I've been following this discussion and wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been on unemployment for several months now. The consensus here is absolutely correct - report ALL hours you were paid for, including holiday pay. I learned this the hard way early on when I under-reported and had to deal with weeks of back-and-forth with ESD to correct it. One thing I'd add that might help others: when you're reporting these hours, make sure your earnings match up too. So if you got paid for 24 hours total (16 worked + 8 holiday), your gross earnings should reflect the pay for all 24 hours. The ESD system cross-references hours and earnings, so they need to be consistent. Also, keep really good records of your pay stubs showing the breakdown of regular hours vs. holiday/vacation/sick pay. If ESD ever questions anything, having that documentation makes resolving issues much faster. Trust me, it's worth the extra effort to be thorough from the start rather than dealing with overpayment notices later!

As someone who just went through their first holiday week claim last month, I can confirm everything everyone is saying here - definitely report ALL 24 hours (your 16 worked + 8 holiday pay). I was terrified of making a mistake too, but the rule is simple: any hour your employer paid you for gets reported, period. One small tip that helped me - I actually called my HR department to confirm exactly how the holiday pay would show up on my paystub before I filed my claim. That way I knew exactly what numbers to report and had documentation if needed. The whole process was way less scary once I understood that ESD just wants to see everything you were paid for, nothing more, nothing less. You're being smart to ask questions upfront rather than guessing! Good luck with your claim.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I just wanted to add one more tip that worked really well for me when I was on unemployment after my restaurant closed - creating a simple Google Doc or even just a notes app on your phone to track everything in real time. I'd immediately jot down details right after each activity: "3/15 - Applied to server position at Applebee's on Aurora Ave, submitted through company website, application #A-12345, no response yet." Having it all in one searchable document made filing my weekly claims so much faster. Also, for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the 3-activities-per-week requirement - it's really not as hard as it seems once you realize how many things count! Between actual job applications, updating your resume for different positions, networking with former coworkers, taking online food safety courses, and attending WorkSource workshops, you'll probably find yourself with more activities than you need. The key is just being genuine about your job search efforts (like everyone else has said) and keeping good records. ESD really does want you to succeed and find work - they're not trying to trip you up with impossible requirements. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed advice. This community is amazing for helping people navigate what can be a really stressful time!

I just wanted to add one more resource that really helped me when I was collecting unemployment benefits after being laid off from my bartending position - your local food bank or community kitchen often needs volunteers with food service experience, and this volunteer work counts as skills development activity! I volunteered at the neighborhood food bank for a few hours each week, which not only kept my food handling skills sharp but also showed potential employers that I stayed engaged with food service during my job search. Plus, the volunteer coordinator there actually knew several restaurant managers in the area and made some introductions for me. Another tip: if you're looking to transition between different types of restaurant work (like from casual dining to fine dining, or from front-of-house to back-of-house), research the specific skills and certifications those positions typically require. Even spending time researching sommelier certification requirements or learning about different cooking techniques online counts as skills development and employer research. Don't forget that many restaurants are also moving toward more specialized roles now - like dedicated food runners, expeditors, or even social media coordinators for smaller establishments. Researching these emerging positions and what skills they require is legitimate job search activity that might open doors you hadn't considered. The restaurant industry is evolving quickly post-pandemic, so staying informed about new trends and opportunities will serve you well. Document everything and stay persistent - you've got great experience to build on!

Miguel, I totally understand the anxiety about the status change - I went through the same thing when I filed my claim after getting laid off from my warehouse job a few months ago. The pending status is definitely normal and just means they're reviewing your claim details. One thing that helped me was calling the ESD automated phone line (1-800-318-6022) which gives you basic status updates without having to wait on hold for hours. Also, make sure you're signed up for text alerts in your eServices account - they'll notify you immediately if there are any changes or if they need additional info from you. The waiting period is tough when bills are piling up, but most straightforward layoff claims like yours get approved within 2-3 weeks. Keep filing those weekly claims and documenting your job search activities. You're doing everything right!

Hey Miguel! I just went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago when I got laid off from my manufacturing job. The status change from processing to pending freaked me out too, but it's totally normal - just means they're doing their review. Mine took about 2 weeks to go from pending to approved. The biggest thing I learned (the hard way) is to keep filing your weekly claims even while it's pending - I almost missed my first week because I thought I had to wait for approval first! Also, if you haven't already, make sure to set up direct deposit in your eServices account so when it does get approved, you'll get paid faster. The waiting is definitely stressful when you're worried about bills, but construction layoffs are usually pretty straightforward for them to process. Hang in there!

Good luck OP! I hope you get through soon. This thread has some good advice - try the early morning calls, different numbers, and maybe that callback service people mentioned. Don't give up!

I've been dealing with a similar situation with my unemployment claim being stuck in adjudication for months. One thing that helped me was calling the Spanish language line (even if you don't speak Spanish) and asking to be transferred to an English-speaking agent - sometimes those lines have shorter wait times. Also, I found that calling right before they close at 4pm on Wednesdays sometimes works because people give up calling by then. The system is definitely broken but persistence is key. Have you tried submitting any additional documentation through the online portal while you wait? Sometimes that can help move things along even if you can't reach anyone by phone.

Good luck with the corrections! Remember, minor mistakes on initial claims are super common. Washington ESD sees this stuff all the time.

I went through something similar when I first filed my claim! The anxiety about making mistakes is totally understandable, but everyone here is giving you solid advice. I had to correct my employment dates and add a missing employer about 3 weeks after filing. The Washington ESD agent I spoke with said corrections are really routine for them - they'd much rather have accurate information than let errors slide through. Don't stress too much about it, just focus on getting those corrections made as soon as you can reach them.