If fired are you eligible for unemployment in Washington - need to know my options

Thanks, that gives me some hope. What exactly counts as misconduct though? They said it was performance but I feel like they were setting me up to fail.

Misconduct usually means willful violations of company policy, theft, violence, or deliberate disregard of employer interests. Poor performance alone typically isn't misconduct unless you were deliberately underperforming.

Good to know! Did he have any trouble with the application process?

took a few weeks to get approved but no major issues, just had to explain what happened

I did file a complaint with OSHA about the safety stuff. Would that help my case?

Absolutely! Having an OSHA complaint on record strengthens your position significantly. Make sure to mention that in your unemployment application.

Wait, can employers really retaliate like that? I thought there were laws against firing people for safety complaints.

That sounds too good to be true. How does it actually work?

It's legit - they basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent is available. Way better than spending all day redialing.

I've heard of this too, might be worth checking out if you're having trouble getting through to ESD directly.

That's what I'm worried about. Do most employers contest claims?

Not all employers contest claims, especially larger companies. It depends on their policies and the circumstances. Don't let fear stop you from applying.

If you suspect pregnancy discrimination, that's a separate legal issue you should address with an employment attorney. For unemployment, you should still apply - pregnancy discrimination wouldn't be considered misconduct on your part.

Thanks, I didn't even think about the legal side of things. This is all so overwhelming.

Yeah you're right, I should just go for it. Is there a deadline for applying?

You should apply as soon as possible. There's no specific deadline but you can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file your claim.

How long does adjudication usually take? I really need to know if I'll be getting benefits soon.

It varies but typically 2-6 weeks depending on how backed up they are. Sometimes longer if it's a complex case.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - when you're in adjudication and need to check status or provide additional info, being able to actually reach an ESD agent makes a huge difference.

Did your employer fight your claim?

they tried to but I had documentation of all the times they changed my schedule last minute and stuff like that, so ESD sided with me

What counts as a job search contact? Just applying for jobs?

Applying for jobs, networking contacts, attending job fairs, informational interviews - there's a list of approved activities on the ESD website.

Do you have to do this even during adjudication when you're not getting paid yet?

Yes, you need to meet all requirements from the first week you file, even if payment is delayed due to adjudication.

Good idea about documenting everything. I'm still pretty shaken up about the whole thing.

I totally get it. The uncertainty is awful. But don't let them intimidate you out of claiming benefits you're entitled to.

Seems like documentation is key. I wish I had kept better records while I was still working there.

start now with what you remember, write it all down before you forget details

That's smart! They definitely didn't follow their own progressive discipline policy with me.

Perfect! That's exactly the kind of thing that helps in unemployment determinations. Companies can't just ignore their own policies.

I'll definitely look into it if I run into problems getting through. Thanks for the tip!

I was skeptical at first too but tried it last month when I couldn't reach ESD about my overpayment notice. Actually worked exactly like they said it would.

Good point, I'll stick to just the facts even if they don't make me look great.

Exactly right. Honesty is crucial - benefit fraud charges are serious business.

Right? I'm already stressed about being unemployed and now I have to become an expert in unemployment law just to get benefits.

Exactly! It's like they make it complicated on purpose to discourage people from applying.

How long do you have to file an appeal?

You have 30 days from the date of the determination letter to file an appeal. Don't wait until the last minute though.

And if the appeal doesn't work out, there's a second level of appeal to the Board of Appeals. Sometimes it takes going all the way up to get a fair decision.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and support. I'm going to apply first thing tomorrow morning. Really appreciate this community!

You got this! Remember we're all here if you run into problems during the process.

Will do! I'm starting a whole folder just for this unemployment claim process.

Smart move. Organization is your friend when dealing with any government agency.

That's inspiring! I hope my situation works out similarly. The safety issues at my job were really serious.

Don't let them push you around. Workers have rights for a reason. Good luck with your claim!