Can a person get Washington ESD unemployment if they are fired?

Yes, you can definitely get unemployment if you're fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD looks at whether you were terminated for 'misconduct.' Poor performance usually isn't considered misconduct unless it was willful or you ignored repeated warnings. Safety complaints are actually protected, so that could work in your favor.

I got fired from my last job and still got benefits. Washington ESD will investigate what happened - they'll contact your employer and ask for their side. If they determine it wasn't misconduct, you'll get approved. The key is being honest on your application about what happened.

File your claim right away even if you're not sure you'll qualify. The sooner you apply, the sooner your potential benefit period starts. Washington ESD has specific criteria for misconduct - things like theft, violence, or repeated policy violations. Poor performance usually doesn't meet that bar.

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my own claim issue. Their phone system is impossible! I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to a real person. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

ugh the whole system is so frustrating!! I was fired 6 months ago and it took FOREVER to get approved. they make you jump through so many hoops just to get benefits you paid into. hang in there though - if you weren't stealing or doing drugs you'll probably get approved eventually

Document everything about your firing - emails, performance reviews, any evidence of the safety complaint you made. If your employer challenges your claim, you'll want that documentation for your appeal. Also keep track of your job search activities since you'll need to prove you're looking for work.

same thing happened to my cousin last year - got fired after complaining about workplace violations. washington esd approved her claim because they determined it was retaliation. definitely file asap!

Just to clarify the misconduct standard - Washington ESD uses a pretty high bar. It has to be a deliberate violation of your employer's reasonable expectations, not just making mistakes or poor judgment. Things like tardiness, poor attitude, or failure to meet performance standards usually don't qualify as misconduct.

I worked for ESD for 5 years and can tell you that performance-based terminations are rarely considered misconduct. The employer has to prove you were willfully violating standards or ignoring direct orders. Poor performance due to lack of skill or inability to meet standards isn't disqualifying.

File immediately and be completely honest about everything. Washington ESD investigators are pretty good at seeing through BS from both sides. If your employer tries to claim misconduct but can't prove it, you'll get approved. The worst that happens is they deny you and you can appeal.

When I got terminated, I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to talk to ESD about my eligibility before I even filed. The agent explained exactly what they look for in misconduct cases and helped me understand my chances. Really worth the peace of mind.

Just remember you have to do weekly claims and job search activities even while your initial claim is being adjudicated. Don't skip those or you'll lose benefits even if you get approved!

the whole misconduct thing is really about whether you did something intentionally wrong or just couldn't do the job well enough. sounds like your situation is more about performance than behavior so you should be fine

I've seen people get approved after being fired for all sorts of reasons - lateness, poor reviews, even minor policy violations. Unless you did something really egregious, you'll probably get benefits. The safety complaint thing actually strengthens your case if it was retaliation.

My advice: file today, be honest, keep records of everything, and don't panic if it goes to adjudication. Most people who get fired for performance reasons end up getting approved. Just might take a few weeks to sort out.

One more thing - if your employer contests your claim and it gets denied initially, don't give up! The appeal process often works in favor of the claimant, especially if the employer can't provide solid evidence of misconduct. I've used Claimyr to get through to ESD agents during my appeal process and it really helped speed things up.