Are you entitled to unemployment if you are fired in Washington ESD?

That's good to hear! Do I need to wait a certain amount of time before applying or should I file right away?

File as soon as possible! There's a one-week waiting period but the sooner you apply, the sooner your claim can be processed. Don't wait.

How does that work exactly? Do they guarantee you'll get through?

They have this system that calls for you and when they get an agent on the line, they conference you in. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Super helpful when you need to actually talk to someone.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Might be worth checking out since calling Washington ESD is such a nightmare.

What counts as misconduct exactly? I was late a few times but nothing major.

Misconduct has to be substantial and willful. Being late occasionally usually won't rise to that level unless it was excessive and you ignored warnings. Safety violations you mentioned reporting could actually work in your favor.

Did you end up winning your appeal? What kind of documentation helped?

Yes but it was hell. I had emails showing the safety issues I reported, witness statements from coworkers, and my performance reviews. The hearing officer said employer couldn't prove misconduct.

Wow that sounds like a lot of work but glad you won in the end!

This is really helpful! Should I mention the safety complaint when I file my initial claim?

Absolutely. If you were terminated for reporting safety violations, that could be considered retaliation which would strengthen your case significantly.

How long does adjudication usually take? I'm worried about paying my bills while this gets sorted out.

Can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on how complicated your case is. That's why I ended up trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to get through to ESD and check on the status.

Did it help speed things up or just give you more information about the timeline?

The agent was able to see there was missing documentation from my employer and gave me a better idea of when to expect a decision. Worth it just for the peace of mind honestly.

How long do you have to file an appeal if they deny you?

30 days from the date on the determination letter. don't wait around if you disagree with their decision

That's encouraging! Did she have any trouble with the employer fighting it?

They tried but couldn't prove she did anything that actually harmed the business. Just personality conflicts with her supervisor.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, interviews, even some training activities. They have a list on the ESD website of what qualifies.

When do they usually schedule those interviews?

Usually within a week or two of filing if there are any questions about your termination. They'll call both you and your employer separately.

That does make me feel better about my chances. I have a clean work history otherwise.

That will definitely work in your favor. Document everything you can remember about the termination meeting and any prior incidents they mentioned.

I was making about $4,200 a month before this happened. Any idea what that would translate to in benefits?

Should be around $560-650 per week depending on your exact wage history. Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website you can use.

Good point. I'll file online tonight. Is the ESD website pretty straightforward to use?

it's not terrible but have all your employment info ready - dates, wages, reason for separation etc. saves time

Thanks everyone for all the advice! Feeling much more confident about filing now.

I'll definitely keep that in mind if I need to talk to someone and can't get through the normal way.

The phone lines are definitely the worst part of dealing with ESD. Any shortcut to actually reach a human is valuable.

Good to know there's a backup plan if needed. Hopefully it won't come to that though.

Will do! Thanks again for all the support and advice from everyone.

Already started browsing job boards actually. Good to know I'm on the right track.

Very true. Feeling grateful to be in a state that actually protects workers to some degree.

That's what these forums are for - sharing knowledge and supporting each other through tough times.