Washington ESD unemployment after being fired for misconduct - am I eligible?

You can definitely still apply for unemployment benefits even with a misconduct termination. Washington ESD will investigate and make their own determination - your employer's classification doesn't automatically disqualify you. The key is whether it rises to the level of 'willful misconduct' under state law.

misconduct is tricky because employers love to claim it even for minor stuff. i got fired for being 'insubordinate' (really just questioned a stupid policy) and still got approved after adjudication took forever

I had a similar situation with cash handling issues. What helped me was gathering all my documentation - employee handbook, any training records, witness statements if possible. Washington ESD looks at the specific circumstances, not just the employer's label. For misconduct to disqualify you, it has to be intentional violation of company policy or criminal behavior.

Honestly dealing with Washington ESD when there's a misconduct issue is such a pain. I spent hours trying to get through on their phone lines during my adjudication process. If you need to actually talk to someone about your specific case, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and their site is claimyr.com. Saved me so much frustration trying to get my questions answered.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS! They'll side with the employer 90% of the time even when the 'misconduct' is totally bogus. I got denied for 'attendance issues' when I had documented medical reasons for my absences. Had to appeal twice before they finally approved me.

What exactly did they say you did wrong with the cash handling? The details matter a lot for these misconduct cases.

shared registers?? that's a red flag right there. how can they pin shortages on you specifically if multiple people used the same drawer? that's gonna work in your favor during adjudication

File your claim ASAP and be completely honest about what happened. Don't try to hide the misconduct allegation - Washington ESD will find out anyway when they contact your employer. Better to get ahead of it with your side of the story.

omg same thing happened to my friend at target!! they said she stole money but it was just register errors and they couldn't prove anything. she got unemployment after fighting it

When I went through adjudication for a misconduct case, the Washington ESD interviewer asked really detailed questions about company policy, my training, and the specific incidents. They were actually pretty fair and listened to my side. The key is being prepared with specific facts and not getting defensive.

Just want to add that even if you get initially denied, don't give up! The appeal process exists for a reason. I know someone who won their appeal for a misconduct case and got all their back benefits paid out.

The burden of proof is on the employer to show misconduct, not on you to prove innocence. That's important to remember. They have to demonstrate that you intentionally violated policy or acted negligently.

Whatever you do, don't delay filing your claim while you worry about the misconduct thing. I made that mistake and lost out on benefits for the weeks I waited. Even if they deny you initially, at least your claim date is established.

One more thing - if you do need to talk to Washington ESD during your adjudication process and can't get through their regular lines, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. When you're dealing with a potential misconduct disqualification, being able to actually speak with an agent can make a huge difference in understanding your case status and what they need from you.

The whole misconduct determination process can be stressful but try not to panic. Washington ESD sees these cases all the time and they're generally pretty good at sorting out legitimate misconduct from employer retaliation or policy disputes. Your situation with the shared registers and small shortages doesn't sound like the type of willful misconduct they typically use to deny benefits.

I went through something similar with a "misconduct" termination about 6 months ago. The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD looks at the actual facts, not just what your employer claims. From what you've described - shared registers, small shortages that could have multiple causes, and no clear proof you were responsible - this sounds like you have a strong case. Make sure to emphasize in your claim that multiple employees used the same register and that the shortages were minor and could have been honest mistakes or system errors. I'd also suggest writing down a detailed timeline of events while everything is still fresh in your memory. The adjudication process can take a few weeks, but don't let that discourage you from filing immediately. Even if there's an initial denial, the appeal process gives you another chance to present your case. Stay positive and document everything!