Sudden firing after company buyout - can I claim ESD unemployment benefits?

Yes, you can absolutely claim unemployment in this situation. Washington is an "at-will" employment state, which unfortunately means they CAN legally fire you without cause (although it's shady they changed their reason). The good news is that being let go due to "staff cuts" is definitely a qualifying reason for unemployment benefits. What matters to ESD is that you weren't fired for misconduct. When you file your claim, they'll contact your employer who will need to provide actual evidence of misconduct if they want to challenge your benefits. Their changing story works in your favor. Be honest in your application about what happened - that you were told your job was secure, worked for a week post-acquisition, then were terminated with initially false reasons about attendance before they admitted it was staff cuts.

The EXACT same thing happened at my company last year!!! New owners came in, promised everyones jobs were safe, then started firing people with bs reasons. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW while its fresh. Save any emails or texts about your job being secure. Write down today's convo with dates/times/who said what. They'll probably fight your unemplyment claim so u need proof.

i got fired once and still got unemployment cuz its rly about if u did something BAD like steal or no show a bunch. reduction in workforce is 100% covered so ur good to go just apply right away dont wait

This is absolutely a legitimate unemployment claim. Apply ASAP because: 1) There's a waiting week before benefits start 2) They're clearly making up reasons to fire you 3) Even if it's a reduction in force, that's a qualifying reason When you file, you'll be asked about the separation reason. Be honest but concise - explain they initially claimed missed work (which wasn't true) and then admitted it was staff reduction. The employer will be notified and get a chance to respond. Be prepared for them to potentially contest your claim, but with your documentation, you should prevail. One important thing: once approved, you must complete 3 job search activities each week and document them. Take this seriously as ESD does audit these.

Just want to point out, your situation isn't unique. New management always keeps people just long enough to extract information or get through a transition before cutting them loose. The "staff reduction" excuse is so they don't have to admit they mislead you. Completely legal unfortunately but DEFINITELY qualifies for unemployment. Just make sure you're ready if they try to contest it.

I had a NIGHTMARE getting through to ESD when I got laid off earlier this year. Spent HOURS on hold only to get disconnected over and over. Finally discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual ESD agent in about 15 minutes. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Totally worth it because the agent was able to verify that my application was processing correctly and explained what to expect. With your situation and the potential for the employer to contest, you might want to speak directly with an agent to make sure everything is properly documented from the start.

Just to clarify something that others haven't mentioned - when ESD contacts your employer about your claim, they'll be looking specifically at whether your separation was due to: 1. Lack of work (including staff reductions) 2. Voluntary quit 3. Discharge for misconduct If they try the "missed work" excuse, that would fall under #3, but they would need documentation showing you were warned, had a pattern of absences, etc. The fact they immediately switched to "staff reduction" when challenged suggests they have no such documentation. Make sure to thoroughly explain the situation when you file, and if your claim ends up in adjudication (which it might), be prepared to provide those emails about job security and your attendance records. I was in adjudication for 6 weeks last year before getting approved with backpay, so just be mentally prepared that it might not be instant approval.

To answer your earlier question about timing - standard processing is 2-3 weeks IF there's no dispute from the employer. But with the changing reasons they gave you, there's a good chance they'll contest it and your claim will go to adjudication. That can take anywhere from 3-8 weeks in my experience. Make sure you: 1. File immediately 2. Submit any documentation proactively 3. Keep filing weekly claims while waiting 4. Start your job search right away (3 activities per week) 5. Document EVERYTHING (save emails, write down conversations) And most importantly - be 100% honest on your application. Any discrepancies could delay things even further.