Can I get unemployment if I was fired for calling in sick - Washington ESD eligibility question

You should definitely file for unemployment. Being fired for attendance due to legitimate illness is different from being fired for misconduct. Washington ESD looks at whether you had good cause for your absences. Do you have any documentation of your illnesses - pharmacy receipts, text messages to your boss, anything?

honestly this happens alot, most employers cant fire you just for being sick unless you didnt follow their policy about calling in. did you call in properly each time or just no-show?

I had a similar situation last year and got approved for benefits. The key is proving your absences were legitimate and you followed company policy. When I couldn't reach Washington ESD by phone to check on my claim status, I ended up using Claimyr.com to get through to an actual agent. They have this system that calls Washington ESD for you and connects you when an agent picks up - saved me hours of busy signals. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The attendance policy thing is tricky. Even if you were genuinely sick, if you exceeded their policy limits they might still consider it a fireable offense. BUT that doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment. Washington ESD will look at whether the absences were within your control.

ugh this is exactly why I hate these corporate attendance policies!! they act like being human and getting sick is some kind of personal failing. you should absolutely file for unemployment, dont let them intimidate you

Just to be clear on the process - when you file your initial claim, be completely honest about why you were terminated. Don't try to hide that it was attendance-related. Explain that your absences were due to legitimate illness and that you followed proper call-in procedures. Washington ESD appreciates honesty and it won't hurt your case if the absences were justified.

I got fired for attendance too but mine was different - I was missing work because my car kept breaking down. Still got unemployment though because Washington ESD said transportation issues aren't misconduct if you're actively trying to solve them. Illness should be even easier to get approved.

What I'm wondering is if the employer will contest the claim. Sometimes they fight unemployment claims to keep their rates down. Did they seem hostile when they fired you or was it more matter-of-fact?

File ASAP! Don't wait around wondering if you qualify. The worst they can say is no, but based on what you're describing, you have a strong case. I had a friend who got approved after being fired for attendance due to a chronic health condition.

I used to work in HR and can tell you that firing someone for legitimate sick days is not considered willful misconduct under Washington state law. The key word is 'legitimate' - if you were actually sick and followed proper procedures, you should be fine. Document everything you can remember about each absence.

This whole situation makes me mad because employers use these attendance policies to avoid paying unemployment. They know most people won't fight it. Good for you for asking questions instead of just accepting that you can't get benefits.

When I was going through my unemployment claim process, I had trouble getting Washington ESD on the phone to ask questions. Someone recommended Claimyr and it was a game changer - instead of calling 50+ times a day, their system handled the calling and connected me when an agent was available. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation.

just make sure when you file your weekly claims you report any job search activities. even though you were fired and not laid off, you still have to meet the work search requirements once your claim is approved

One thing to prepare for - if your claim goes to adjudication (which it might since you were fired), it can take several extra weeks to get approved. Don't panic if it doesn't happen immediately. The adjudication process is where they review the circumstances of your termination.

Bottom line - file your claim, be honest about the circumstances, provide documentation of your illnesses if you have it, and don't let your former employer intimidate you into thinking you don't deserve benefits. Being sick isn't misconduct.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. Got fired for "excessive absences" when I had to miss work for a kidney stone, stomach flu, and my kid's emergency surgery. I was terrified I wouldn't qualify for unemployment, but Washington ESD approved my claim after about 2 weeks of review. The key things that helped my case were: 1) I had called in properly each time, 2) I kept text messages showing I notified my supervisor, and 3) I had some medical documentation. Even though I didn't have doctor's notes for everything, the fact that my absences were legitimate medical issues and I followed company protocol made all the difference. File your claim right away and don't worry - genuine illness absences are NOT considered misconduct in Washington state.