Can you file for unemployment if you were fired in Washington state?

That's a relief to hear. What counts as misconduct exactly? I was never written up for anything serious, just told my work wasn't meeting expectations.

Misconduct is usually willful behavior like theft, harassment, or deliberately breaking rules. Poor performance alone isn't misconduct. You should be fine to file.

Did your employer contest your claim? I'm worried they might try to fight it.

They did contest it initially, but Washington ESD still approved me. They interviewed both me and my former supervisor over the phone. Just be truthful and you'll likely be fine.

This is super helpful info. How long does it usually take to get approved after filing?

If there's no employer contest, usually 1-2 weeks. If your employer disputes it, Washington ESD has to do an investigation which can take 3-6 weeks.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents by handling the calling for you. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) and decided to try it. Got connected to an agent within a few hours instead of spending days trying myself.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

It's definitely worth it when you consider how much time and frustration it saves. I was able to resolve my adjudication issue the same day instead of waiting weeks.

I disagree with this advice. You should be honest about what happened. If you were raising legitimate safety concerns, that's actually protected activity.

maybe but why risk it? keep it simple and focus on the performance angle

Being honest is always the best approach. Washington ESD will likely contact your employer anyway, so inconsistencies in your story could hurt your claim.

6 months?! That's insane. Have you tried appealing or contacting your state representative?

I've tried everything. Even got a lawyer involved. Washington ESD just keeps saying they're backed up and to wait.

That's when services like Claimyr really help. They can get you connected to someone who can actually look at your case and explain what's holding it up.

Yes, you need to start looking for work immediately and keep a job search log. You'll need to report your work search activities when you file your weekly claims.

Thanks! Better safe than sorry. I'll start applying places tomorrow.

Good advice about documenting everything. I wish I had thought to do that before I left.

It's not too late! Write down everything you remember now while it's still fresh. Even small details can matter.

Exactly! I felt so ashamed when I had to file but then realized I'd been paying into unemployment insurance my whole career. It's not welfare, it's insurance you've already paid for.

That's a good way to think about it. I do feel embarrassed about needing help but you're right, I've been paying into the system.

You're right, I need to just do it. Thanks for the encouragement!

And file ASAP! Every day you wait is money you're potentially losing.

This is so reassuring to hear from someone who actually worked there! Thank you.

Question for you - what's the deal with adjudication taking so long lately? Seems like everyone's waiting months.

They're understaffed and still dealing with the backlog from the pandemic. Plus they have to investigate every contested claim thoroughly. It's frustrating but they're doing their best.

Three times? What happened if you don't mind me asking?

Different reasons each time - downsizing, personality conflict with manager, and performance issues. Only the last one was contested and I still won.

What kind of job search activities do they require? I haven't looked into that yet.

You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records. They can ask for your job search log at any time.

And don't just apply online - they want to see variety like networking, attending job fairs, working with WorkSource, etc.

That sounds amazing. I'm definitely going to check that out if I can't get through myself.

How does it work exactly? Do they just keep calling until they get through?

They have a system that handles the calling and waiting so you don't have to. Check out their demo video - it explains everything better than I can.

Great job! Now make sure you file your weekly claim every week even while you're waiting for a decision.

Proud of you for taking that step! It's scary but you did it.

Thanks! I'll definitely keep filing weekly and start my job search activities right away.