After reading everyone's advice, I think I'm going to try calling ESD once more to see if I can find out why my claim has been pending. If I can get through, I'll let them know I found a job but would like to resolve anything for the weeks I was unemployed. If I can't get through after a few more tries, I'll probably just let it go and move on with my new job. Thanks everyone for the helpful information!

Just wanted to add my experience - I was in a similar situation last year where my claim was pending forever and I found work before getting any payments. I did end up calling ESD to let them know about the new job, and they were actually able to process my backpay for the weeks I was legitimately unemployed. It took another few weeks to get the money, but it was worth it since I had bills piling up from being out of work. The rep I spoke with said it's totally normal for people to find jobs while their claims are still processing, and they deal with it all the time. Whatever you decide, congrats on landing the new position so quickly!

The fact that you're being thoughtful about this and trying to understand the rules shows you're acting in good faith. That's exactly the kind of thing Washington ESD looks for when evaluating misconduct claims.

Based on what you've described, this doesn't sound like misconduct under Washington ESD's standards. Being late due to car troubles is generally considered beyond your control, especially since you communicated with your supervisor about the issues. One heated discussion with a coworker about work matters typically isn't enough to constitute misconduct either, unless threats were made or company policy was clearly violated. The key factor Washington ESD looks for is whether your actions were willful and showed deliberate disregard for your employer's interests. Having legitimate transportation issues and trying to resolve them shows good faith effort on your part. I'd definitely recommend filing your claim - let Washington ESD make the determination rather than assuming you're disqualified based on your employer's claims.

This whole situation is such a mess. Politicians make these trade decisions and regular working people pay the price. At least Washington ESD seems to be handling the claims properly.

I'm in a similar situation - my company just announced they're cutting 40% of staff due to rising material costs from trade policies. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful. It sounds like the key points are: file immediately after layoff, be honest about the economic reasons, document job search activities properly, and don't worry about the specific tariff details when filling out the application. Has anyone had luck with retraining programs while on unemployment? I'm wondering if this might be a good time to learn some new skills while I'm job hunting.

Remember that unemployment is temporary assistance while you look for work. Stay organized, follow all the requirements, and keep looking for your next opportunity. You've got this!

One more practical tip - make sure you have a reliable internet connection and a quiet space when you're filing your weekly claims. The system can time out if you take too long, and you don't want to lose your progress halfway through. I learned this the hard way when my wifi cut out while I was in the middle of filing and had to start over. Also, try to file your weekly claims on the same day each week to establish a routine - I do mine every Sunday morning with my coffee.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I filed my claim today and requested backdating with all the text evidence I could find. I'm not getting my hopes up for the full period, but maybe I'll get some of it approved. I'll update this thread when I hear back from ESD about their decision.

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation right now. My employer also kept telling me work would resume "soon" after my layoff in November, so I waited until January to file. ESD denied my backdating request initially, but I'm in the appeal process now. One thing I learned is to be very specific about dates and promises when you submit your request - don't just say "my boss said I'd be rehired," but include exact dates they gave you and any witnesses who heard these conversations. Also, if you have any written company policies about temporary layoffs or recall procedures, include those too. It shows the employer had established practices that led you to reasonably believe you'd be called back. The adjudication process is slow but don't give up if you have legitimate documentation!