I went through something similar a few months ago. The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD actually wants you to decline unsuitable work - that's why the suitable work criteria exist in the first place. A 40% pay cut would almost certainly qualify as unsuitable, especially if you're only 2 months into your claim. When you file your weekly claim, just answer honestly that you declined an offer and briefly note it was due to significantly below-market compensation. Keep all the documentation from the employer including the salary details. I was worried about the same thing but my caseworker actually thanked me for being thorough with my documentation when I eventually spoke with them.

I'm new to unemployment benefits and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation where I might need to turn down offers that don't match my previous role. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the main takeaway is to be completely transparent on your weekly claims and document everything thoroughly. The fact that Washington ESD has specific "suitable work" criteria actually gives me more confidence that they're not trying to force people into inappropriate jobs. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - it's so valuable to have a community where people can get real answers about these complicated situations!

I just wanted to jump in here since I went through this exact same nightmare about 3 months ago! The "Separation from job" upload is absolutely critical - don't ignore it like I did for the first month. My hours got cut from 32/week down to 6-8 hours at my retail job, and I was so confused about what to upload since I didn't have any formal paperwork. What finally worked for me was creating a comprehensive document that included: 1) A detailed timeline of when my hours started getting reduced, 2) Screenshots of my work schedules showing the decline, 3) My last few paystubs clearly showing the dramatic drop in pay, and 4) A written statement explaining how the hour reduction made it impossible to pay rent and basic expenses. The most important thing I learned is that ESD needs to see you had "good cause" for leaving - and significant hour reductions absolutely qualify! They call it "constructive discharge" which basically means your employer made working conditions so bad that any reasonable person would quit. After I uploaded everything, my adjudication was resolved in about 12 days and I was approved. Don't wait like I did - get that documentation uploaded ASAP! The system is frustrating but they really do process claims once they have what they need to make a decision.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My manufacturing job cut my hours from 40/week down to maybe 15-20 hours over the course of a few months, and I finally had to quit because I couldn't afford my car payment anymore. Like everyone else here, I was totally confused about what to upload for the "Separation from job" requirement. After reading through all these responses, I'm feeling way more confident about what I need to do. I've got my old timesheets saved, some emails with my supervisor about the reduced schedule, and a few text messages where I complained about not getting enough hours. Sounds like creating a detailed timeline with specific dates and including all of this as supporting evidence is the way to go. The "constructive discharge" concept makes so much sense - they basically forced me out by making the job financially unviable. I had no idea that was actually a legitimate reason that ESD recognizes for unemployment eligibility. I've been beating myself up thinking they'd automatically deny me for "voluntarily quitting" but clearly that's not how it works when you can document that your employer made continued employment impossible. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it's incredibly helpful to see real examples of what worked for other people in similar situations!

I'm sorry this happened to you - it's such a frustrating and stressful situation when you're trying to do the right thing by giving proper notice! Based on everything I've read here, you definitely have a strong case for unemployment benefits. The fact that they used the word "terminated" and escorted you out creates a clear paper trail that this was their decision, not yours. Make sure when you file to emphasize that you gave written notice with the intention of working your full two weeks, but they chose to end your employment immediately instead. This is a textbook case of employer-initiated separation. Good luck with your move to Spokane and your claim!

What a terrible way to treat someone after 3.5 years of loyal service! I'm really sorry this happened to you. The silver lining here is that your employer actually did you a favor legally - by terminating you instead of accepting your resignation, they've made you eligible for unemployment benefits. I went through something similar a few years back (gave notice for a new job, got walked out the same day) and ESD approved my claim without any issues. The key things that helped me: 1) I had documentation of my resignation letter, 2) I had their termination notice in writing, and 3) I was very clear in my application that THEY ended my employment, not me. It sounds like you have all of this covered. Don't let their unprofessional behavior discourage you - file that claim tonight and get the benefits you're entitled to!

I went through this exact same scenario about 6 months ago! My supervisor changed my reported hours from 28 to 35 after I'd already filed my weekly claim, and I was freaking out just like you are. Here's what worked for me: I immediately logged into eServices and used the "Benefit Payment Correction" option (not just general reporting - this is key). I uploaded screenshots of my original timesheet submission, the changed version, and text messages between me and my supervisor about the mix-up. I also wrote a detailed explanation of exactly what happened and when. The good news: it only triggered about a 2-week adjudication period because I was proactive about reporting it myself. They did hold my next payment while reviewing it, but once they saw all my documentation proving it was an honest mistake, they cleared it pretty quickly. I had to pay back the overpayment (about $120 in my case), but no penalties or fraud accusations. The key is acting fast and being totally transparent with all your evidence. Your text messages proving the timeline will be huge in your favor. Don't let this stress you out too much - ESD deals with employer hour changes all the time, and they can usually tell the difference between honest mistakes and intentional fraud.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - my hours got adjusted after I filed too. Reading through everyone's advice here has been super helpful! Just wanted to add that when you upload your text messages as evidence, make sure the timestamps are clearly visible in the screenshots. ESD really cares about being able to see exactly when things happened. Also, if your foreman is willing to help, having him send you an email acknowledging that he changed the hours without notifying you first could be really valuable documentation. Good luck - it sounds like you're handling this the right way by being proactive!

This is exactly why we need better oversight of employer wage reporting! I work in HR and see this kind of mess all the time - companies switch payroll systems, merge with other businesses, or just have undertrained staff who don't understand how to properly categorize employees for state reporting. It shouldn't be the worker's responsibility to fix their employer's mistakes, especially when you're already dealing with the stress of being laid off. For anyone else reading this who might face similar issues: always keep your own records! Save your paystubs, timesheets, and any employment documentation. The state systems rely entirely on what employers report, but employers make mistakes constantly. Having your own paper trail makes the wage investigation process much smoother. Great job persisting through this @NeonNova - 2-3 weeks is actually pretty fast for ESD to resolve wage investigations from what I've seen!

Just wanted to add another tip for anyone dealing with this - if you're having trouble getting through to ESD even with the calling services, try reaching out to your local WorkSource office. They often have direct lines to ESD specialists and can help advocate for you or even initiate the wage investigation on your behalf. I had a friend who got her issue resolved in just a few days by going through WorkSource instead of trying to navigate ESD directly. They're way more helpful and actually understand how frustrating the system can be!