Why would I be disqualified for unemployment in Washington - need help understanding

Unfortunately Washington ESD has pretty strict rules about voluntary quits. You need to prove you had 'good cause attributable to the employer' which is different from just having a bad work situation. Hostile work environment can qualify but you need documentation - emails, witness statements, HR complaints, etc. Did you file any formal complaints before quitting?

same thing happened to me when i quit my retail job because they kept changing my schedule last minute. apparently that's not considered good cause either even though it made it impossible to arrange childcare

You can definitely appeal this decision! You have 30 days from the date on the determination letter to file an appeal. The key for hostile work environment claims is showing you made reasonable efforts to address the situation before quitting. Even without formal HR complaints, you might be able to build a case with witness testimony from coworkers who observed the behavior.

I was in a similar situation last year and couldn't get through to Washington ESD to discuss my disqualification. Spent weeks calling and either got busy signals or was hung up on after being on hold for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD within a day. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Game changer for actually talking to someone who could explain my options.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS!!! They make it so hard to get benefits even when you pay into the system for years. I got disqualified for 'misconduct' because I was 5 minutes late three times due to bus delays. FIVE MINUTES!!! How is that misconduct?

wait so you can get disqualified even if you quit for a good reason? that doesn't make sense

Here are the main reasons Washington ESD disqualifies people: 1) Voluntary quit without good cause 2) Discharged for misconduct 3) Refusing suitable work 4) Not able and available for work 5) Not actively seeking work. For hostile work environment, you need to show the employer created intolerable working conditions AND that you made reasonable efforts to resolve the situation before quitting.

I successfully appealed a disqualification last year! The key is being prepared for your hearing and having your facts straight. Write down a timeline of events, gather any evidence you have, and practice explaining your situation clearly. The administrative law judge will ask specific questions about why you quit and what you tried to do to keep your job.

Don't give up! I know someone who got disqualified initially but won on appeal. The first level review is often just a box-checking exercise. The hearing is where you actually get to tell your story to someone who listens.

Another thing to consider - even if you lose the appeal, you might still be able to get benefits later if you serve a disqualification period. Some disqualifications are temporary, not permanent.

i got disqualified for refusing a job but the job was 2 hours away and paid less than my last job. apparently that's still considered 'suitable work' according to washington esd

Reading through all this makes me realize how complicated the unemployment system is. I thought if you lost your job you just got benefits automatically. There are so many ways to get disqualified that regular people don't know about.

Has anyone tried calling Washington ESD to get clarification on their disqualification? I've been trying for weeks but can never get through. The phone system is absolutely terrible.

Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while your appeal is pending! A lot of people don't know this and lose out on benefits if they win their appeal. You can't get back payments for weeks you didn't file.

The hostile work environment standard is really high in Washington. I had a manager who was verbally abusive, made inappropriate comments, and created a toxic workplace. I documented everything, filed HR complaints, and still initially got denied. Won on appeal though because I had all that documentation.

does anyone know if you can get free legal help for unemployment appeals? i can't afford a lawyer but this seems too complicated to handle alone

The appeal hearing isn't as scary as it sounds. It's just you, the employer's representative (if they show up), and the judge on a conference call. You get to tell your side of the story and answer questions. Just be honest and factual.

Remember that even if you lose your initial appeal, you can appeal to the Board of Appeals and then to superior court. Don't give up after the first level if you really believe you're right.

Whatever you decide to do, don't wait too long. That 30-day deadline for appeals is firm. Washington ESD doesn't usually grant extensions even if you have a good excuse for being late.