How to write an appeal letter for unemployment from employer - Washington ESD help needed

You absolutely should appeal this! The burden of proof is on the employer to show misconduct occurred. In your appeal letter, focus on facts not emotions. Include: 1) Timeline of events leading to termination 2) Any documentation you have (emails, performance reviews, layoff notices) 3) Witness contact info if coworkers saw what happened 4) Clear statement that you were terminated due to lack of work, not misconduct. Submit your appeal through your SecureAccess Washington account and keep copies of everything.

been there, employers lie all the time to avoid paying UI taxes. what did they claim you did wrong exactly? the more specific their accusation the easier it might be to disprove

I went through this exact situation last year and won my appeal. Here's what worked for me: I used Claimyr to get through to a Washington ESD representative who helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed. They have a system that gets you connected to an actual person instead of sitting on hold forever. Check out their website at claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. The agent I spoke with explained that employer contests often fail when they can't prove the misconduct was work-related and severe enough to warrant disqualification.

Make sure you request an in-person hearing if they deny your initial appeal! Sometimes having the chance to tell your story face-to-face makes all the difference. Also gather any character references from coworkers who can vouch for your work ethic.

ugh this happened to my sister too and it took MONTHS to resolve. she eventually won but the stress was unreal. employers know most people won't fight back so they contest everything

One more tip - in your appeal letter, use Washington ESD's exact language from their disqualification notice. If they say you were terminated for 'misconduct' address that specific term and explain why your situation doesn't meet their definition of misconduct. Show them you understand their rules and why they don't apply to your case.

Whatever you do, don't admit to anything that could be construed as misconduct, even if it seems minor. Stick to the facts about the downsizing and your good work record.

I work in HR and see these appeals all the time. Most employers who contest are just fishing - they hope you won't appeal and they can avoid the UI tax hit. If you have documentation of the downsizing conversation or budget cuts, you're in a strong position.

Don't forget you can also submit additional evidence even after you file your initial appeal if you find more documentation. I found old performance reviews that helped my case after I'd already submitted my letter.

Update on my earlier comment about Claimyr - I just used them again last week for a different issue and got connected within minutes. The Washington ESD agent was really helpful in explaining the appeal process step by step. Definitely recommend if you want to speak to someone who can walk you through exactly what they're looking for in appeal letters.

Make sure your appeal letter is professional and concise. I've seen people write novels that probably hurt their case. Stick to the key points and let your documentation do the talking.

Also remember that Washington ESD has to process your appeal within a certain timeframe, so don't panic if you don't hear back immediately. They're required to acknowledge receipt and schedule a hearing if needed.

been following this thread because I'm dealing with something similar. really appreciate everyone's advice here. gives me hope that these appeals actually work sometimes

One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you understand the difference between 'misconduct' and 'gross misconduct' in Washington ESD terms. The burden of proof is different for each one.

Just wanted to add that if you do get approved after your appeal, Washington ESD will backdate your benefits to when you originally filed. So don't worry about losing those weeks while the appeal is processing.

Good luck with your appeal! Sounds like you have a solid case with the budget cut emails and lack of disciplinary documentation. Keep us posted on how it goes.

For what it's worth, I used to work at Washington ESD and can tell you that employer contests without proper documentation almost always fail on appeal. The fact that you have written evidence of budget issues puts you in a really strong position.

Just remember that even if you lose the appeal, you can request a Board of Review hearing as a final step. But hopefully it won't come to that with the evidence you have.

Another vote for Claimyr if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about the appeal process. I used them when I was confused about deadlines and they connected me right away. Much less stressful than trying to navigate the phone system yourself.

Last piece of advice - submit your appeal as early as possible within that 30-day window. Don't wait until the last minute in case there are any technical issues with the submission.