Update from my earlier comment - another option is to visit your local WorkSource office in person. They can't directly help with Commissioner Reviews, but they can sometimes contact ESD through internal channels to verify your appeal status. I did this last year when I was in a similar situation and the WorkSource specialist was able to confirm my appeal was in the system and gave me a rough timeframe.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed my Commissioner's Review appeal 6 weeks ago and it's like they don't exist. Really appreciate all the suggestions here - going to try the 8am calling strategy and definitely looking into contacting my state representative. Has anyone had luck with the Governor's office constituent services? I saw they have an online form for ESD issues but wasn't sure if it's worth trying. This whole process is so stressful when you're already struggling financially.

One important point I forgot to mention: If you're experiencing severe financial hardship (like potential eviction or utility shutoff), you can request an expedited processing of your OAH decision implementation. Call the ESD claims center and specifically ask for a "hardship escalation" for your appeal implementation. You'll need to provide some proof of the hardship, but it can potentially speed things up significantly.

Just wanted to share my recent experience for anyone else in this situation - I won my OAH appeal in February and it took exactly 12 business days for ESD to implement the decision and release my back pay. Like others mentioned, there was zero communication from ESD during the wait - no letters, no status updates in my online account, nothing. Then one Tuesday morning I logged in and boom, all my back benefits were there dating back to when I first filed. The key things that helped me: I kept filing my weekly claims religiously even though my account still showed disqualified, and I had my OAH decision letter saved as a PDF on my phone in case I needed to reference the case number. The wait was stressful but it did eventually get resolved. Hang in there @Ethan Wilson - sounds like you're doing everything right!

I was in a very similar situation about 6 months ago - terminated for performance issues after struggling to meet productivity targets at a customer service job. I was really worried about filing for unemployment because I thought being fired automatically disqualified me. But after reading through Washington state's guidelines, I learned that there's a big difference between being fired for misconduct versus just not being able to meet job requirements. I filed my claim and was approved after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The investigator asked me to explain what happened and I was honest about struggling with the role but emphasized that I was always trying my best and following all company policies. My advice would be to file ASAP and don't let the fear of potential denial stop you - you might be pleasantly surprised like I was!

I went through something very similar last year when I was let go from a retail management position for not meeting sales targets. Like you, I was really nervous about filing because I thought being fired meant automatic disqualification. But Washington ESD actually approved my claim after about 2 weeks of review. The key thing they look for is whether you were fired for "misconduct connected with work" - which has a very specific legal definition. Simply not being able to perform at the level your employer wanted doesn't usually qualify as misconduct. When I spoke with the adjudicator, I explained that I was always punctual, followed all company procedures, and genuinely tried to improve my performance through additional training and asking for feedback. That seemed to be enough to show I wasn't willfully violating any workplace standards. My suggestion is to file right away and gather any documentation you have that shows you were making good faith efforts to succeed in the role. Good luck!

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to add - if you're dealing with mental health impacts from the workplace harassment, consider asking your therapist or doctor for a letter specifically stating how the work environment affected your mental health. My therapist wrote a letter for my case that said something like "Patient reported severe anxiety and depression symptoms that began coinciding with workplace harassment incidents" with specific dates. ESD seemed to take that medical documentation very seriously during my phone interview. Also, don't underestimate the power of contemporaneous notes. I started keeping a daily log on my phone of incidents as they happened, including my emotional state at the time. Those real-time notes were more compelling than trying to recreate everything from memory later. You've got this - the fact that you documented everything and have recordings shows you were thinking clearly even in a terrible situation. That level of preparation will serve you well in the process.

I've been following this thread as someone who's currently dealing with a similar situation at my workplace. The advice here has been invaluable - especially about organizing documentation chronologically and getting medical documentation from healthcare providers. One resource I wanted to share that hasn't been mentioned yet: Washington State has a Workforce Board that publishes detailed guides on UI eligibility for hostile work environment claims. Their website has sample documentation templates and examples of what constitutes "good cause" under Washington law. I found it really helpful for understanding exactly what ESD is looking for. Also, if anyone is still in the documenting phase, consider taking photos/screenshots with metadata showing dates and times. I started doing this after my HR department claimed they "never received" my email complaints, even though I had delivery receipts. The timestamps can be crucial evidence. @Vincent Bimbach - your situation sounds really well-documented. The fact that you have recordings (legally obtained) and contemporaneous evidence puts you in a much stronger position than many people who try to file these claims. Stay strong through the process!

If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD to confirm your PFML eligibility or get help with the application, I'd recommend trying Claimyr if the phone lines are too busy. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to understand your options.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! Everyone here is absolutely right - you can't get regular UI benefits while on maternity leave if your job is being held for you. I made the mistake of initially trying to file for unemployment and wasted weeks before learning about PFML. The Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave program is specifically designed for situations like yours. The benefits aren't as much as your regular pay, but it definitely helps with expenses during unpaid leave. Make sure you apply as soon as possible since there can be a waiting period. The online application through ESD was pretty straightforward once I figured out I was looking at the wrong program!