Can you be denied Washington ESD unemployment if you are fired?

You can definitely get unemployment if you're fired, but it depends on the reason. Washington ESD will only deny you if you were terminated for misconduct. Simple performance issues or being a bad fit usually don't count as misconduct. The key is whether you willfully violated company policy or deliberately did something wrong.

I was in a similar situation last year. Got fired for 'insubordination' but it was really just because I questioned some unsafe practices. Washington ESD approved my claim after doing an investigation. They interview both you and your employer to get the full story.

Pro tip - when you file your claim, be completely honest about why you were fired but frame it in a way that shows it wasn't misconduct. Don't try to hide anything because your employer will give their side of the story anyway.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my own termination situation. Their phone lines are always busy and when I do get through, I get disconnected. It's so frustrating when you need answers. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

The misconduct standard in Washington is pretty specific. It has to be a willful disregard of your employer's interests or a deliberate violation of workplace rules. Poor performance, personality conflicts, or even isolated incidents usually don't qualify as misconduct.

Just file your claim and let Washington ESD sort it out. The worst they can do is deny you, and then you can appeal if you disagree. Don't let fear stop you from getting benefits you might be entitled to.

I got denied initially because my employer claimed I was fired for misconduct, but I appealed and won. The hearing officer could see through their lies. Don't give up if you get denied at first - the appeal process is there for a reason.

Washington ESD gets a lot of bogus misconduct claims from employers trying to avoid paying higher unemployment insurance premiums. They're pretty good at spotting the real misconduct cases versus employers just trying to game the system.

Make sure you document everything - emails, performance reviews, warnings you received, etc. If your claim goes to adjudication, having documentation will help your case.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months and still can't get through to talk to anyone about my case. The online system doesn't give you enough detail about why they made their decision.

The key thing is to be honest when you file. Don't try to spin the story or hide details. Washington ESD has heard every excuse in the book and they can usually tell when someone is being deceptive.

Even if you're denied initially, you can still file weekly claims while your appeal is pending. Just make sure you keep filing even if you're not getting paid yet.

I got fired for 'attitude problems' which was really just me standing up for myself against a toxic manager. Washington ESD saw right through it and approved my claim. Don't let them intimidate you.

Remember that unemployment benefits are insurance that you and your employer paid into. You have a right to collect them if you're eligible. Don't feel guilty about filing a claim.

The bottom line is that most people who get fired for performance issues will qualify for unemployment. True misconduct is actually pretty rare. File your claim and don't stress about it too much.