If you’ve ever gone through the process of filing for unemployment benefits in Wisconsin, you probably know it’s not easy. I want to share my story so others know what to expect and don’t feel alone in the process.
When it comes to being let go, Wisconsin can deny unemployment for a few reasons:
- You were fired for misconduct. Things like dishonesty, violating company policy, or neglecting your job on purpose can disqualify you.
- You technically quit. If your employer makes work miserable and you quit, it’s still considered voluntary unless you can prove good cause.
- You didn’t earn enough. Even if you were let go, you still need to have worked and earned a certain amount during your base period.
It’s also worth knowing that employers pay a tax into the unemployment system, so some will try to avoid that cost. One way they do this is by contesting claims and framing terminations in a way that disqualifies people from benefits. If the state catches them doing that unfairly, they can be fined.
In my case, I was let go for “underperformance.” My previous company claimed we came up with a corrective plan and that I couldn’t provide designs for four upcoming features and wasn’t staying ahead by at least two sprints. But I had created those designs. They were just asked to be redone, and last I checked, they’re still being used by the team. Part of me wants to delete every single file I made — but legal consequences aside, I know better.
After filing, the waiting started.
It was stressful.
I felt like I had done the work and earned the right to support during this transition. But every day that passed without an answer made me more anxious. If it didn’t go my way, I would have had to appeal and possibly even go to court.
Luckily, the woman assigned to investigate my case was incredibly kind and patient. That made a huge difference because I was hopefully overwhelmed. She actually looked into the details and noticed I had been promoted earlier in the year, and that there was no mention of poor performance in my annual review — which, ironically, was allegedly around the same time I was told I was falling short.
After all the back-and-forth, I did get the determination I was hoping for. I also received a lump sum that helped cover what I needed to support my family during this time. It was a huge relief after weeks of stress, and I’m grateful that someone took the time to look at the full picture.
If you’re filing for unemployment in Wisconsin, hang in there.
Document everything.
Follow up often.
And don’t give up.
It’s not fair that so many people are left in the dark or misrepresented by their former employers, but the system can work — especially when someone kind and thorough is handling your case.
Have you gone through something similar? Let’s talk about it.
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