Can you collect unemployment if you're fired in Washington state?

Yes, you can absolutely collect unemployment if you're fired in Washington! The key is whether it was for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues usually don't count as misconduct unless you were deliberately ignoring instructions or being insubordinate. Washington ESD looks at the specific reasons for termination.

I got fired from my last job for being late too many times and still got approved for UI benefits. Washington ESD said it wasn't misconduct, just poor performance. You should be fine unless you stole something or got violent or something serious like that.

I had the hardest time getting through to Washington ESD when I got fired last year. Kept calling and calling, either busy signal or they'd hang up after being on hold forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that gets you through to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me weeks of frustration trying to get my claim sorted out.

Washington state is actually pretty generous with unemployment compared to other places. You can get benefits even if fired as long as it wasn't for gross misconduct. Things like theft, violence, drug use at work would disqualify you. But poor performance, personality conflicts, not being a good fit - those usually won't disqualify you from UI.

ugh the whole system is so confusing! I got fired 3 months ago and STILL waiting for my adjudication to finish. They keep asking for more documentation and I have no idea what they want. Getting fired is stressful enough without all this bureaucratic nonsense.

The specific reason for termination matters a lot. Washington ESD will contact your former employer to get their side of the story. If they claim it was misconduct, you'll go into adjudication while they investigate. Be prepared to provide any documentation that supports your version of events - emails, performance reviews, witness statements, etc.

File your claim right away even if you're not sure you'll qualify. The worst they can say is no, and you might be surprised. I thought I wouldn't qualify when I got fired but Washington ESD approved me within a week. Don't let your employer scare you into thinking you can't get benefits.

One thing to watch out for - some employers will lie or exaggerate to try to prevent you from getting unemployment. They might claim you were insubordinate or violated policies when really it was just performance issues. Don't let them intimidate you.

The safety complaint angle is really important. Washington has strong whistleblower protections, so if you can show the firing was retaliation for reporting unsafe conditions, that strengthens your case significantly. Document everything with dates and times.

honestly the whole unemployment system is set up to help people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. being fired for performance issues definitely falls into that category. dont stress too much about it, just file and let washington esd sort it out

Make sure you file within the first week after losing your job. There's a waiting week anyway, so the sooner you file the sooner your benefits can start. And keep applying for jobs while your claim is processing - Washington ESD requires job search activities.

I went through something similar - got fired for 'attitude problems' which was really just me standing up for myself. Got approved for unemployment no problem. The key is being honest about what happened but also explaining your side of the story clearly.

If your former employer contests your claim, don't panic. It just means it goes to adjudication where they investigate both sides. I had to do a phone interview with an adjudicator and it was actually pretty straightforward. They just want to understand what really happened.

The bottom line is that in Washington state, you can collect unemployment unless you were fired for gross misconduct. Poor performance, conflicts with management, even some policy violations don't automatically disqualify you. File your claim and let them make the determination.

One last tip - when you file, be specific about the safety issues you reported and the timeline. Don't just say 'performance problems' if you think it was retaliation. The more context you provide upfront, the better Washington ESD can evaluate your claim.

I went through a similar situation last year - got terminated for "performance issues" but I'm pretty sure it was actually because I had filed a complaint with L&I about workplace safety violations. The timing was just too suspicious. Washington ESD approved my claim without any issues once I explained the full timeline during my initial application. The fact that you reported unsafe conditions and then got fired shortly after is definitely something they'll take into consideration. Make sure to include all those details and dates when you file - it really strengthens your case if they can see a pattern of retaliation rather than legitimate performance concerns.