Can you get unemployment if you get fired for not showing up - Washington ESD eligibility question

This is tricky territory with Washington ESD. No-call no-shows are usually considered misconduct, but it depends on the circumstances. If you had legitimate reasons (medical, transportation) and can document them, you might have a case. Did you ever communicate these issues to your employer?

I work in HR and see this situation a lot. Washington ESD will investigate this through adjudication. They'll contact both you and your former employer to get the full story. The key question is whether your actions constitute misconduct connected to work. If you can show good cause for the absences, you might still qualify.

File anyway! I got fired for attendance issues last year and still got approved. Washington ESD distinguishes between simple misconduct and gross misconduct. Not showing up might be misconduct but if there were extenuating circumstances, they often approve the claim. The worst they can do is say no.

Been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my own claim issue and can't get through on the phone. If you need to talk to someone about your specific situation, I just discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get connected to ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing exactly how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to discuss your case directly with ESD.

Look, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but no-call no-shows are pretty much textbook misconduct. You're probably going to get denied initially. However, you can always appeal if they deny you. The appeals process gives you a chance to present your case more thoroughly.

File your claim as soon as possible! Even if they deny you initially, you want to get the process started. I made the mistake of waiting to file when I got terminated and it delayed everything. The sooner you file, the sooner you'll know where you stand.

Washington ESD uses a two-part test for misconduct: 1) Was the action deliberate or negligent? 2) Was it connected to work? Your situation might fall into a gray area. If you can demonstrate that your absences were due to circumstances beyond your control (car trouble, family emergency), you have a better chance of approval.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I got fired too but for a different reason and still waiting to hear back from ESD. This whole process is giving me anxiety attacks

One more thing - make sure you keep detailed records of your job search while your claim is being adjudicated. Even if benefits are pending, you still need to meet the work search requirements to remain eligible.

Just want to add that even if you get denied initially, don't give up! I know someone who got denied for misconduct, appealed, and won at the hearing. The appeals judges sometimes take a different view than the initial reviewers.

Update on that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier - just used it again today to check on my claim status. So much easier than trying to get through the regular phone lines. If anyone needs to speak with ESD directly about their misconduct determination, might be worth looking into.

Same exact thing happened to my brother last year. Got fired for too many absences but it was because his kid kept getting sick at daycare. ESD approved his claim after adjudication because he could prove the absences were for childcare emergencies. Document everything!

Don't let anyone scare you off from filing. I've been through the ESD system multiple times and they're actually pretty fair when they have all the facts. Worst case scenario, you get denied and you're in the same position you're in now. Best case, you get benefits while you find new work.

Pro tip: when you file your claim, be very detailed in explaining your reasons for the absences. Don't just say 'personal reasons' - explain about the car trouble, any family emergencies, etc. The more context you provide, the better ESD can evaluate your case.

I work at a law firm that handles unemployment appeals and see cases like this regularly. The fact that you were fired rather than quitting actually works in your favor. Attendance issues can sometimes be overcome if there were legitimate reasons and you didn't have a pattern of dishonesty with your employer.

Been following this thread and just wanted to say good luck OP! Sounds like you've got some good advice here. The ESD process can be nerve-wracking but at least you're being proactive about it.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned - make sure you understand what 'able and available for work' means. Even if you get approved despite the misconduct issue, you still need to meet all the other eligibility requirements every week.

Washington ESD website has a section about misconduct determinations that might help you understand what they're looking for. It's under the employer resources section but explains their decision-making process pretty clearly.

Just remember that even if you do get approved, there might be a waiting period depending on how they classify your termination. But you should still file your weekly claims during any waiting period to keep your claim active.

I used that Claimyr service mentioned earlier when I had questions about my standby claim. Really wish I had known about it sooner - would have saved me weeks of trying to get through on the phone. Definitely recommend if you need to talk to ESD directly about your misconduct case.

Thanks for asking this question OP! I'm in a similar situation (got fired for performance issues) and this thread has been super helpful for understanding how ESD handles these cases. Going to file my claim this week.