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Laila Fury

Does Walmart fight unemployment claims in Washington - need to know before filing

I got terminated from Walmart last week for what they called 'attendance issues' but I think it was really retaliation for complaining about unsafe working conditions. Before I file my Washington ESD claim, I want to know - does Walmart typically contest unemployment claims? I've heard mixed things and I'm worried they'll fight it and I'll get denied. Has anyone here dealt with Walmart specifically when filing for UI benefits through Washington ESD?

Yes, Walmart definitely contests unemployment claims pretty aggressively. They have a whole department that handles this stuff. But that doesn't mean you won't win - if you were fired for attendance but it was really retaliation, you might have a good case. Make sure you have documentation of your safety complaints.

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I do have emails I sent to management about the safety issues. Should I include those when I file my initial claim or wait until they contest it?

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Include them right away. Washington ESD will review everything during the initial determination and having strong documentation from the start can help avoid adjudication delays.

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walmart fought mine too but i still got approved after like 6 weeks of adjudication hell. they claimed i was fired for cause but couldnt prove it. just be prepared for a long wait

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6 weeks?? I can't afford to wait that long for benefits. Is there any way to speed up the process?

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Unfortunately adjudication timelines are what they are. But you should definitely file right away - the sooner you file, the sooner the process starts. Don't let fear of them contesting delay your filing.

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I had success using Claimyr when my Walmart case was stuck in adjudication. I couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks to check on my claim status, but Claimyr got me connected to an actual agent who could explain what was happening. The video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ shows exactly how it works. Might be worth checking out claimyr.com if you run into phone issues.

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How much does that cost though? I'm already struggling financially.

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It's worth it when you consider how much time you save not sitting on hold for hours. Plus if you're stuck in adjudication, getting clarification can actually speed up your case.

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I'll keep that in mind if I can't get through to Washington ESD. Thanks for the tip!

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Large retailers like Walmart absolutely fight unemployment claims because it affects their unemployment tax rates. They'll argue you were fired for misconduct even if it was really something minor. Document everything you can about the retaliation angle - dates, witnesses, any written communications about safety issues.

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This is why I hate big corporations. They make billions but fight tooth and nail to prevent workers from getting basic unemployment benefits.

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It's just business to them unfortunately. But Washington ESD adjudicators are pretty good at seeing through weak employer contests if you have solid documentation.

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my sister worked at walmart and they contested her claim too. took forever but she eventually won. the key is having proof that their reason for firing you was bogus

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What kind of proof did she use?

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she had her attendance records and could show that other people with worse attendance didnt get fired. also had texts from her manager that showed they were looking for reasons to get rid of her

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The important thing to understand is that even if Walmart contests your claim, Washington ESD makes the final determination based on state law, not what the employer wants. If you were fired for retaliation rather than legitimate misconduct, you should qualify for benefits. The adjudication process exists specifically to sort out these disputed cases.

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That's reassuring. I was worried that if they contest it I'd automatically get denied.

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Not at all. Employer contests just trigger the adjudication process where Washington ESD investigates both sides. Make sure you respond to any requests for information promptly.

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exactly this. i won my case against walmart even though they fought it hard. washington esd sided with me once they heard both stories

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File your claim ASAP regardless of whether they'll contest it. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file, so don't delay. Walmart contests most claims but that doesn't mean they win. Focus on building your case with documentation.

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You're right, I need to stop overthinking this and just file. Thanks for the push.

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Good luck! Remember that retaliation for safety complaints is illegal and Washington ESD knows this.

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Walmart has teams of people whose job it is to fight unemployment claims. But here's the thing - they often use template responses and don't put much effort into individual cases. If you have a strong retaliation case with documentation, you'll probably win even if they contest.

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This makes sense. They probably figure if they contest everything, some people will just give up.

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Exactly. It's a numbers game for them. Don't be intimidated by their contest - stick to your guns if you know you were wrongfully terminated.

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I work in HR and can confirm that large retailers typically contest unemployment claims as standard practice. However, Washington ESD adjudicators are trained to evaluate the actual circumstances, not just accept the employer's version. Document your safety complaints and the timeline of events leading to your termination.

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Should I mention the retaliation angle in my initial application or wait for the adjudication interview?

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Mention it in your initial application. Be factual and concise - 'terminated following safety complaints' rather than a long narrative. Save the details for the adjudication process.

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been there with walmart fighting my claim. ended up needing to use claimyr to actually get through to someone at washington esd to check what was happening with my case. couldn't get past the busy signal for weeks but they got me connected right away

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Was it worth using? I'm getting desperate trying to reach Washington ESD about my pending claim.

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Definitely worth it. Beat sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected. Check out their demo video to see how it works.

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They'll contest it but don't let that scare you. I beat Walmart in my unemployment case last year. The adjudicator could see right through their BS excuse for firing me. Just be honest and have your documentation ready.

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How long did the whole process take from filing to getting your first payment?

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About 8 weeks total because of the adjudication, but I got back pay for all the weeks I was eligible once it was approved.

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File your claim today. Don't wait. Walmart contests almost everything but Washington ESD knows this and evaluates each case on its merits. Your retaliation angle sounds promising if you have documentation of the safety complaints.

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Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I'm filing my claim this afternoon.

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Good for you! Don't let big corporations intimidate you out of benefits you're entitled to.

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walmart definitely fights claims but here's what helped me win mine - i kept detailed records of everything including the safety issues i reported and when. also had witness statements from coworkers who saw the retaliation. documentation is everything in these cases

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I should try to get statements from my coworkers too. Some of them saw what was happening.

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yes do that ASAP before they forget details or get scared about getting involved

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The fact that they'll contest doesn't mean you shouldn't file. I see people delay filing because they're worried about employer contests, but that just costs them money. File immediately and deal with the contest if it comes. You might even win without adjudication if their contest is weak.

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This is good advice. I waited too long to file my claim because I was scared and lost out on two weeks of benefits.

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Exactly why I always tell people to file right away. You can't get benefits for time before you filed, regardless of the outcome.

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If you end up in adjudication and can't reach Washington ESD by phone, I had luck with Claimyr getting me connected to discuss my case. Sometimes you need to talk to an actual person to understand what's happening or provide additional information. Their service at claimyr.com was a lifesaver when I was stuck.

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How does that even work? Do they have some special way to bypass the phone lines?

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They handle the calling process for you so you don't have to sit there hitting redial. Watch their demo video - it explains the whole process.

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Bottom line - yes Walmart will probably contest your claim, but that doesn't mean you won't win. Washington ESD sees through their standard objections all the time. Focus on documenting your case rather than worrying about their response. File now and build your evidence for adjudication.

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You're all right. I need to stop psyching myself out and just file the claim. Thanks for all the advice and encouragement!

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Good luck with your claim! Hope it goes smoothly for you.

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I went through this exact situation with Walmart last year - they absolutely will contest your claim, but don't let that discourage you from filing. I was terminated for what they called "policy violations" but it was clearly retaliation for reporting safety issues to management. The adjudication process took about 7 weeks, but I ultimately won my case because I had solid documentation. Make sure you keep copies of all your safety complaint emails, any responses from management, and try to get witness statements from coworkers who can verify the timeline of events. Washington ESD adjudicators are experienced with these types of cases and can usually spot legitimate retaliation claims. File your claim today - every day you wait is money lost, regardless of whether they contest it or not.

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This is super helpful to hear from someone who went through the same situation! 7 weeks sounds rough but knowing you won in the end gives me hope. I'm definitely filing today - you're right that waiting just costs money. Did you have any trouble getting your coworkers to provide witness statements? I'm worried some of them might be scared to get involved since they still work there.

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