Washington ESD claim after job automated away - unemployment may result when machines do the work formerly done by men and women

Thanks, that's reassuring. I did mention the automation in my application. Should I expect any delays in processing?

Shouldn't be any different from a regular layoff processing time. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims on time.

Good to know it worked out for him. Did he have to do anything special with his claim?

Nah just the normal stuff. Weekly claims and job search requirements.

That's a great idea. I'll check out WorkSource. Do you know if the training affects my benefits?

Training programs usually don't affect your UI benefits and might even extend them in some cases. Worth looking into for sure.

I did a forklift certification through WorkSource while on unemployment. They actually encouraged it during my job search meetings.

How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days about my adjudication.

They basically keep calling for you until they get through to an actual person, then connect you. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting hung up on.

Interesting, might try that if my claim gets stuck. The phone system is absolutely terrible.

Yeah it's definitely happening more and more. Glad Washington handles it properly at least.

My whole department at the factory got replaced by robots in 2023. Washington ESD was actually pretty understanding about the whole situation.

Good point. I've been applying to similar positions but wondering if I should broaden my search.

Definitely broaden it. Look for roles that require the human skills you have that machines can't replicate yet - problem solving, customer interaction, etc.

And document everything in your job search log. Washington ESD can audit that stuff randomly.

We knew they were 'upgrading systems' but didn't realize it meant eliminating positions until about 2 weeks before. Not much time to prepare.

That's awful. At least you qualify for unemployment though. Some companies try to claim it's job abandonment or something ridiculous.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Did you end up finding work in different fields both times?

First time I stayed in manufacturing but moved to maintenance since someone has to fix the robots lol. Second time I switched to healthcare - harder to automate human care.

Smart move going into maintenance. Those automation systems break down all the time and need skilled people to fix them.

That's really helpful to hear from someone on the inside. I was worried there might be some gray area with automation.

Nope, it's pretty straightforward. Technological changes that eliminate positions are treated the same as layoffs or plant closures.

Only about 15 people were affected so probably not WARN Act level, but I'll look into it.

Even smaller automation displacements sometimes have additional support programs available through the state. Worth checking WorkSource.

How long did it take them to get you connected to Washington ESD?

They called me back within a few hours once they got through. Beat spending entire days redialing the same busy number.

Yeah I'm worried about that. How do you frame it positively in interviews?

I focus on how I helped train people on new systems before my role was automated. Shows adaptability and tech skills.

Good strategy. You can also emphasize the human skills that made you valuable - critical thinking, problem-solving, things machines can't do.

It's definitely becoming more common. Glad the state understands it's a real issue affecting real people.

The key is staying ahead of it. Learning skills that complement automation rather than compete with it.

Good advice. I saved all the emails about the 'system upgrade' and my termination paperwork.

Perfect. Having that documentation makes everything smoother if Washington ESD needs to verify your separation reason.

That's a good point. I should look for positions managing or overseeing automated processes rather than doing manual work.

Exactly. The robots need human supervision, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Different skills but still valuable.

Thanks for the recommendation. Hopefully my claim goes through smoothly but good to know there's a backup option.

Yeah, sometimes simple issues get stuck in the system and you need a human to fix them. Claimyr makes that possible when the phones are impossible to get through on.