Washington ESD unemployment benefits for factory workers displaced by automation - what type qualifies?

This would be considered involuntary unemployment due to lack of work, which qualifies for regular UI benefits through Washington ESD. The reason for the layoff (automation vs other business reasons) doesn't change your eligibility or benefit amount. What matters is that you're unemployed through no fault of your own.

i went through the same thing 2 years ago when my company automated half the warehouse jobs. regular unemployment benefits, no issues with washington esd. took about 3 weeks to get approved though

You might also want to look into Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if your company's closure is related to foreign competition or trade impacts. It can provide additional training funding beyond regular Washington ESD benefits. Not sure if automation alone qualifies but worth checking.

Had a hell of a time getting through to Washington ESD when I got laid off last year. Spent hours on hold multiple times just to check my claim status. Finally found this service called Claimyr that gets you connected to an actual ESD agent without the wait. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ - saved me so much frustration.

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for THREE WEEKS about my adjudication and can't get through. Automation is taking jobs AND the government can't even handle the increased claims properly. This is exactly what's wrong with everything.

This is technically called structural unemployment in economics terms, but for Washington ESD purposes it's just regular unemployment benefits. The 'structural' part just means the job loss is due to permanent changes in the economy or technology, not temporary business downturns.

File as soon as you can after your last day of work. Don't wait thinking you might find something quickly - automation displaced workers often take longer to find new jobs since the skills needed are changing. Get those benefits started.

My brother went through this at Boeing a few years back when they automated part of the wing assembly. Regular unemployment, no problems. What you might want to think about is retraining while you're collecting benefits. Some programs let you do school instead of job searching.

whatever you do dont mention automation specifically when you file!! i made that mistake and they flagged my claim for some reason. just say layoff due to business reasons

Check if your employer is providing any severance or WARN Act notice. This can affect when you're eligible to start collecting Washington ESD benefits. Some companies give 60-day notice for mass layoffs.

I used to work in HR and handled layoffs like this. From Washington ESD's perspective, this is just involuntary unemployment due to lack of work. The underlying cause (automation, downsizing, whatever) doesn't matter for benefit eligibility. You'll get regular UI benefits based on your wage history.

same boat here, my logistics company just announced they're replacing drivers with autonomous trucks over next 18 months. scary times but at least unemployment will help bridge the gap

Don't forget to document everything from your employer about the closure and automation. Keep emails, notices, etc. Sometimes Washington ESD wants proof of the separation circumstances, especially for mass layoffs.

The bright side is that automation-related layoffs are usually pretty straightforward for unemployment claims. No performance issues, no misconduct, clear business reason. Should be smooth sailing with Washington ESD as long as you file correctly.

quick question - were you in a union? sometimes union contracts have special provisions for technology displacement that might affect your benefits or provide additional support

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing I mentioned earlier - it's been a lifesaver for me and several coworkers who got laid off. When you inevitably need to call Washington ESD about something, it beats spending your whole day on hold. The website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements before you start claiming. You'll need to log 3 job contacts per week and be able and available for work. Start thinking about what types of jobs you'll apply for.

automation is the future whether we like it or not. at least washington state has decent unemployment benefits compared to other states. take advantage of the time to figure out your next move

Filed for Washington ESD benefits when my factory job got automated last year. Super straightforward process, got approved in about 2 weeks. The hardest part was actually getting through on their phone line when I had questions, but that's a whole different issue. Good luck with your claim!