Can I receive Washington ESD unemployment if I get fired from my job?

That's helpful, thank you! The write-ups are mostly for being 5-10 minutes late a few times and one for 'attitude' when I questioned a new policy. Nothing serious like theft or anything.

Those sound like performance issues rather than misconduct. You should be fine for UI benefits if they terminate you for that stuff.

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

Mine took about 3 weeks because they had to do an adjudication to review the termination. It was nerve-wracking but ultimately approved.

Did you have to provide any documentation or was it just based on what you and your employer told them?

I kept copies of all my write-ups and the termination paperwork, but they didn't ask for it. They just called my old boss and me separately to get both sides of the story.

What if you get fired for failing a drug test? Asking for a friend obviously...

That would likely be considered misconduct and could disqualify you from benefits, depending on the circumstances and company policy.

How does that work exactly? I've tried calling Washington ESD before and it's impossible to get through.

Basically they handle the calling process for you so you don't have to sit there redialing for hours. Way less stressful than trying to navigate the phone system yourself.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Might be worth it just to avoid the phone tree nightmare.

Because unemployment insurance is exactly that - insurance. You pay into it while working, and it's meant to provide temporary support when you lose your job through no fault of your own. Not being good at a job isn't the same as misconduct.

I guess that makes sense when you put it that way. Still seems like there should be some accountability though.

The system isn't perfect but it prevents people from becoming homeless just because they weren't a good fit for a particular role.

That's reassuring. I'm definitely not dealing with anything as serious as what would typically be considered misconduct.

Refusing unpaid overtime isn't insubordination, that's knowing your rights! Good for you.

How long does the appeal process take? And do you need a lawyer?

Appeals can take several weeks to a few months. You don't need a lawyer but you can have representation if you want. Many people represent themselves successfully.

The appeal hearings are usually done by phone now which makes it a bit easier than having to go somewhere in person.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure to have some savings just in case there's a delay.

Smart thinking. The adjudication process can be stressful when you're waiting for money, but it usually works out if you were fired for non-misconduct reasons.

Right, I'd still need to do the weekly claims and job search activities. At least I'd have time to really focus on finding something better.

Exactly! Sometimes getting fired ends up being a blessing in disguise if you find a better job.

Good advice. I've been saving all the emails and I have copies of the write-ups. Most of it seems pretty petty when you read it all together.

That pettiness might actually work in your favor if it comes to an adjudication. Shows the employer was nitpicking rather than addressing serious misconduct.

Should I mention that I think my supervisor has it out for me, or stick to just the facts?

Stick to facts. What matters is what you were actually written up for, not your feelings about your supervisor's motivations.

Yeah, keep it factual. Let the circumstances speak for themselves.

That's different from my situation since mine would be for cause rather than restructuring. But good to know that layoffs are more straightforward.

Layoffs are definitely easier since there's no question about misconduct. Sounds like your situation is more complicated but still manageable.

That sounds very similar to what I'm dealing with. The standards seem to change week to week and I'm the only one being held to them.

Document that pattern if you can. It helps show that the termination wasn't really about performance but about the manager's bias.

I might need to try that if I do get fired. The uncertainty is the worst part.

Yeah, getting clear information directly from Washington ESD took away a lot of the stress and guesswork.

Thanks for the reminder. I'll make sure I have enough to cover expenses for at least a month.

Smart planning. The waiting week plus potential adjudication delays can really add up.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much less anxious about the possibility now. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but at least I know what to expect.

Good luck with your situation! Sometimes just knowing your options makes dealing with a bad work situation more bearable.

Will do. I've bookmarked the Washington ESD website just in case.

Good thinking. Being prepared helps reduce the stress if the worst case scenario happens.

I'm trying to keep that perspective. This job has been making me miserable anyway, so maybe it would be for the best in the long run.

That's the right attitude! Life's too short to stay in a job that makes you dread going to work every day.

I'll definitely keep that in mind. Having access to real information instead of just guessing would be huge.

Yeah, the peace of mind from getting accurate information is worth it when you're dealing with something as important as your income.