Great to see this got resolved! As someone who also works overnight shifts, I can confirm this is exactly how it works. The midnight split rule seems confusing at first but it actually makes sense once you understand that ESD weeks run Sunday-Saturday. For anyone else dealing with this - keep detailed records of your actual work hours by day, not just by shift. It makes filing claims much easier and helps avoid these kinds of mix-ups. The key thing to remember is always report what you've ACTUALLY worked, not what you're scheduled to work.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation working graveyard shifts at a warehouse (10pm-6am) and I've been so confused about the reporting requirements. The midnight split rule explanation really clarifies things - I had no idea that ESD weeks run Sunday-Saturday and that you have to divide overnight hours at midnight. I've probably been reporting incorrectly for the past month by just putting down my full 8-hour shifts based on when they started. Looks like I need to call ESD to fix my previous claims before it becomes a bigger problem. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know this is a common issue and that ESD agents are understanding when you explain the situation honestly.

I just went through this same confusion a few months ago when I first filed! You definitely don't need your employer's unemployment tax number (UBI number) for your personal claim - that's strictly for employers when they file their quarterly reports with the state. It sounds like you might have accidentally ended up on the employer portal section of the Washington ESD website, which happens to a lot of people since the navigation isn't great. For a regular unemployment claim, you only need your SSN, basic employer info (name, address), and your work history. Just make sure you're on the right page by going directly to esd.wa.gov and clicking "File for Unemployment Benefits" - that'll take you to the actual claimant application where you won't see any requests for employer tax numbers.

I had this exact same issue when I first filed for unemployment! The "unemployment tax number" they're asking for is actually your employer's UBI (Unified Business Identifier) number, which is something only employers need to know for their quarterly tax filings with Washington State. As a regular employee, you would never have access to this number, and you don't need it for your personal unemployment claim. It sounds like you accidentally ended up on the employer section of the Washington ESD website instead of the regular claimant application - this happens to tons of people because their website navigation is confusing and the pages look really similar. Just go back to esd.wa.gov and look for "File for Unemployment Benefits" to get to the correct claimant form. You'll only need your SSN, basic employer info (business name and address), and your work history. Washington ESD can look up all the employer tax information on their end once you provide those basic details.

This has been really educational. I had no idea the unemployment system was so complex. Seems like there are a lot of ways to accidentally disqualify yourself if you don't know the rules.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed info! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I had no idea about the base period calculation or that quitting voluntarily would disqualify me. Definitely going to use that benefit calculator on the ESD website to see where I stand, and I'll make sure to have a solid plan before making any job changes. Really appreciate this community sharing their experiences - saved me from potentially making a costly mistake!

Another quick tip that worked for me - if you have direct deposit set up with your employer, check your bank statements from when you started the job. Sometimes banks include the employer's EIN or tax ID in the initial direct deposit setup paperwork or in the transaction details when they verify the employer. I found this out by accident when I was looking through old bank documents for something else. It's not guaranteed to be there, but worth checking if you have access to your banking records from when you first got hired.

One more place to check that saved me recently - if you ever filled out any tax documents like a W-4 when you started your job, sometimes HR departments include the company's FEIN on those forms or in the new employee paperwork packet. I found mine in an old folder with my hiring documents that I had completely forgotten about. Also, if your company had you sign up for benefits like health insurance or 401k, those enrollment forms sometimes have the employer tax ID listed as well. It's worth digging through any employment-related paperwork you might have saved from when you first got hired.

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - don't panic! I was in almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago. Got disqualified for "misconduct" after what I felt was a completely unfair termination. The disqualification notice is intentionally scary and confusing, but it's not the end of the world. Here's what helped me: First, I appealed within the 30-day window (this is critical - don't miss that deadline). Second, I gathered every piece of documentation I could find - text messages, emails, witness contact info, company policies, everything. Third, I kept filing my weekly claims religiously even though I wasn't getting paid - this saved me when I eventually won my appeal and got 12 weeks of back pay. The hearing itself was actually pretty fair - the judge let me tell my whole story and really listened. Your case about defending yourself from an abusive customer sounds like it has real merit. Customer service workers have rights too, and employers can't just label any response to harassment as "misconduct." Fight this - you've got more support and options than you realize right now.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - getting a disqualification notice is absolutely terrifying and the language they use makes it sound so final. I went through something similar last year when I got fired from my customer service job for what my manager called "insubordination" - really I was just trying to follow company policy when she wanted me to break it. The disqualification notice made me panic for weeks before I realized I had options. Here's what I wish someone had told me right away: this is likely a temporary penalty, not a permanent ban. Most misconduct disqualifications in Washington are 7-10 weeks of forfeited benefits, then you can collect again if still unemployed. But definitely appeal this - defending yourself from an abusive customer is NOT misconduct under Washington law. Customer service workers have the right to protect themselves from harassment and abuse. Keep filing your weekly claims during the appeal process even though you won't get paid right now - if you win, you'll get all that back pay. I know it feels hopeless but you have real options here. Document everything you remember about the incident while it's still fresh, and don't let your employer's version be the only one the state hears.