Washington ESD disqualification - which action would disqualify an applicant from receiving unemployment compensation?

What counts as misconduct exactly? His supervisor has been really difficult and he's worried about losing his temper.

Misconduct has to be willful and work-related. Losing your temper once might not be misconduct, but repeated insubordination or threats definitely would be. Document everything his supervisor does wrong.

How many job searches do you have to do each week?

It's usually 3 job search activities per week but can vary based on your situation. You have to log them in the system too.

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they basically keep calling until they get through and then connect you. Way better than spending entire days trying to reach Washington ESD yourself.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money.

The peace of mind is worth it when you're dealing with benefit issues. Much cheaper than losing weeks of benefits because you can't reach anyone.

What kind of things do they check? Like if you worked some cash jobs or something?

wages, job separations, availability for work, all of it. they cross reference with employers and other agencies

Wait, I thought you could get benefits while going to school if you were in an approved training program?

Yes, there are exceptions for approved training programs, but regular full-time school usually disqualifies you unless you can prove you're still available for work.

My brother doesn't have any of those issues, he's definitely available for work.

How did you finally get it resolved?

Had to file an appeal and provide documentation showing the layoff was due to lack of work, not performance issues. The appeal process took about 6 weeks.

This is why it's so important to get any job separation details in writing from your employer.

My brother doesn't have any criminal issues so that's not a concern.

Good, that's one less thing to worry about. Just make sure he documents everything with his supervisor situation in case he needs to file later.

He's not getting any other compensation, just his regular paycheck right now.

That's good. Just remember that even vacation payouts or final paychecks need to be reported correctly.

The rules are there to prevent abuse, but if you're legitimately unemployed through no fault of your own, you should be fine. Don't let fear stop you from applying if you need benefits.

I guess you're right. I just hear so many horror stories about people getting denied for weird reasons.

My brother is a US citizen so that's not an issue either.

Perfect. Sounds like he's in good shape as long as he handles the supervisor situation carefully.

What kind of documentation would he need?

Emails, written complaints to HR, witness statements, anything that shows the pattern of behavior and his attempts to resolve it through proper channels.

Exactly. Washington ESD wants to see that you made reasonable efforts to address the problem before quitting.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. Their service saved me so much time and frustration when I was dealing with my disqualification appeal.

I might have to look into that if I ever have to deal with Washington ESD again. The regular phone system is completely broken.

Yeah, honesty is definitely the best policy. I'll make sure he knows to document everything.

smart move. better to have too much documentation than not enough

His job doesn't do drug testing but good to know for the future.

Even if they don't test regularly, some employers will test after accidents or incidents. Just something to keep in mind.

There are provisions for medical emergencies, but you have to report them promptly and provide documentation. The system isn't perfect but there are protections for legitimate situations.

Maybe, but the burden of proof always seems to be on the claimant even when circumstances are clearly beyond their control.

That's a good summary. I'll make sure my brother understands all of this before he makes any decisions about his job situation.

Smart to help him think it through ahead of time. Too many people act first and worry about the consequences later.

This is true. My disqualification was eventually overturned through the appeal process, but it took way longer than it should have.

The appeals can be worth it if you have a valid case, but definitely get help if you need it. The process is complicated.

Good point. I'll tell him to keep copies of everything if he does end up filing a claim.

Exactly. Pay stubs, separation notices, job search logs, all of it. Better safe than sorry.

Seems like a lot of people have had success with that service. Good to know there are options when the regular system doesn't work.

Definitely. The regular phone system is basically unusable, especially when you're dealing with complex issues like disqualifications.

Glad it helped! I learned a lot too. Hopefully neither of us will need to use this information but it's good to know just in case.

Knowledge is power when it comes to unemployment benefits. The more you understand the rules, the better you can protect yourself.

That's good advice. I'll definitely tell him to think things through carefully and get help if he needs it. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!

You're welcome. Hope things work out well for your brother whatever he decides to do.