Washington ESD unemployment eligibility after being fired - what qualifies?

You need to be very careful here. Washington ESD will investigate why you were terminated and if it's for misconduct connected to your work, you'll be disqualified from receiving benefits. Misconduct includes things like willful violation of company policies, insubordination, dishonesty, or poor performance after warnings.

Actually, you might want to look into constructive dismissal instead. If your work environment is truly toxic and you can document it, you might be able to quit and still get unemployment benefits. Washington ESD recognizes 'good cause' for leaving a job in certain situations.

I went through this last year and tried calling Washington ESD multiple times to get clarification on my situation but could never get through. The phone system is absolutely terrible - I'd get disconnected after waiting for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent who explained my options. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Don't try to game the system! If you deliberately get yourself fired just to collect unemployment, that's fraud. Washington ESD investigators aren't stupid - they'll see right through obvious attempts to manipulate your termination.

Been there. My advice is document EVERYTHING at your current job. Emails, incidents, policy violations by management, safety issues, anything that shows the work environment is problematic. If you end up needing to file for unemployment, this documentation could be crucial.

why dont you just talk to HR first? maybe they can transfer you to another department or something

Let me clarify the misconduct standards Washington ESD uses. They look at whether your actions were: 1) Connected to work, 2) Willful or deliberate, 3) A breach of duty owed to the employer. Simple poor performance usually doesn't qualify as misconduct unless you were ignoring clear instructions or training.

I was in a similar situation two years ago and ended up getting laid off during a 'restructuring' that was obviously targeted at problem employees like me. Got full unemployment benefits because technically it was a layoff, not a firing for cause.

The Washington ESD adjudication process can take WEEKS if there's any question about your separation. I'd suggest trying to work things out with your employer first or finding another job before making any drastic moves.

Whatever you do, don't quit without exploring all your options first. Even if you think you have good cause, Washington ESD might not agree and you'll be left with nothing. At least if you get fired for non-misconduct reasons, you have a better shot at benefits.

I used Claimyr last month when I needed to speak with someone at Washington ESD about my adjudication status. Honestly couldn't believe how fast they got me through compared to calling myself. The agents were really helpful in explaining what documentation I needed for my appeal.

The whole system is broken honestly. You shouldn't have to strategize about getting fired just to survive. But the reality is unemployment benefits are sometimes the only safety net people have.

One thing to consider is that even if you qualify for unemployment, it's only a percentage of your previous wages and there's a waiting period. Make sure you have some savings if possible.

Have you considered filing complaints with L&I or other agencies about the toxic work environment? Sometimes that can provide protection if you end up getting fired in retaliation.

Bottom line: Washington ESD will investigate any firing, and they're pretty good at spotting when someone tried to manipulate their termination. Focus on documenting legitimate workplace issues instead of trying to engineer your own firing.

Another option might be to request a voluntary layoff if your company ever does downsizing. Some employers will work with you if they know you want to leave anyway.

I know someone who used Claimyr when they were trying to figure out if their termination would affect their benefits. The Washington ESD agent explained that even some firings don't disqualify you if the employer can't prove misconduct. Really depends on the specific circumstances.

Whatever you decide, make sure you file your claim right away if you do end up separated from employment. There's a one-week waiting period and you want to get that clock started as soon as possible.

This whole thread is really eye-opening. I had no idea the unemployment system was so complicated when it comes to different types of job separation.

Hope things work out for you OP. Toxic work environments are the worst and it's frustrating that the system makes it so hard to just leave a bad situation without financial consequences.