Unfortunately, if you were considered to be fired "for cause"--such as for yourself violating employer policy, for insubordination, for arguing with (or fighting with) customers, etc.--you are not eligible for unemployment. The law does not require employers to provide assistance to their employees or to follow their own policy directives in this regard, and does not exonerate employees for actions that would constitute grounds for "for cause" termination simply because managers were not around.You can and should apply for unemployment--as long as you do not lie about any factual circumstances, even if you are denied, there should be no penalty. It may be the case that the unemployment office will consider your termination not for cause, or it may be that your employer will not even claim it to be for cause--just bear in mind that technically, from what you write, what happened would be grounds for a for cause termination and denial of  unemployment benefits.