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Rebecca Johnston

Fired after parent-of-bully conflict - ESD eligibility question

Hey all, in a weird spot and really need advice about qualifying for ESD benefits. I was terminated on 2/15/2025 over something that feels completely unfair. There was a situation where my son was being severely bullied at school by a group of kids. After weeks of this and multiple emails to the school with little action, these kids threatened my son with physical violence. I saw them at school pickup and calmly but firmly told them to stop harassing my son, and that I'd already been in contact with school administration. Nothing threatening, just trying to protect my kid. Well, turns out one bully's mom is the cousin of my store's district manager. She complained to him that I "confronted" her child, and within 48 hours, I was fired. My manager literally told me I "couldn't work at a location where she shops" and that was it after 2 years with the company. No write-ups, no disciplinary history. Does anyone know if I can qualify for unemployment in this situation? Is protecting my kid from bullying considered misconduct by ESD standards? I'm already applying for new jobs but really need the financial support while I search. Any advice appreciated!

Nathan Dell

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You absolutely should qualify for benefits! This isn't misconduct by ESD standards. What they did sounds like wrongful termination actually. When you file, make sure you clearly explain that your actions were reasonable (protecting your child) and occurred outside of work. Also note you had no prior disciplinary issues. Your employer will need to prove misconduct, which they likely can't do in this case since this was personal, not work-related. Make sure you file your initial claim right away, and be prepared for them to possibly deny you initially (employers often contest), but you can appeal.

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Thank you for the info! That's a relief to hear. I wasn't sure if something that happened outside work hours could affect eligibility. I'll file right away. If they ask for more details during the application, should I just explain exactly what happened?

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Maya Jackson

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Ur definitely eligible!! My friend had something similar happen (not bullying but something outside work) and ESD approved him right away. Just b honest and tell them exactly how it went down. The key is that it wasn't AT work or DURING work hours right?? If it was totally separate from ur job then ur 100% fine

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Yes, this happened during after-school pickup time, completely outside of my work hours and not on work property. I was just being a parent. It's frustrating that personal life stuff can affect employment, but I'll make that very clear when I apply.

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This situation would likely fall under what ESD considers a "personal reason discharge" rather than misconduct. Here's what you need to know: 1. When you file, select "discharged/fired" as your separation reason 2. In the explanation section, be factual but concise - explain you were terminated because of a non-work incident involving protecting your child from bullying 3. Specify that the incident occurred outside work hours and away from work premises 4. Note your clean disciplinary record with the company 5. If possible, get a copy of your termination notice or documentation What helps your case is that your actions were reasonable (protecting your child) and didn't involve workplace conduct. The nepotism angle (manager's relative) actually strengthens your case. Expect your employer may contest, but be ready to appeal if needed. Most cases like yours are approved, especially when you can demonstrate the separation wasn't related to job performance.

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Amaya Watson

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Just to add to this excellent advice - I went through a similar (but different) personal-related firing where my ex-spouse created problems at my workplace. The key was documenting EVERYTHING. Save any texts or emails from your manager mentioning the real reason for firing. If your termination happened verbally, write down exact quotes and dates while fresh in your memory. ESD adjudicators really respond to specific documentation rather than general statements.

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Grant Vikers

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The system is RIGGED against workers!!! I had a similar situation where I was fired for something personal and ESD denied me THREE TIMES before finally approving on appeal. The issue isn't whether you qualify (you DO), it's whether ESD will actually follow their own rules!!! My advice: 1) File immediately 2) Appeal immediately if denied 3) Document EVERYTHING your employer said about firing you 4) Be prepared for a LONG WAIT in adjudication because the system is BROKEN

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That sounds really frustrating! I'm sorry you had to go through all that. Do you remember how long adjudication took in your case? I'm getting worried about finances if this drags out too long.

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My son was bullied last year but I handled it through the school properly so can't exactly relate to your specific situation but I do know that ESD generally looks at whether you violated company policy or did something clearly wrong at work. Since this was about being a parent and happened outside work it doesn't seem like misconduct to me. Good luck with everything and hope your son is doing better now with the bullying situation!

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Thanks for the kind words! My son is doing better - we actually ended up switching schools after this whole mess. I'm going to file today and hope for the best. It just feels so unfair to lose my job over trying to protect my kid.

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After trying to call ESD for DAYS about an issue kinda like yours where I was fired for something personal (family emergency I had to handle), I finally found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual ESD agent in like 30 minutes! Worth checking out (claimyr.com) - they have this demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent I talked to explained that incidents outside of work generally don't count as misconduct unless they directly impact your ability to do your job or violate a specific policy. Like others said, document everything. In my case I got approved right away once I actually talked to someone.

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Grant Vikers

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I've heard about Claimyr but never tried it myself. Did it actually work? Because I spent WEEKS trying to get through on the regular ESD phone lines and kept getting disconnected. If I ever have another issue I might try this.

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Yeah, it definitely worked! I was super skeptical at first but after two weeks of trying to call ESD myself and never getting through, I was desperate. Got connected to an agent who actually helped resolve my issue. The video on their site shows exactly how it works.

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Nathan Dell

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One more important thing to note - you mentioned you're applying for jobs already, which is good. Remember that you'll need to document at least 3 job search activities per week once approved. Keep detailed records of every application, follow-up, resume submission, interview, etc. ESD can audit your job search logs at any time. Also be prepared to answer questions about your willingness to accept suitable work in your field at your interview. This helps establish that you're meeting the "able and available" requirement.

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Thanks for the reminder about job search requirements! I've been applying to at least 5 places weekly since being terminated. I'm keeping a spreadsheet with company names, positions, application dates, and any responses. Is that sufficient documentation for ESD?

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Nathan Dell

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That spreadsheet sounds perfect! Just make sure you also note the contact method (online application, email, in-person) and any follow-up communications. For online applications, taking screenshots can be helpful too. Your documentation approach is actually more organized than what many people do.

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Maya Jackson

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hey just wondering did u ever hear back about ur claim??? im in a kinda similar situation (fired for something not related to actual work) and want to know how it went for u

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I just filed yesterday, so nothing yet. I'll update when I hear something! The initial confirmation said it could take 2-3 weeks for a decision, but I'm hoping it's faster since my case seems pretty straightforward based on what everyone here is saying.

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Amaya Watson

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I went through something similar last year and was approved, but it took about 5 weeks total because my employer contested it. My advice: 1. File online immediately 2. When explaining separation reason, stick to facts without emotion 3. If your claim goes to adjudication, prepare a written statement of exactly what happened 4. Gather any evidence showing the firing was unrelated to job performance 5. Remember that being fired for something outside work hours that doesn't affect your job is NOT misconduct If ESD has questions, they'll contact you for a phone interview. Be prepared to clearly explain the situation and why your actions were reasonable. In my case, the adjudicator specifically noted that my off-duty conduct didn't constitute misconduct because it wasn't related to my work responsibilities.

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This is really helpful, thank you! Did you have any documentation from your employer about the firing? My manager told me verbally, and my termination paperwork just says "no longer a good fit" which seems intentionally vague.

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Amaya Watson

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My paperwork was similarly vague ("business needs"). What helped me was that during my exit meeting, I sent myself an email right after documenting exactly what my manager said. I also had a text from my supervisor that hinted at the real reason. If you don't have anything in writing, create a detailed timeline with exact dates, who was present, and what was said as soon as possible. Contemporaneous notes like this carry significant weight with adjudicators.

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