Just went through the Washington ESD employer registration process myself last week! A few additional tips from my experience: 1) Make sure you have your federal EIN ready before starting - they'll ask for it early in the process. 2) The online portal will ask you to estimate your annual payroll, so have a rough number in mind. 3) They'll send you a welcome packet with your account info within about 5-7 business days. The whole process took me maybe 30 minutes once I had all my documents ready. Way easier than I expected after reading horror stories online!

I just completed my Washington ESD employer registration online yesterday and wanted to share some insights! The process was surprisingly smooth once I found the right starting point. A few things that helped me: 1) I used the BizLicenseWA.gov portal as mentioned earlier in this thread - it really does streamline everything. 2) Having my business structure details ready (LLC, corporation, etc.) sped things up significantly. 3) They asked for my NAICS code, so I looked that up beforehand. 4) The system automatically calculated my initial UI tax rate based on my industry classification. Total time was about 45 minutes including a brief phone verification call they made to confirm my business address. Much less painful than I anticipated! For anyone still hesitating, just dive in - the online system walks you through each step pretty clearly.

One final piece of advice - document everything. Keep a log of all your weekly claims with confirmation numbers, take screenshots of your claim status showing the adjudication date, and note any attempts to contact ESD. If there are any issues with backpay once your claim is processed, this documentation will be crucial for proving you did everything correctly on your end.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My claim has been in adjudication since July 15th with absolutely no communication from ESD. It's so frustrating to see that portal just sitting there showing "pending" day after day. I've been filing my weekly claims religiously too but zero payments. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring and terrifying - reassuring that I'm not alone in this mess, but terrifying that some people have waited 12+ weeks! I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service that Brady mentioned because I've called ESD probably 15 times and can never get through to a human. @Daniel Rivera - please keep us updated on how your interviews go and whether you end up getting your backpay sorted out. We're all in this together and it helps to know we're not going crazy dealing with this broken system.

My benefits ran out 3 weeks ago and I'm starting to panic. Applied for food stamps and Medicaid but everything takes forever to process. This is so stressful.

I'm in a similar situation and just went through this process. Unfortunately, Washington state doesn't currently have extended benefits available - they're only triggered when unemployment rates hit specific federal thresholds, which we haven't reached. However, I did find a few options that might help: 1) Training Benefits through WorkSource if you qualify for approved retraining programs, 2) checking with local community colleges for workforce development programs that might come with financial assistance, and 3) looking into emergency assistance programs through DSHS. The key is getting connected with an actual WorkSource counselor who can assess your specific situation. Don't give up - there are resources available even if they're not obvious at first glance.

does anybody know if attending an in-person workshop at WorkSource counts the same as the individual appointments? i'm trying to get ahead of my requirements lol

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble reaching your WorkSource specialist, you can also try logging into your WorkSource account online to see if there are any available self-service options for rescheduling. Some locations allow you to reschedule through the portal without having to play phone tag. Also, if you have any documentation about why you missed the original appointment (like medical records if you were sick), it might be worth mentioning that when you attend your new appointment - sometimes they'll make a note in your file that could help if there are ever future scheduling conflicts.

update us on what happens!! i hate how employers try to screw over new moms. my coworker's baby was in NICU and her boss tried to make her come back early. she raised hell and they backed down. sometimes you just have to fight back!

I work in HR at a mid-size company and see this confusion ALL the time. Here's what I tell employees in your situation: Document EVERYTHING in writing. Send your HR department an email requesting: 1) Their specific calculation of your hours worked in the 12 months before leave, 2) Which pay periods they included/excluded, 3) How they handled overtime, holiday pay, and any schedule changes. Keep copies of all your timesheets and pay stubs. If there's a discrepancy, you have grounds to challenge it. Also, many employers don't realize that Washington State has its own family leave job protection that's separate from federal FMLA - it might have different hour requirements that work in your favor. Don't let them intimidate you into giving up without a fight!