Do companies pay unemployment benefits to Washington ESD when employees get laid off?

That makes sense, so it's like insurance they've been paying into. Thanks for clarifying!

wait so if i file for unemployment does that hurt my old company somehow?

Interesting, so companies with more layoffs pay higher rates? That seems fair.

Exactly! It incentivizes employers to keep people employed rather than constantly laying people off.

My company fought my unemployment claim and I couldn't figure out why until I learned about this experience rating thing. Makes total sense now.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that calls Washington ESD for you. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. They basically keep calling until they get through to an agent.

Wait, that sounds too good to be true. Does it actually work?

Yeah it really does! I was skeptical too but I got connected to a Washington ESD rep in like 20 minutes instead of spending hours on hold.

Not all companies fight legitimate claims. Many understand it's part of doing business. But you're right that some do contest claims to keep their experience rating low.

My old boss told me straight up he was going to contest my claim even though he laid me off due to lack of work. Some employers are just vindictive.

Generally if you quit voluntarily you won't qualify for unemployment benefits unless you had good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment. The employer's tax situation doesn't change based on why you left.

ok good to know thanks

That's helpful context. Sounds like your HR person was pretty transparent about it.

Wish more companies would explain this stuff to employees. Most people have no idea how unemployment works until they need it.

I'll check that out, thanks for the tip!

Yeah it's interesting to see it from the employer side. My company's HR showed me our rate and it was way higher than I expected.

Exactly right. You shouldn't feel bad about collecting benefits you're entitled to, especially from layoffs that weren't your fault.

Same here, I used to feel guilty until I realized I'd been paying into this system through my work too.

That's frustrating but not uncommon. Did you win your appeal?

Yeah eventually but it delayed my benefits for weeks. Such a hassle when you're already stressed about being unemployed.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr when I had issues with my claim. Being able to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD instead of waiting weeks for a response made all the difference.

It's administered by the government (Washington ESD) but funded by employers through unemployment insurance taxes. It's an insurance system, not welfare.

ohhh that makes more sense now

That's interesting, I work in manufacturing so I wonder what rate my company pays.

You can actually look up employer tax rates on the Washington ESD website if you know where to look.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I mentioned it earlier in this thread but seriously it's a game changer for getting through to Washington ESD. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

never heard of it but I'll check it out, thanks

Good to know! My company definitely has way more than 4 employees so they've been paying in.

I think the wage limit is around $60,000 or so per employee per year, but don't quote me on that exact number.

Right, I remember seeing those deductions on my paystubs. Makes sense it's all connected.

Yeah the paid family leave program is newer but it works similarly to unemployment insurance.

Happy to help! Understanding how the system works can make the whole process less stressful when you're dealing with a job loss.

Totally agree. Knowledge is power especially when you're navigating unemployment benefits for the first time.

That's a good point. I was feeling a bit bad about filing but you're right, I worked and contributed to this system.

Exactly! It's insurance that was paid for on your behalf. Use it when you need it.

Agreed. It creates an incentive for employers to maintain stable employment when possible.

Though sometimes layoffs are unavoidable due to economic conditions or industry changes.

True, but the system accounts for that by averaging rates over several years.

Good to know there are options when the phone lines are impossible. I'll keep that in mind if I run into issues.

The video demo they have really shows how it works. Pretty clever solution to a frustrating problem.

You're welcome! Good luck with your claim and hope you find new employment soon.

Thanks! Feeling much more informed about the whole process now.