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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.
This is really encouraging to hear! I'm in almost the exact same situation - laid off due to budget cuts but they're claiming misconduct. Did you have to do a phone interview with the adjudicator or was it all handled through written submissions? I'm nervous about having to explain everything over the phone if that's required.
I'm about 10 weeks into my claim after being laid off from a UX design role, and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Like many others here, I completely missed the SEAP opportunity (never even knew it existed until reading this), but I've been successfully building my freelance design business while meeting the regular unemployment requirements. A few practical tips I've learned for balancing business development with job search requirements: 1. I treat industry meetups and design conferences as networking for BOTH potential clients AND potential employment - they count toward job search activities while building my business network 2. I schedule most client calls during lunch hours or after 5pm to avoid conflicts with potential interviews 3. I'm upfront with potential clients that I'm currently between positions but actively building my practice - most people respect the hustle The hardest part honestly has been the mental shift from "looking for a job" to "building a business" while still having to apply for positions I don't really want. But reading everyone's experiences here has been so encouraging! @Elijah Knight - I'd love to hear how your SEAP application turned out! And for those considering the SCORE training independently, I actually did their free business mentoring program and it was surprisingly helpful even without the paid course. Might be worth exploring as a lower-cost starting point. This thread should honestly be pinned - it's become the most comprehensive resource I've found on navigating unemployment while pursuing entrepreneurship in Washington!
This is such great advice! I'm just starting week 3 of my claim after getting laid off from a marketing role, and I've been struggling with exactly this balance. Your point about framing industry events as networking for both clients AND employment is brilliant - I hadn't thought about it that way but it makes total sense. I'm definitely going to look into that free SCORE mentoring program you mentioned. Since I clearly missed the SEAP window (no notifications in my eServices account), starting with free resources seems like a smart approach before investing in the paid training. It's honestly been so reassuring to read everyone's experiences here. I was feeling pretty isolated in trying to figure out how to pursue my freelance content marketing goals while still meeting ESD requirements, but seeing how many people are successfully navigating this path is really encouraging. @Elijah Knight - I m'also curious about your SEAP application outcome! And thanks to everyone who s'shared their stories - this thread really has become an incredible resource. Maybe we should all check back in here in a few months to share progress updates on our businesses!
Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been lurking and learning from this amazing thread! I'm about 4 weeks into my unemployment claim after being laid off from a digital marketing role, and I'm working on starting a social media consulting business. Like many others here, I didn't get the SEAP notification and honestly didn't even know it existed until finding this discussion. But reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful for figuring out how to build a business while on regular unemployment. One thing I've found useful is using LinkedIn strategically - I can do "job searching" activities like connecting with potential employers while simultaneously building my professional network for consulting opportunities. It's amazing how much overlap there is between legitimate job search activities and business development when you think creatively about it. I'm definitely planning to look into the SCORE mentoring program that @GalacticGladiator mentioned, especially since the free version sounds like a great starting point. Even without SEAP, it seems like there are still plenty of resources available for those of us determined to make this entrepreneurship thing work. Thanks to everyone who's shared their stories - this thread has honestly been more helpful than anything I've found on the official ESD website! Would love to hear updates from @Elijah Knight and others as your journeys progress.
That's such a smart approach with LinkedIn! I'm also building a consulting business (freelance graphic design) and hadn't thought about how much overlap there is between job searching and client networking on that platform. Definitely going to start being more strategic about my connections and posts. I'm about 5 weeks into my claim and also missed the SEAP boat, but honestly this thread has shown me that there are so many ways to make progress on business goals even without that program. The community support here has been incredible - it's like having a virtual coworking space for unemployed entrepreneurs! I'm curious if anyone has tips for tracking business development activities in a way that could also count toward the work search log if needed? I want to make sure I'm documenting everything properly in case ESD ever asks for details about my job search efforts. @GalacticGladiator - definitely going to check out that free SCORE mentoring program. Starting with free resources makes so much sense when you're already on a tight unemployment budget. Thanks for sharing that tip!
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...
There's an important distinction here. Standard unemployment requires 3 job search activities weekly. However, for truly seasonal workers with a definite return date within 4 weeks, they may qualify for 'standby' status, which can waive job search requirements. For longer seasonal gaps (4-8 weeks), partial job search requirements may apply. Beyond 8 weeks, full job search requirements almost always apply unless there are exceptional circumstances approved by ESD.
hey just checking did u get paid yet? im in kinda the same boat right now and wondering how long its taking people
Yes! I got my first payment yesterday - took exactly 9 days from when I reopened the claim. Had to wait through the waiting week, then got paid for my second week. Everything went smoothly, thank goodness!
I went through this exact situation with Walmart last year - they absolutely will contest your claim, but don't let that discourage you from filing. I was terminated for what they called "policy violations" but it was clearly retaliation for reporting safety issues to management. The adjudication process took about 7 weeks, but I ultimately won my case because I had solid documentation. Make sure you keep copies of all your safety complaint emails, any responses from management, and try to get witness statements from coworkers who can verify the timeline of events. Washington ESD adjudicators are experienced with these types of cases and can usually spot legitimate retaliation claims. File your claim today - every day you wait is money lost, regardless of whether they contest it or not.
This is super helpful to hear from someone who went through the same situation! 7 weeks sounds rough but knowing you won in the end gives me hope. I'm definitely filing today - you're right that waiting just costs money. Did you have any trouble getting your coworkers to provide witness statements? I'm worried some of them might be scared to get involved since they still work there.
Yes, getting witness statements was tricky - some coworkers were definitely nervous about getting involved. What worked for me was approaching people I trusted and explaining that they could provide statements without their names being directly shared with Walmart during the initial process. A few were willing to write brief statements about what they witnessed regarding the safety issues and the timing of my termination. Even if you can only get one or two people to help, it's worth it. Also, focus on the strongest documentation you have - those safety complaint emails you mentioned are probably your best evidence. The key is showing the pattern of retaliation, not necessarily having a ton of witnesses.
I just went through this same thing with Walmart in Washington state. They contested my claim aggressively, but I still won after about 6 weeks of adjudication. The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD makes the final decision based on the facts, not what Walmart wants. Since you have emails documenting your safety complaints, you're already in a much better position than I was. Make sure to file your claim immediately - don't let fear of their contest delay you. I actually had to use a service called Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD during my adjudication because their phone lines were so jammed, but it was worth it to get updates on my case status. The important thing is that retaliation for safety complaints is illegal, and Washington ESD adjudicators are trained to recognize these situations. Document everything, file today, and don't let Walmart intimidate you out of benefits you're entitled to.
Harper Collins
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that Washington ESD also has a waiting week, which means your first week of unemployment won't be paid even if you're approved. So when you're calculating your finances, factor in that you'll get your first payment in week 2, not week 1. Also, if you end up needing to appeal any decision or if there are issues with your claim, it can add weeks to the process. I'd recommend having some emergency savings set aside just in case there are delays. With your $1,000/week earnings for 14 months though, you should qualify without any major issues - that's a solid work history that ESD likes to see.
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Cynthia Love
•Thanks for bringing up the waiting week - that's a really important detail that could catch people off guard financially! I didn't realize there was an unpaid week at the beginning. With everything else going on during a job loss, having to wait an extra week for that first payment could really throw off someone's budget. The emergency savings advice is spot on too. Even with a solid work history, there's always a chance something gets flagged in the system that could delay things. Better to be prepared for potential hiccups than get caught scrambling if the process takes longer than expected.
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Omar Mahmoud
Anna, I went through this exact calculation when I was making similar wages. With your $1,000/week for 14 months, you're actually in a pretty good spot. Washington will look at your highest earning quarter from your base year - so if you've been consistent, that's around $13,000 quarterly. The formula they use typically results in about 50-60% of your weekly wage, so you're probably looking at $600-700 per week in benefits. The fact that you have 14 months of steady earnings means you'll have solid quarters in your base year, which is exactly what their system needs. Don't stress too much about the website being confusing - the actual application process walks you through everything step by step, and with your work history you should qualify without major issues.
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