Can you get unemployment for insubordination - Washington ESD approval odds?

Insubordination cases can go either way with Washington ESD depending on the specific circumstances. The key question is whether your actions constituted willful misconduct or if it was just a disagreement about work procedures. If you were simply questioning policy in good faith, that's different from outright refusing to follow direct orders.

I got fired for 'insubordination' two years ago and Washington ESD approved my claim after review. My case was that I refused to do something unsafe at a construction site. The adjudication took about 3 weeks but they determined it wasn't misconduct since I was protecting myself and others.

Just went through this whole process myself and it was a nightmare trying to get through to Washington ESD to explain my situation. Spent hours on hold every day for two weeks. Finally found out about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD within minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

INSUBORDINATION IS SUCH A CATCH-ALL TERM!! I swear managers use it whenever they want to fire someone they don't like. Unless you were screaming at your boss or refusing direct orders, questioning company policy should NOT be grounds for termination with cause.

When you file your claim, make sure to tell your side of the story clearly. Washington ESD will contact your former employer to get their version too. The adjudication process will weigh both sides. Don't just accept their 'insubordination' label - explain what actually happened and why your actions were reasonable.

The definition of misconduct in Washington is pretty specific. It has to be willful disregard of employer's interests or deliberate violation of rules. Simply questioning a policy change during a meeting doesn't sound like it meets that threshold unless there's more to the story.

Been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my own claim issues and can never get through. The phone system is absolutely terrible. How do people actually talk to someone there?

File your claim ASAP regardless of the insubordination issue. Even if they initially deny it, you can always appeal. Don't let time pass because there are strict deadlines for filing.

Had a similar situation at my old retail job. Manager said I was being insubordinate for questioning why we had to stay 2 hours past closing to reorganize the stockroom. Got fired but Washington ESD approved my claim because asking reasonable questions about working conditions isn't misconduct.

Whatever you do, don't lie or exaggerate when Washington ESD contacts you. Just stick to the facts of what happened. If your questioning was professional and work-related, that should be enough to show it wasn't willful misconduct.

anyone else think its crazy how employers can just label anything 'insubordination' and try to deny unemployment? like where's the worker protection in this state

I work in HR and see these cases all the time. Most 'insubordination' terminations are really just personality conflicts between employees and managers. Washington ESD knows this and they're pretty good at distinguishing between real misconduct and workplace politics.

Make sure you understand the difference between being fired 'for cause' vs misconduct that disqualifies you from unemployment. Even if your employer says it was for cause, Washington ESD makes their own determination about whether it rises to the level of disqualifying misconduct.

Quick question - were you in a union? If so, they might be able to help with documentation or even filing a grievance that could support your unemployment claim.

My friend used that Claimyr service last month when she couldn't get through to Washington ESD about her disqualification. Said it was worth every penny to actually talk to someone who could explain what was happening with her claim. Might be worth looking into if you need to follow up on your case.

Just remember that even if you get denied initially, you have the right to appeal. Sometimes the first adjudicator doesn't have all the context and the appeals process gives you another chance to present your case to someone else.

Bottom line: questioning company policy in good faith during a work meeting is not misconduct. You weren't refusing to work, being disrespectful to customers, or violating safety rules. Washington ESD should see this for what it is - a bogus termination.

Keep us updated on how it goes! Always curious to hear how these insubordination cases turn out with Washington ESD.

One last tip - if Washington ESD does contact your former employer, they'll probably stick to their insubordination story. Don't let that discourage you. The adjudicator will weigh both sides and make their own judgment about whether it was really misconduct.

Good luck with your claim! Based on everything you've shared, this sounds like a case where Washington ESD should approve benefits. The key is that you were acting in good faith as an employee, not trying to undermine authority or be disruptive.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. Got fired for "insubordination" after I questioned why we weren't following proper safety protocols during equipment maintenance. My supervisor didn't like being challenged and wrote me up for "undermining management decisions." Washington ESD approved my claim after about 4 weeks of review. The key thing that helped my case was that I could show my questions were legitimate workplace concerns, not just me being difficult. I wrote down everything I remembered about the incident - dates, who was present, exactly what was said. When the adjudicator called, I explained that I was trying to do my job responsibly, not being insubordinate. They saw right through my employer's BS excuse. Your situation sounds even more clear-cut than mine was - questioning policy efficiency in a team meeting is exactly the kind of professional discussion employees should be having. I'd be shocked if Washington ESD doesn't approve your claim.