How to get Washington ESD unemployment if fired - chances of approval?

You can absolutely file for unemployment even if you were fired. Washington ESD will investigate whether your termination was for 'misconduct' or not. Attendance issues alone don't automatically disqualify you unless they were severe or you ignored multiple warnings. The key is whether your actions were willful and substantial misconduct connected to your work.

File your claim right away at esd.wa.gov. Don't wait! Your employer will have a chance to respond and provide their side of the story. Washington ESD will make a determination based on all the evidence. Since you mentioned retaliation for safety complaints, definitely include that information in your initial claim.

I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when they needed more information about my firing. If you run into that problem, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful.

The attendance thing might hurt you depending on how they documented it. Did you have any legitimate reasons for being late? Medical issues, transportation problems, etc? Washington ESD considers whether the tardiness was within your control.

ugh the whole system is so unfair. employers can basically make up any reason to fire you and then fight your unemployment claim. i got denied first time around even though my firing was total BS

File ASAP but be prepared for your claim to go into adjudication while they investigate the circumstances of your termination. This can take several weeks. Keep looking for work and document your job search activities in case you need to provide that information later.

Document everything about your firing while it's fresh in your memory. Write down dates, times, who was present during conversations, any emails or texts related to the attendance issues or safety complaints. You'll need this if Washington ESD asks for more details.

I'm dealing with something similar right now. Got fired 3 weeks ago and my claim is still pending adjudication. It's nerve-wracking not knowing if you'll get approved or not.

The retaliation angle could actually help your case if you can prove it. Washington ESD doesn't look kindly on employers who fire people for raising legitimate safety concerns. Do you have any documentation of your safety complaints?

honestly just file and see what happens. worst case they deny you and you appeal. i've seen people get approved for unemployment after being fired for way worse stuff than being late a few times

Make sure you're honest in your application but also advocate for yourself. Don't just accept blame - explain your side of the story and any mitigating circumstances. Washington ESD wants to hear both sides before making a decision.

If your claim gets approved, remember you still need to file weekly claims and meet the job search requirements. Don't let that part slip even if you're focused on the initial approval process.

I had to deal with Washington ESD phone issues when my claim was under review. The Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier actually worked great for getting through to talk to someone. Really helped speed up my case resolution.

Two years of employment with good reviews definitely works in your favor. Washington ESD considers your overall work history, not just the final incident that led to termination.

watch out because your employer might contest the claim even if they don't have a strong case. some companies automatically contest every unemployment claim to try to keep their rates low

File online at secure.esd.wa.gov as soon as possible. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed. Even if it goes to adjudication, you want to get in the queue early.

Good luck with your claim! Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits. Washington ESD looks at the specific circumstances, and it sounds like you have a reasonable case based on what you've described.

I used Claimyr last month when I needed to speak with Washington ESD about my adjudication status. Really helped me get through when the phone lines were swamped. Worth looking into if you run into calling issues.

The key thing is that Washington ESD has to prove you committed misconduct, not the other way around. Being occasionally late isn't necessarily misconduct unless it was excessive or you ignored direct warnings to improve.