Washington ESD unemployment after getting fired for falling asleep at work - am I disqualified?

that really sucks man, being exhausted from working too much and then getting fired for it feels so unfair

You should absolutely file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD. Getting fired doesn't automatically disqualify you - it depends on whether they determine it was misconduct. Falling asleep due to exhaustion from working excessive hours is different from willful misconduct. When you file your claim, be very detailed about the circumstances - mention the double shifts, being short-staffed, and your previous good performance record.

I've been through this exact process with Washington ESD and honestly, trying to reach them by phone to check on your claim status is going to be your biggest headache. I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to Washington ESD agents without waiting on hold for hours. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to explain my termination circumstances.

File your claim as soon as possible - there's a waiting period anyway so you want to get the process started. During the adjudication, Washington ESD will contact both you and your former employer to get both sides of the story. Make sure you document everything about your work schedule and the circumstances leading up to the incident.

Look the system is designed to screw over working people. They'll probably deny you first just to see if you'll fight it. Don't let them intimidate you - appeal if they deny your claim.

similar thing happened to my brother last year except he fell asleep driving a forklift (thank god he wasn't moving). got fired but still got unemployment after explaining it was because of mandatory overtime

The key thing is whether Washington ESD considers it 'misconduct connected with work.' Falling asleep due to exhaustion from excessive work hours is generally not considered willful misconduct. However, if you had previous warnings about sleeping on the job or if it happened multiple times, that could change their determination.

Don't listen to the doom and gloom people. I got unemployment after being fired for attendance issues (which were due to my car breaking down constantly). Washington ESD actually does look at the full picture, not just the reason for termination.

Make sure when you file your weekly claims you're honest about the reason for separation. Don't try to sugarcoat it but do explain the full context about being overworked.

I had to use that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication. Honestly it was worth it just to avoid the phone tree hell. Got connected to an actual person who could see my case details.

One thing to remember is that even if your employer contests your claim, that doesn't mean you'll be denied. Washington ESD makes the final determination based on state law, not just what your employer says happened.

been there with the exhaustion thing working in a warehouse, management always acts like they care about safety until someone actually gets hurt or makes a mistake from being pushed too hard

If you do get approved, remember you'll need to do job search activities and report them on your weekly claims. Start looking for work right away even during the adjudication process.

UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I filed my claim this morning and was very detailed about the circumstances. Now I just have to wait for adjudication. Hopefully it goes smoothly.

Just saw this thread and wanted to add that I got approved for unemployment after being fired for falling asleep during a night shift. The key was documenting that I'd been working mandatory overtime for weeks and had requested schedule adjustments. Washington ESD ruled it wasn't willful misconduct.

I'm going through something very similar right now - got fired from my retail job for making a mistake during my shift after working 6 days straight because we were understaffed. Reading through all these responses is really helpful and gives me hope that Washington ESD will actually look at the full context rather than just the termination reason. It's frustrating how employers will push you to your breaking point and then act surprised when human limitations show up. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice!