Can I refuse a job offer paying 50% less than previous salary and still get ESD benefits?

This is definitely a tricky situation, but here's what you need to know about ESD's suitable work requirements. You can refuse work that doesn't match your training, experience, or previous wages WITHOUT losing benefits, but there are some important details to understand. According to ESD rules, after you've been on unemployment for a while (typically around 8 weeks), you may be expected to consider jobs that pay less than your previous position. However, a 50% reduction is substantial, and if you can demonstrate that the offered wage wouldn't cover your basic living expenses, you have solid grounds for refusal. When refusing an offer, document everything carefully - the exact offer amount, your previous salary, a breakdown of your monthly expenses, and why this creates financial hardship. If questioned by ESD, you'll need this documentation. As for companies reporting refusals - yes, some employers do report when candidates decline job offers, especially larger companies. But not all do, and the reporting isn't automatic or universal.

OMG im in the EXACT same boat!! my previous job paid $89k and i got an offer for $45k last week. i turned it down immediatly becuz it wouldnt even cover my rent and car payment. now im freaking out that ill lose my benefits!!! did anyone here acutally lose there unemployment after refusing a job thats way underpaid???

you need to be VERY careful here because ESD is looking for any reason to deny benefits. I know someone who lost ALL their benefits because they turned down a job offer and the company reported it to ESD. The system is designed to force people to take ANY job regardless of pay. If you're gonna refuse, make sure you have solid proof that the salary wouldn't cover your basic living expenses. Good luck, the system is rigged against us.

When I couldn't get through to ESD about a similar situation last year, I used Claimyr to connect with an ESD agent (claimyr.com). They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent explained that during the first 8 weeks of unemployment, I could turn down work that paid less than 90% of my previous wages. After that, it drops to 80%, and after 17 weeks, it's 75%. Your situation is way below these thresholds. The agent recommended I keep detailed documentation showing the difference between the offered salary and my financial obligations. When I added that info to my weekly claim notes, I never heard anything more about it.

I went thru this back in January. Got laid off from software engineer job paying $145k, got offered entry level coding job at $72k. I turned it down and kept my unemployment benefits! Make sure u told ur work search log that you applied for jobs matching ur experience level and previous salary range. I also wrote a letter about why the job wasn't suitable (needed senior level work, salary wouldn't cover mortgage, etc) and uploaded it to my ESD account just in case. The company never reported me so it wasn't even an issue lol

My sister works for ESD (not posting under my real name for obvious reasons) and she says they're actually short-staffed handling adjudications right now. Even if the employer does report you turning down the job offer, it would go into adjudication and might take weeks to resolve. You should absolutely document everything, but also know that many employers don't bother reporting refusals unless they're really motivated to do so for some reason.

Here's the exact legal standard from ESD regarding suitable work: 1. During the first 8 weeks of your claim, you can refuse work that pays less than 90% of your usual wage 2. From weeks 9-17, you can refuse work paying less than 80% of your usual wage 3. After 17 weeks, you can refuse work paying less than 75% of your usual wage However, there's another important factor: work is considered unsuitable if it "pays less than the higher of the state or federal minimum wage, or 75 percent of your usual wage." In your case, 50% is well below the 75% threshold, so you have a strong case. When filing your weekly claim, answer truthfully that you refused work, then explain that the offered wage was only 50% of your previous salary and would not cover your basic financial obligations. Keep documentation of: - The job offer details and salary - Your previous salary (pay stubs, W-2, etc.) - A breakdown of your essential monthly expenses While some employers do report refusals, many don't bother, especially for positions they can easily fill with other candidates. Nevertheless, honesty is crucial when filing your weekly claims.

wait so if i'm in my 5th week of unemployment and I turned down a job that pays 50% less, i should be ok right?? based on that 90% rule for the first 8 weeks?? i'm so stressed about this!!!

Be honest on your weekly claim but don't volunteer extra info. When it asks if you refused work, say yes, and briefly explain "Offered position at 50% of previous salary, insufficient to cover basic living expenses." Keep it simple. If they want more details, they'll ask. I've been through the system 3 times in my career and the key is straightforward answers without oversharing.

Does anyone know if the company HAS to report job refusals to ESD or is it optional? And how would they even know you're collecting unemployment anyway?