Can I get Washington ESD unemployment if I get fired for performance issues?

That's a relief to hear! I've been so stressed about this. What exactly counts as misconduct then?

Misconduct would be things like stealing, harassment, repeatedly violating company policy after warnings, or deliberately not doing your job. Just struggling to meet performance standards isn't misconduct.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the waiting period.

Mine took about 3 weeks because they had to do an adjudication to review the circumstances. My employer tried to contest it but Washington ESD sided with me since I had documentation showing I was trying to improve.

I have some emails saved but not much else. Should I start keeping better records now?

Absolutely! Save anything that shows you were making an effort to meet expectations. Even emails asking for clarification or help can demonstrate good faith effort.

Oh no, that sounds stressful. Did you win the hearing?

Yeah I did, but only because I had good documentation. The hearing officer could tell the difference between poor performance and actual misconduct. Took forever to get through to Washington ESD though - their phone lines are always busy.

I had the same problem with getting through to Washington ESD. Ended up using Claimyr to help me get connected faster. They have this system that calls for you and gets you through to an actual agent. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

Unfortunately yes, Washington is an at-will employment state so employers can fire you for almost any reason including poor performance. But that's exactly why we have unemployment insurance.

thats crazy. so basically you can lose your job even if youre trying your best?

What should I put on the application if they ask why I was terminated?

Just be straightforward - 'terminated for performance issues' or whatever they tell you. Don't try to sugarcoat it or make it sound like something else. Washington ESD will figure out the truth anyway.

Six weeks?! I can't afford to wait that long. Is there anything you can do to speed up the process?

If there's going to be an adjudication, you can try calling Washington ESD to check on the status, but good luck getting through. Their phone system is a nightmare.

That's where Claimyr really helped me out. Instead of spending hours trying to get through to Washington ESD, I just used their service and they connected me with an agent in like 20 minutes. You can check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ to see how it works. Super helpful when you need to talk to someone about your claim status.

I'm already dreading having to deal with all this bureaucracy. Why does it have to be so complicated?

Because they want to discourage people from filing claims and save money. It's all about making it as difficult as possible so people give up.

That gives me hope. I really am trying my best at work, I just think the expectations are unrealistic.

Exactly! Washington ESD understands that sometimes people just aren't a good fit for a job or the employer has unrealistic expectations. That's not your fault.

Good advice. I'll file immediately if it happens. How do I know if my employer is going to contest it?

You won't know until Washington ESD contacts you about it. They'll send you a notice if there's going to be an adjudication hearing. Just be prepared with your documentation.

What kind of job search activities do they require?

you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep records. can be applying online, contacting employers directly, going to job fairs, stuff like that

Yeah I'm already stressed enough about potentially losing my job, and now I have to worry about navigating the unemployment system too.

Just take it one step at a time. File your claim, gather your documentation, and be honest about everything. Most people who get fired for performance do end up getting approved.

That's reassuring coming from someone in HR. Do you think my employer would have a case if they say I wasn't following procedures?

Depends on the specifics. If you were genuinely trying to follow procedures but making mistakes, that's still performance-related. If you were deliberately ignoring procedures after being told to follow them, that could be misconduct.

I definitely won't quit. I need this job until I can find something else, even if my boss is making my life miserable.

Smart move. Even if the job situation is terrible, getting fired for performance is way better for unemployment purposes than quitting.

How long does adjudication usually take? I keep hearing different timeframes.

Typically 2-4 weeks but it can be longer if they need to schedule a hearing. You can try calling Washington ESD to check on the status, though their phone lines are always swamped.

Yeah good luck getting through to them. I tried calling for weeks before I found Claimyr. They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com if you need to talk to someone about your claim.

That makes me feel a lot better. I was worried I'd have to prove I wasn't doing anything wrong.

Nope, they have to prove you were doing something wrong on purpose. Big difference between can't do the job and won't do the job.

That's great to hear! Maybe I'm worrying about nothing. Did you have to do anything special when you filed?

nope just answered the questions honestly and uploaded the termination letter they gave me. pretty straightforward actually

Thanks for saying that. I do feel guilty about potentially collecting unemployment but you're right that I've been paying into it.

Exactly! It's insurance, not welfare. You've earned the right to use it if you lose your job through no fault of your own.