to answer? Submit it here.

After working for 13 years at a company as an electrician, I was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition, and I am going blind. I went in to talk with HR about this but ran into the owners. I talked to them about my condition. I can no longer read a blueprint or work order. We agreed that with my condition, I could not do my job without putting myself or my co-workers in danger. With this being a safety issue, I cannot just guess my way through work. So, I left the company on those grounds. Is this a legal reason to quit? Since they classified my leaving as a resignation, can I receive unemployment benefits? —Anonymous

Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.: Let me start by thanking you for putting the welfare of your colleagues first. It was an honorable gesture, and I'm sure a very difficult decision.

While I can't speak to the exact circumstances you're facing, you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits, depending on state regulations. The state will consider several factors in determining whether benefits are payable. Two common eligibility criteria are if the loss of the job was out of the employee's control and if the employee is seeking other employment.

Should you be determined eligible, also inquire about training benefits. Your state unemployment...

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