Eligible for unemployment if employer loses contract & can't offer comparable position?

Yes, you would likely qualify for unemployment in this situation. This would be considered a "lack of work" situation since your employer (the management company) no longer has your position available. The key elements here are: 1. You're not being terminated for misconduct 2. The job loss is due to business decisions beyond your control 3. You're available and actively seeking suitable work Make sure to apply for benefits as soon as you know your last day. When filing, explain that your employer lost their contract and couldn't offer a comparable position. ESD may contact your employer to verify details, so make sure you get something in writing from them explaining the situation if possible.

i went thru almost the exact same thing last year except it was a dental office not ortho. the parent company got bought out and the new owners cut our location. ESD aproved me no problem but they did call my manager to verify everthing. just make sure ur boss will back up ur story that its not ur fault ur losing the job.

I actually work for ESD (not speaking officially) and this is what we call a "lack of work" situation. Here's what you should know: 1. You can actually apply up to a week before your last day of work 2. Make sure you get documentation from your employer about the contract ending and their inability to place you 3. Be prepared to explain why working for the doctor directly would not be suitable work (significant pay reduction, etc.) Also, very important - don't say you "quit" when filing. This is a layoff due to lack of available work. If your employer offers you a position with significantly reduced pay or responsibilities, you may still qualify even if you turn it down, but those situations get more complicated.

Have you tried contacting ESD directly to ask about your situation? I know it can be frustrating to get through on the phone lines, but I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) last year when I had a similar question about my eligibility. They got me connected to an ESD agent in under 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 An actual ESD agent will give you the most accurate information for your specific situation, especially with the contract complications in your case.

BE CAREFUL!! My cousin was in healthcare management and when her company restructured, they tried to claim she quit voluntarily! Make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing from your employer. Save emails, get a formal layoff letter, and document all communications about the contract ending and position elimination. Also, don't post about this on social media with your real name because ESD sometimes checks that during investigations and anything suggesting you left voluntarily could hurt your claim!

Just a thought - have you looked into whether this situation might qualify under WARN Act protections? If the management company is large enough and multiple positions are being eliminated due to this contract ending, they might be required to give you 60 days notice and certain benefits. Might be worth asking about, especially if other colleagues are in the same boat.

what about taking the job with the dr and then if its really bad just quit after and get unemployment then?? just thinking out loud lol

I worked in HR for years and handled many unemployment claims from the employer side. Make sure you use very specific language in your claim: "Position eliminated due to business restructuring" or "laid off due to contract termination." Never say anything that sounds like you had a choice in the matter. Also, Washington state has pretty worker-friendly unemployment laws compared to many states. As long as you're not fired for misconduct or quitting without good cause, you should be eligible. The situation you described is a textbook case for eligibility.