Washington ESD appeal hearing next week - how to win an unemployment appeal?

I do have some emails where my supervisor acknowledged my daughter's appointments. Should I print those out or can I show them on my phone?

Print them out and organize them chronologically. Also make copies for the judge and your employer's representative. Having everything organized shows you're prepared and takes this seriously.

That's what I thought! They never gave me any written warnings about attendance, just verbal mentions during our weekly check-ins.

Exactly - misconduct has to be willful and substantial. Sounds like OP has a good case here.

Thanks, I'll look into that. I was wondering if I should try calling Washington ESD to ask about what to expect at the hearing.

Wait is that legit? How much does it cost? Sounds too good to be true tbh

It's real, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They don't ask for personal info upfront and you only pay if they successfully connect you.

Good point. Should I bring a notebook or can I take notes on my phone?

Notebook looks more professional. Also shows you're taking it seriously. Some judges don't like phones being used during hearings.

That's really good advice. I tend to ramble when I'm nervous so I should probably write down the main points.

Yes! Stick to the facts and answer only what they ask. Don't volunteer extra information that might hurt your case.

This is so important. I lost my first appeal because I started talking about other issues at work that weren't relevant to my termination.

That makes me feel better. They're trying to make it sound like I was just showing up whenever I wanted but that's not true at all.

Right, and the fact that you were communicating with your supervisor about the appointments shows good faith effort to manage the situation.

Oh wow I didn't think of that. Is it too late to request it before Tuesday?

You can try - they're supposed to provide it within a reasonable time. Even if you don't get it before the hearing you can mention during testimony that you requested it but haven't received it.

In Washington they have to give you your personnel file within a certain timeframe if you request it. Look up the specific law.

I'm worried about facing my old supervisor. This whole thing has been so stressful.

I know it's hard but try to stay calm and professional. The judge has heard these cases before and can usually tell when someone is being truthful.

I do have one coworker who might be willing to help. How does that work - do they need to be there in person?

Most appeal hearings are done by phone now so they can call in. Just make sure to let Washington ESD know ahead of time that you'll have a witness.

That's bad advice. Don't lie at an unemployment hearing. If you were late but had good cause and communicated about it, that's different from misconduct.

Agree with the above - being honest about what happened but explaining the circumstances is way better than getting caught in a lie.

Did they help you understand the appeal process at all or just claim status stuff?

The Washington ESD person I talked to was able to explain what to expect at my hearing and what documents would be most important to bring.

That gives me hope. What was the outcome of your hearing?

Won it. My employer claimed I was fired for attendance but couldn't provide any written warnings or documentation of their attendance policy. Judge ruled in my favor.

Same here - won my appeal because employer claimed misconduct but had no documentation to back it up. Washington ESD takes documentation seriously.

Thank you everyone for all this advice. I feel much more prepared now and less panicked about Tuesday.

Good luck! Come back and let us know how it goes. Your situation might help someone else in the future.

Hopefully it won't come to that but good to know there are other options if needed.

The Board of Appeals reviews the lower judge's decision for legal errors, so having a good record from the first hearing is important either way.