Does Washington ESD call your previous employer when you file for unemployment?

Yes, Washington ESD does contact employers as part of the standard claim verification process. They'll send a separation notice to your employer asking about the circumstances of your termination, your wages, and whether they have any objections to your claim. It's not necessarily a phone call - often it's done through their online employer portal.

They definitely contact employers. I've been on both sides of this - filed claims myself and also responded to Washington ESD inquiries when I was a supervisor. The employer gets asked about reason for separation, last day worked, wages paid, and whether they contest the claim. Most employers don't contest unless there was misconduct involved.

If you're worried about the contact process, you might want to use Claimyr to get through to an actual Washington ESD agent who can explain exactly what information gets shared. I used their service at claimyr.com when I had questions about my claim and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made it so much easier to get real answers instead of guessing.

The employer contact is mandatory, there's no way around it. Washington ESD needs to verify your work history and the reason you're no longer employed. If your employer doesn't respond within their deadline, your claim will usually be approved automatically.

So there's really no way to file without them knowing? I was hoping this could be more discreet.

I remember when I filed last year, my employer got the notice within like 3 days. HR called me to ask if I had filed because they weren't sure if it was legitimate or some kind of scam. Turned out fine though, no issues with my claim.

What happens if you get fired for attendance issues? Will that disqualify you from unemployment?

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU FEEL GUILTY FOR NEEDING HELP. Yes they contact employers, yes it might be uncomfortable, but you paid into unemployment insurance through your paychecks so don't feel bad about using it when you need it!

Just went through this process last month. Washington ESD sent my employer some kind of form asking about my separation. Employer responded that I was laid off due to lack of work, which was true. Got approved for benefits about 2 weeks later. The employer contact part was actually the least of my worries - the job search requirements are what's really time consuming.

If you're really concerned about the employer contact, you could try reaching out to Washington ESD directly to ask about their process. Though good luck getting through on the phone - I tried calling for weeks about a different issue.

been through this multiple times unfortunately - employers always get notified, its part of the system. most decent employers wont give you grief about it though, they understand people need unemployment benefits between jobs

Your employer will definitely be contacted, but remember they also have to follow certain rules about what they can and can't say. They can't just make stuff up to try to disqualify you - they need documentation to support any claims of misconduct.

I work in HR and we get these Washington ESD inquiries all the time. We just fill out the form with factual information - dates of employment, reason for separation, final wages. It's pretty straightforward from the employer side. We don't usually contest claims unless there was clear misconduct.

One thing to keep in mind is that if your employer contests your claim, you'll get a chance to present your side of the story. Washington ESD doesn't just take the employer's word for everything - they investigate disputes.

I had to deal with a contested claim last year and ended up needing to call Washington ESD multiple times to check on the status. Could never get through until someone told me about this Claimyr service that helps you reach agents. Wish I had known about it sooner - would have saved me so much frustration trying to get updates on my case.

Bottom line: yes, they contact employers, but it's a normal part of the process. Don't let worry about that stop you from filing if you're eligible. Unemployment benefits exist for exactly this situation.

I just wanted to add that if you're really concerned about the timing, you might want to consider giving your former employer a brief heads up that you're filing. Something simple like "I wanted to let you know I'll be filing for unemployment benefits, so you may receive paperwork from Washington ESD in the next few days." It's not required, but it can help avoid any confusion on their end and shows professionalism. Most employers appreciate the courtesy, and it might actually make the whole process feel less awkward for you.