Can you draw unemployment if you're fired from your job in Washington?

That's a relief to hear. How do I prove it wasn't misconduct when I file my claim?

Just be honest about what happened when you file. Washington ESD will contact your employer to get their side too. If they can't prove willful misconduct, you should be approved.

How long did the investigation take? I'm worried about waiting weeks without income.

Mine took about 3 weeks total. You should file immediately though - benefits start from when you file, not when you're approved.

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely need help navigating this process.

Never heard of that service but anything beats trying to call Washington ESD directly. Those wait times are insane.

Common misconception! You can get UI benefits if fired unless it was for misconduct. Poor performance, not getting along with coworkers, even being late sometimes usually doesn't disqualify you.

damn wish i knew that when i got canned from my last job

I do have emails where I reported the safety problems to my supervisor. Should I include those when I file?

Absolutely keep those emails safe. You might not need them for the initial filing, but if your employer contests the claim, that documentation will be crucial.

I agree it's frustrating, but the distinctions exist to prevent abuse. Someone who steals from their employer shouldn't get the same treatment as someone who just couldn't meet sales quotas.

i guess that makes sense when you put it that way

Filing online right now. Do I need to have my last paycheck stub or can I do it without that?

You can file without it, but having your employment dates and wage info handy makes the process smoother. They'll verify everything with your employer anyway.

That's encouraging to hear. Sounds like they really do look at the individual circumstances.

Exactly - attendance issues due to family caregiving often don't rise to the level of misconduct, especially if there wasn't a clear policy violation.

Definitely planning to be completely honest. I have nothing to hide about what happened.

yeah they cross-check everything. my cousin tried to fudge the details and ended up owing money back

That's exactly what I thought! They never put me on any kind of improvement plan or gave me a chance to fix the alleged problems.

That's a good point. Lack of progressive discipline can indicate the termination wasn't really about performance.

Is that one of those paid services? Not sure I can afford extra fees right now.

They do charge something but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to a human being at Washington ESD. The video demo explains the whole process.

That's really reassuring coming from someone with HR experience. I was worried I'd automatically be denied.

Employers contest claims all the time hoping people won't appeal, but Washington ESD looks at the actual facts. Your situation sounds like you have a good chance of approval.

Good reminder. How many jobs do I need to apply to each week?

It's usually 3 job search activities per week, but check your specific requirements when you file. Can be applications, networking, job fairs, etc.

They never showed me any specific policy I violated, just said I wasn't meeting expectations.

That sounds like performance rather than misconduct to me. You should have a strong case for benefits.

That gives me hope! I'm filing today and hoping for a quick approval.

good for you for standing up to bad management. too many people just take the abuse

How long do you have to file an appeal if needed?

Usually 30 days from the determination date. But hopefully you won't need to go that route based on what you've described.

I hadn't thought about it being illegal retaliation. Should I mention that angle when I file?

Definitely mention the timeline - when you reported safety issues versus when you were terminated. Let Washington ESD connect the dots.

That's how I'm starting to understand it. Sounds like the bar for misconduct is actually pretty high.

Exactly right. Washington ESD errs on the side of helping people get back on their feet rather than punishing them for employer disputes.

Good to know. I might pick up some gig work while job hunting so I'll make sure to report everything.

Smart approach. A little income is usually better than none, and Washington ESD has partial benefit calculations for that situation.

Thanks for the follow-up on that. If I run into issues with my claim I'll definitely check it out.

Glad it worked for someone else too! Really takes the stress out of dealing with Washington ESD when you can actually talk to someone.