Can you get unemployment if you get fired for performance issues in Washington?

That's reassuring to hear. Should I mention in my application that I felt the expectations weren't clear?

Be honest about the circumstances but stick to facts. Focus on that you were trying to meet expectations rather than making it sound like you're blaming the employer.

How long did the investigation take? I'm worried about how I'll pay bills while they decide.

Mine took about 3 weeks for adjudication. You won't get paid during that time but if approved, they'll backpay from your filing date.

This is why I always tell people to have an emergency fund. 3 weeks without income is brutal.

I discovered this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent when I couldn't reach them myself. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration honestly.

Try calling right at 8am when they open. That's usually the best time to get through.

Thank you! This makes me feel much better about filing. I was definitely not being willfully bad at my job.

Exactly this. I work in HR and see people not file because they think they can't. Always file - let Washington ESD make the determination.

Good point. I do have some emails where I asked for clarification on my goals. Should I submit those proactively?

Keep them ready but usually they'll tell you what they need during the fact-finding process. Don't overwhelm them with documents upfront.

A month seems like forever when you have no income coming in. Did you have to do anything special during the process?

Just responded honestly to their questions during the fact-finding interview. They called both me and my former employer to get both sides of the story.

Wait they actually called your employer? What did they ask them?

Basic stuff about the termination reason, whether there were warnings given, what the performance expectations were, etc. Nothing too invasive.

Two months is definitely longer than normal. Have you tried calling them to check on the status? There might be additional information they need from you.

I've tried calling SO many times but can never get through. It's ridiculous.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr when I had issues reaching them. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to figure out what's holding up your claim. The automated system doesn't tell you much.

That's really helpful advice. I can think of several times I asked for additional training or clarification on expectations.

Perfect! Those are exactly the kinds of details that show you weren't being willfully negligent. Document those examples now while they're fresh in your memory.

Attendance can go either way depending on the circumstances. If you had legitimate reasons and communicated them, it's more likely to be considered involuntary. But chronic unexcused absences could be viewed as misconduct.

I did communicate about the childcare situation but they said company policy was still company policy. Guess I'll have to see what Washington ESD decides.

Similar situation happened to me. Washington ESD considered my circumstances and approved benefits even though I was terminated for attendance. File anyway and let them decide.

This thread has been so helpful. I'm definitely going to file my claim tomorrow morning. Thank you everyone for the advice and encouragement.

Good luck! Remember to file your weekly claims even during adjudication so you don't miss out on any benefits if you're approved.

How long did the appeal process take? And was it stressful having a hearing?

The hearing was about 6 weeks after I filed the appeal. It was nerve-wracking but the hearing officer was fair and asked good questions to both sides.

I had to do an appeal hearing too. The thing that helped me was having documentation showing I was trying to improve. Emails requesting help, notes from meetings, stuff like that really made a difference.

That's exactly my situation - I was trying but couldn't meet the standards they set. Feeling much more confident about filing now.

Yeah same thing happened to a friend of mine. Got fired from a warehouse job for not meeting productivity targets but still got unemployment because he wasn't being lazy or anything, just couldn't keep up with the pace they wanted.

Do most employers contest performance-related claims?

It varies. Some do it automatically, others only if they think they have a strong case for misconduct. Either way, the process is designed to be fair to both sides.

My employer contested mine but I still got approved. Washington ESD does their own investigation regardless of what the employer claims.

Thank you to everyone who responded. This has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I'm filing first thing Monday morning.

Good for you! And remember, even if there are hiccups in the process, don't give up. The system is there to help people in situations like yours.