(1) What is "standby?"

(a) "Standby" means you are temporarily unemployed because of a lack of work but:

(i) You expect to return to work with your regular employer within ((four))twelve weeks; or

(ii) You expect to begin full-time work with a new employer within ((two))twelve weeks; or

(iii) You are temporarily unemployed due to natural disaster.

(b) ((You do not have to register for work or look for other work while you are on standby.))The requirement to register for work and search for work is fulfilled so long as you are on standby and take reasonable measures to maintain contact with the employer.

(2) How long can I be onstandby?

(a) You can ask to be on standby for up to ((four))twelve weeks.

(b) We will ask your employer to verify that you are on standby, including your expected return to work date:

(i) If your employer does not reply, you can be on standby for up to ((four))twelve weeks;

(ii) If your employer confirms you are on standby, you can be on standby until the return to work date given by your employer, subject to the limitations of (c) of this subsection;

(iii) If your employer replies that you are not on standby or do not have a return to work date within ((eight))twelve weeks, we will require you to immediately register for work ((and to look for work)).

(c) Your regular employer may ask that you be placed on standby for a maximum of ((eight))twelve weeks (except as provided in (2)(d) below). This request must be approved by the department. We will consider the following before deciding whether to approve standby for more than ((four))twelve weeks:

(i) How long you have been out of work;

(ii) Whether other suitable work is available;

(iii) The impact on you and your employer if you accept other work; and

(iv) Other factors that apply to your situation.

(d) At his or her discretion, the commissioner may grant standby for more than ((eight))twelve weeks in a benefit year. Exceptions can be made due to natural disaster. Exceptions can also be made in other extraordinary circumstances when the employer applies in writing and shows there are conditions that apply to the business that are so unique or unusual compared to similar businesses that having their employees on standby for more than ((eight))twelve weeks is necessary. Exceptions can also be made due to a COVID-19 infection at the employer's place of business or an emergency proclamation by the governor that causes the employer to close or severely curtail operations.

(e) We can approve standby if you have obtained a definite offer of bona fide full-time work that has a probable start date within ((two))twelve weeks, which includes the week of the job offer and up to ((two))twelve additional weeks. The job, however, must be:

(i) With a new employer or with a former employer to whom you are no longer attached as provided in subsection (3)(f) of this section; and

(ii) Covered by Title 50 RCW or the comparable laws of another state or the federal government.

(3) Are there conditions that apply to a request for standby?

(a) You must have a probable date when you will return to work for your regular employer;

(b) We will not approve standby if you only have prospects of future work with your regular employer or a promise of more work at some unspecified date;

(c) We will not approve standby with your regular employer unless the employment is covered by Title 50 RCW or the comparable laws of another state or the federal government;

(d) ((Except for claimants who qualify as part-time eligible workers under RCW 50.20.119, we will not approve standby if you regularly work less than full-time. For purposes of this section, "full-time" means forty hours each week or the number of hours that are full-time for your occupation and labor market area;))For claims filed on or after March 8, 2020, standby is available to all full-time, part-time, and other less than full-time employees;

(e) Any week(s) that you do not qualify for benefits will not be considered as part of the maximum ((eight))twelve weeks of standby; ((and))

(f) After ((eight))twelve consecutive weeks of unemployment, we will no longer consider you attached to that employer. You must meet the job search requirements specified by RCW 50.20.010 (1)(c) and 50.20.240; and

(g) You are automatically deemed to be on standby for any week that contains at least one day wherein the governor has waived or suspended any statute or statutes requiring individuals to be actively seeking work as a condition of being eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Such weeks will not count towards the twelve weeks of standby you may request pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section.

(4) When does standby begin?

(a) Standby begins the day of your request unless your request is backdated pursuant to (b) of this subsection.

(b)(i) You may backdate your request for standby up to one week for any reason.

(ii) Your request for standby may also be backdated for the convenience of the department. "For the convenience of the department" means for the purpose of program administration; or those situations where it is difficult or impossible to accept a timely request including, but not limited to, equipment breakdowns, lack of available staff, or special handling requirements.