Bottom line for OP - you're good, your employer is handling all unemployment tax obligations and you won't see any deductions on your paystub for unemployment insurance in Washington state.

Just wanted to add that if you're coming from a state that does deduct unemployment taxes from employee paychecks, Washington's approach can definitely feel weird at first! I moved here from Pennsylvania where they take out both state and federal unemployment taxes from your pay. Here in Washington, you'll only see the federal taxes that go to Social Security and Medicare, plus federal income tax. The state unemployment system is completely invisible to you as an employee, which is honestly kind of nice - one less line item to worry about on your paystub.

Update us on how it goes! I'm sure other people in similar situations would benefit from hearing about your experience with the dispute process.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. My former employer claimed I was terminated for "policy violations" when I was actually laid off due to restructuring. The key is to respond quickly and thoroughly to their dispute. I submitted my termination paperwork, email communications with my supervisor, and even got a statement from a coworker who witnessed the layoff announcement. It took about 6 weeks to resolve, but I won the case and received all my back benefits. Don't let them intimidate you - if you were truly laid off due to budget cuts and have documentation proving it, you should prevail. The adjudicator will look at all the evidence from both sides before making a decision.

Wait I'm confused, don't you have to do 3 job searches every week even though it's just seasonal? Like won't they expect you to find a new job instead of just waiting for construction to start again? I thought that was how it worked...

hey just checking did u get paid yet? im in kinda the same boat right now and wondering how long its taking people

Update us when your adjudication gets resolved! I'm in week 4 myself and could use some hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm in week 3 of adjudication myself and reading through all these experiences is both helpful and terrifying. It sounds like the timeline really varies - some people get resolved in 4-6 weeks while others are waiting months. The lack of transparency from ESD is definitely the most frustrating part. I've been keeping detailed records of all my weekly filings and any communications just in case I need them later. Has anyone had luck with submitting additional documentation proactively, or is it better to just wait for them to ask for what they need?

Another important eligibility issue that hasn't been mentioned much is drug testing. If you're fired for failing a drug test at work, Washington ESD will likely deny your benefits for misconduct. Also, if you're participating in certain state or federal programs that require drug testing and you fail or refuse to take the test, that can affect your unemployment eligibility too. I learned this the hard way when helping my cousin with his claim - he thought his medical marijuana card would protect him, but Washington ESD didn't see it that way for his particular job situation.

One area that often gets overlooked is how union membership affects eligibility. If you're a union member and refuse to cross a picket line during a labor dispute, Washington ESD might deny your benefits even though you're technically "available" for work. Also, if your union provides strike benefits or other financial support during a work stoppage, that could impact your unemployment eligibility. I had a friend who was confused about this when his union went on strike - he thought he'd automatically qualify for unemployment, but it's much more complicated than that. The rules around labor disputes and union activities can be really tricky to navigate.