Washington ESD - can you be denied unemployment if fired for misconduct?

Being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from Washington ESD benefits. It depends on the reason for termination. If it was for misconduct, that's different than being let go for performance issues or attendance problems. Washington ESD will investigate your separation through an adjudication process to determine if you're eligible.

I got fired from my retail job for attendance issues and still got approved for UI benefits. It took about 3 weeks for them to make a decision though. The key is being honest on your initial claim about why you were terminated.

The Washington ESD adjudication process can be frustrating because it's hard to get through to anyone by phone to check on your claim status. I spent weeks trying to call them during my adjudication. If you need to reach them, I'd suggest trying Claimyr - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

The difference between misconduct and non-misconduct termination is huge for Washington ESD claims. Misconduct usually means willful violation of company policy or illegal behavior. Simple attendance issues or performance problems often don't rise to that level, especially if you were trying to improve.

ugh the whole system is so stressful! I'm going through adjudication right now too and it's been 4 weeks with no update. Every day I check the website hoping for news but nothing changes. How are we supposed to pay bills while waiting???

Had a similar situation - fired for attendance after car broke down and couldn't afford repairs right away. Washington ESD approved my claim because I could show I was trying to address the issue. Key was having documentation of my attempts to fix the transportation problem.

The Washington ESD website has a section that explains misconduct vs non-misconduct but it's pretty vague. Basically they look at whether you had control over the situation and if you were willfully violating policies. Attendance issues due to transportation problems or other circumstances beyond your control are usually not considered misconduct.

Don't panic yet! I know someone who got fired for being late multiple times and still got benefits. Washington ESD looks at the whole picture, not just the fact that you were terminated. Be honest about what happened and explain any circumstances that contributed to the lateness.

The adjudication process is where Washington ESD determines if your termination was for misconduct or not. They'll contact your employer and possibly you for more details. It's not automatic denial just because you were fired - I've seen plenty of people get approved even after being terminated.

I used to work in HR and saw lots of unemployment claims. Simple attendance issues rarely get denied unless there was some kind of job abandonment or complete no-show situation. If you were showing up but just late, that's usually not considered willful misconduct by Washington ESD standards.

Whatever you do, don't lie on your claim about why you were fired. Washington ESD will find out the truth when they contact your employer, and lying will definitely get you denied. Being honest about attendance issues is better than trying to cover it up.

If you do get denied, remember you can appeal the decision. I had to appeal my initial denial and ended up winning. The appeal process gives you a chance to explain your side of the story in more detail.

The whole system seems designed to make you give up. I'm dealing with something similar - been waiting 5 weeks for a decision on my claim. Tried calling Washington ESD probably 100 times and either get a busy signal or get disconnected after waiting on hold forever.

Keep filing your weekly claims even while you're in adjudication! I made the mistake of not filing for a couple weeks because I thought my claim was denied, but it was just pending. Lost out on those weeks of benefits when I eventually got approved.

Transportation issues are actually pretty common reasons for attendance problems, especially for lower-wage jobs where people can't afford reliable cars. Washington ESD usually takes that into consideration as long as you were making efforts to address the problem.

My brother got fired for attendance and got approved for benefits. His employer even fought it but Washington ESD still approved him because he could show the attendance issues were due to a sick family member he was caring for. Context matters a lot.

The waiting is the worst part. You're already stressed about losing your job and then you have to wait weeks not knowing if you'll get any income. But hang in there - most people do get approved even after being fired, as long as it wasn't for serious misconduct.

Just want to add that even if you do get initially denied, don't give up. The appeal process exists for a reason and sometimes the initial decision gets overturned. I've seen it happen multiple times with attendance-related terminations.

One more thing - make sure you're actively job searching and keeping track of your applications. Washington ESD requires job search activities even while your claim is in adjudication. Don't want to create any additional issues.

Update us when you hear back! Would be good to know how it turns out. I think you have a decent chance of getting approved based on what you've described.

Based on what you've described, you have a good chance of getting approved. Chronic tardiness due to transportation issues typically isn't considered willful misconduct by Washington ESD, especially if you were making efforts to fix the problem. The fact that you were honest on your application works in your favor too. I went through a similar situation last year - got fired for attendance issues related to childcare problems and still got approved after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The key is that you were still showing up to work, just late, which shows you weren't abandoning your job duties. Keep filing your weekly claims while you wait and stay positive!