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Effie Alexander

If u get fired can u collect unemployment - Washington ESD eligibility?

Got terminated from my warehouse job last week for what they called 'performance issues' but honestly I think it was just because I complained about safety violations. Been working there for 8 months and never had any write-ups before this. Can I still file for unemployment with Washington ESD if I got fired? I heard different things from people - some say you can't get benefits if you're fired, others say it depends on the reason. Really stressed about this because I need to pay rent next month and job hunting is taking forever. Anyone know how this works with Washington state unemployment?

Yes, you can still get unemployment benefits even if you were fired, but it depends on whether it was for 'misconduct' or not. Washington ESD has to determine if you were fired for reasons beyond your control (like performance issues, downsizing, etc.) versus willful misconduct (like stealing, fighting, etc.). Performance issues usually don't disqualify you unless they can prove it was intentional.

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That's a relief to hear. They said it was performance but I was meeting all my quotas. Just worried Washington ESD will side with the employer automatically.

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They don't automatically side with employers. Washington ESD investigates both sides during adjudication if there's a dispute.

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Definitely file ASAP! I got fired from my retail job for 'attitude problems' which was basically just me asking for proper breaks. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The key is being honest about what happened and providing your side of the story.

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How long did the whole process take? I'm already behind on bills and can't afford to wait months.

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Filed on a Monday, got my first payment about 4 weeks later. The adjudication part took the longest because they had to contact my old employer.

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I had such a hard time reaching anyone at Washington ESD when I got fired last year. Kept calling the main number but either got busy signals or hung up on after waiting 2+ hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD within like 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Basically calls for you and connects you when an agent picks up. Was a lifesaver for getting my adjudication resolved quickly.

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Never heard of that but honestly anything is better than sitting on hold for hours. The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely broken.

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Might have to try that if I can't get through. Did it cost anything to use?

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Yeah there's a fee but it was worth it to actually talk to someone and get my claim moving. Check out claimyr.com for details.

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same thing happened to me got fired for being 'difficult' when I was just doing my job properly. washington esd approved my claim no problem. just be honest when you file and dont let them intimidate you into not applying

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Thanks for the encouragement. Did you have to do a phone interview or anything?

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yeah they called me during the adjudication process asked about what happened. just told the truth and provided documentation of the safety issues i reported

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The way Washington ESD determines misconduct is pretty specific. They look at whether you violated company policy willfully and substantially. Just being bad at your job or having personality conflicts usually doesn't qualify as misconduct. Since you mentioned safety violations, that might actually help your case - shows you were acting in good faith.

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I did document the safety issues I reported to HR before I got fired. Should I include that in my unemployment application?

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Absolutely include that documentation. It shows you were terminated for legitimate workplace concerns, not misconduct.

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This is good advice. Washington ESD takes retaliation claims seriously, especially safety-related ones.

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DONT LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE!! If you got fired you cant get unemployment its that simple. Washington ESD will deny your claim and you'll waste your time. Happened to my cousin last year.

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That's completely wrong. You can absolutely get unemployment if you were fired for non-misconduct reasons. Your cousin's situation might have been different.

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Whatever. The system is rigged against regular people anyway. Good luck fighting them.

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Being fired for misconduct is different from being fired for performance or other legitimate reasons. Please don't discourage people from applying when they might be eligible.

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I work in HR and see this all the time. Most employers don't fight unemployment claims unless it was for serious misconduct like theft or violence. Performance issues usually result in approved claims. File as soon as possible though - there's a waiting period and benefits are backdated to your filing date, not when you were terminated.

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Really? So even if my employer contests it, I might still get approved?

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Exactly. Washington ESD makes the final determination based on the facts, not just what the employer claims. That's why the adjudication process exists.

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ugh this brings back memories of my own unemployment nightmare. Took forever to get through to Washington ESD and then they kept asking for more documents. At least now there are services like Claimyr to help with the phone situation. Wish I had known about that back then.

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Is Claimyr legit? Sounds almost too good to be true given how impossible it is to reach Washington ESD normally.

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My neighbor used it recently and said it worked exactly as advertised. Got connected to a Washington ESD agent in under 30 minutes instead of calling all day.

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Been through this exact situation three times over the past decade. Washington ESD approved my claim every time I was fired for performance reasons. The key is documenting everything - emails, performance reviews, any communications with HR or management. Build your case before you even file.

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I saved all my emails about the safety issues and have copies of my performance reviews. Sounds like I should include all of that?

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Absolutely. The more documentation you have showing you were acting in good faith, the better your chances during adjudication.

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File immediately and don't let them scare you! I was fired from my restaurant job for 'not fitting in with the team culture' which was basically code for not putting up with harassment. Washington ESD approved my claim after investigating. They understand the difference between legitimate termination and misconduct.

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That gives me hope. How long did the investigation take in your case?

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About 3 weeks total. They called me once for a phone interview and contacted my former employer. Then I got the approval notice.

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Whatever you do, apply online through the Washington ESD website immediately. Don't wait around thinking about it. Even if they deny your initial claim, you can appeal. But you need to get the process started ASAP to protect your filing date.

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Already started filling out the application. Nervous about the phone interview part though.

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Just be honest and stick to the facts. They're not trying to trick you, they just need to understand what really happened.

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I got fired for 'insubordination' which was really just me refusing to work in unsafe conditions. Washington ESD took my side after hearing both sides of the story. Don't let anyone tell you that being fired automatically disqualifies you - it absolutely doesn't.

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That's exactly what I was worried about. Did you need a lawyer or anything for the process?

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Nope, handled it all myself. Just had to be prepared to explain my side clearly during the phone interview.

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The Washington ESD adjudication process is actually pretty fair if you have documentation. I've seen people get approved even when employers contest it, especially in cases involving safety concerns or retaliation. Your situation sounds like it has merit.

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Really hoping they see it that way. The whole situation has been so stressful.

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Hang in there. The system isn't perfect but it does work when you have legitimate grounds for benefits.

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Another vote for using Claimyr if you need to talk to Washington ESD quickly. Used it last month when my weekly claim got stuck in processing. Within 20 minutes I was talking to an actual person who fixed the issue immediately. So much better than the endless hold times.

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How does it work exactly? Do they just call for you or something?

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Yeah, you give them your info and they call Washington ESD repeatedly until they get through, then connect you to the agent. Saves hours of frustration.

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File your claim TODAY. Seriously. Even if you're not sure about eligibility, let Washington ESD make that determination. I waited two weeks after getting fired and regretted it because benefits only backdate to your filing date, not your termination date.

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Already submitted it this morning after reading all these responses. Feeling more confident about it now.

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Good! Now just wait for them to process it and be ready to provide additional information if they request it during adjudication.

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Performance issues are NOT the same as misconduct in Washington state. I was fired for not meeting sales quotas (which were unrealistic anyway) and got full unemployment benefits. The employer tried to fight it but Washington ESD sided with me because I wasn't willfully violating policy.

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That's reassuring. My performance metrics were actually decent, they just said I had 'attitude problems' after reporting safety issues.

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Sounds like potential retaliation to me. Make sure to mention that connection when you talk to Washington ESD.

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been there done that. got fired from construction job for 'not following directions' but really they just didnt like that I questioned unsafe practices. washington esd approved my benefits no problem. dont stress about it just file the claim

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Thanks, that's encouraging. How long before you found another job?

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took about 6 weeks but the unemployment benefits helped me not have to take the first crappy job that came along

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The bottom line is Washington ESD looks at whether you were fired for misconduct that was willful and substantial. Reporting safety violations is actually protected activity, so if that's why you were really terminated, you have a strong case for benefits. Don't let the employer intimidate you.

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I'm feeling a lot better about this after reading everyone's experiences. Going to document everything and be ready for the adjudication process.

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That's the right approach. Stay organized with your documentation and be honest about what happened. Washington ESD deals with these situations all the time.

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UPDATE: Just want to thank everyone for the advice and encouragement. Filed my claim this morning and already got the confirmation. Now just waiting to see what happens with the adjudication process. Fingers crossed!

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Good luck! Keep us posted on how it goes.

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You did the right thing by filing immediately. Hope everything works out for you.

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If you need to reach Washington ESD during the process, remember that Claimyr option. Much easier than trying to get through on your own.

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