Employer harassing me over DEO RA taxes after being laid off - legal options?

This is 100% illegal harassment and retaliation. Your former employer has to pay into the reemployment assistance tax system - that's literally Florida law. You have every right to file for benefits if you were laid off through no fault of your own. Document EVERYTHING - save texts, voicemails, get a doorbell camera if possible. Report this immediately to: 1. Local police (file a harassment report) 2. DEO fraud department: 1-800-342-9909 3. Florida Department of Legal Affairs: 1-866-966-7226 DO NOT withdraw your claim. This kind of intimidation is serious and needs to be reported.

OMG this happened to my sister last year!!! her boss kept calling her and texting saying she was destroying his business by filing for unemployment. some people dont understand how the system works they think ur personally taking money from them or something. its just part of DOING BUSINESS in florida!!

Employers in Florida are required by law to pay into the Reemployment Assistance program. When a former employee files a claim, the employer's RA tax rate may increase based on the number of former employees who collect benefits. This is NOT your problem as a claimant! This is a completely normal business expense they're required to pay. What your employer is doing crosses multiple legal boundaries and could potentially lead to criminal charges against them (harassment, stalking, threatening behavior). Contact law enforcement and consider a restraining order. The DEO also has a specific process for reporting employer retaliation related to RA claims. Call their employer line at 833-FL-APPLY and specifically mention retaliation.

i had this EXACT problem in 2024!! my old boss at the restaurant i worked at for 2 years came to my house and threatened me!! i was terrified and actually withdrew my claim because i didnt know what else to do. BIGGEST REGRET EVER!!!!! i lost thousands of dollars i was entitled to because i got scared. DON'T DO WHAT I DID!!!!

Former HR manager here. Your employer is WAY out of line and clearly doesn't understand how the RA system works. Employers pay into unemployment insurance based on their history - it's like car insurance where more claims = higher premiums. But that's THEIR problem, not yours! They're required by law to pay into the system. Showing up at your house is absolutely crossing a line. This is now a safety issue, not just an unemployment issue. Please file a police report immediately.

Try using Claimyr to get through to a DEO agent right away. I was in a similar situation (not harassment but needed to speak to someone urgently) and was able to talk to a real person in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj or check their site at claimyr.com. You definitely need to talk to DEO about this situation, especially before filing a police report so you have all the facts about your claim.

my sister just blocked her boss number and ignored him and eventually he stopped. but he never came to her house thats SUPER creepy and definitely illegal!!! you need to call the cops right away!!!!

Another important point: if you withdraw your claim because of his threats, that could actually be considered coercion, which is illegal. Document EVERYTHING and don't delete any threatening messages or voicemails. Keep a detailed log of all interactions including dates, times, and what was said. This documentation will be crucial for both law enforcement and the DEO.

To add some clarity on the employer side: When an employee files for unemployment in Florida, the employer doesn't directly pay that specific claim. Instead, their overall tax rate might increase in the future based on their "experience rating" (how many former employees collect benefits). The employer is trying to intimidate you to protect their future tax rate, which is both illegal and unethical. The DEO has specific channels for reporting employer misconduct. You should definitely report this situation to prevent them from doing this to other employees in the future. Your benefits are protected by law.

update?? did u call the police? hope ur ok!