Washington ESD - Can you get unemployment if fired for looking for another job?

That's not misconduct in Washington. Job searching while employed is actually encouraged by most employment lawyers. As long as you weren't doing interviews on company time or using their equipment, you should be fine for UI benefits.

I got fired for the same thing 2 years ago and Washington ESD approved my claim. The adjudicator said looking for work isn't grounds for disqualification unless you're violating company policy in a serious way.

You'll probably need to explain the circumstances clearly when you file. Washington ESD will look at whether your actions were reasonable and if the firing was really justified. Job searching isn't misconduct under RCW 50.20.066.

Ugh this happened to my friend too. She couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks to explain her situation. The phone lines are impossible! She ended up using some service called Claimyr that helped her get through to an actual person. Might be worth checking out at claimyr.com if you can't reach them.

File your claim immediately and be completely honest about the circumstances. Washington ESD sees cases like this regularly. They understand that job searching is a normal part of career management.

This is exactly why I hate at-will employment. Companies can fire you for literally anything and then you have to fight for benefits. It's ridiculous.

Make sure you document everything about your job search activities. Times, dates, methods used. It shows you were being professional about it.

Wait can they really fire you just for looking? That seems illegal somehow.

The key legal standard is whether your conduct was so egregious that it constitutes willful misconduct. Job searching during personal time doesn't meet that threshold in Washington.

I tried calling Washington ESD about a similar issue last month and could never get through. Super frustrating when you need answers about your benefits.

Your employer sounds petty tbh. Most reasonable managers understand people want career growth.

Just to be clear - were you using company email or phone for the interviews? That could potentially complicate things.

File ASAP. The sooner you get your claim in, the sooner you can start the process. Don't let their bogus firing intimidate you.

This thread is giving me hope. I'm in a similar situation and was worried about being denied benefits.

Update us after you file! I'm curious how quickly Washington ESD processes cases like this now.

Man, employers really hate when people try to better themselves. Good luck with your claim!

Remember to keep detailed records of your job search activities going forward. Washington ESD requires documentation for ongoing eligibility.

Your situation is exactly why Washington ESD exists. Don't let sketchy employers scare you away from filing.

Final thought - if Washington ESD does flag your case for adjudication, be patient but persistent. These cases usually resolve in the worker's favor when the facts are clear.

Good luck OP! Keep us posted on how it goes.

I went through something similar in Washington about 18 months ago. Got fired for "attitude issues" after my manager found out I was networking at industry events. Filed my UI claim the same day and was approved within 2 weeks. The adjudicator told me that professional networking and job searching are completely normal activities that don't constitute misconduct. Your situation sounds even more clear-cut since you were doing interviews during your own lunch time. Don't stress too much about it - Washington ESD is pretty fair about these cases.