< Back to Washington Unemployment

A Man D Mortal

Does filing unemployment affect your employer Washington ESD

I got laid off from my retail job last month and I'm thinking about filing for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD. My former manager was actually pretty decent to me and I don't want to cause problems for the company if I can avoid it. Does filing a UI claim with Washington ESD create any issues for your previous employer? Like do they get charged fees or does it hurt their business somehow? I've heard mixed things and want to make sure I understand before I submit my application.

Your employer won't get charged directly when you file, but their unemployment tax rates can go up if they have a lot of claims. It's based on their experience rating with Washington ESD. But honestly, if you were laid off legitimately you shouldn't worry about it - that's what unemployment insurance is for.

0 coins

That makes sense. I was definitely laid off due to budget cuts, not fired for cause or anything like that.

0 coins

Yeah don't feel bad about it. Companies pay into the unemployment system specifically for situations like this.

0 coins

Washington ESD will contact your employer to verify your employment and the reason you left. If there's no dispute about the layoff, it's pretty straightforward. The employer pays unemployment taxes regardless - it's not like they get a bill specifically for your claim.

0 coins

Good to know they'll verify everything. I have my separation notice so hopefully it's clear cut.

0 coins

Make sure you have that separation notice handy when you file. Speeds up the whole process with Washington ESD.

0 coins

I was in a similar situation last year - got laid off and felt weird about filing. But my former boss actually told me I should apply for benefits since I qualified. Companies factor unemployment costs into their budgets, it's not personal.

0 coins

That's reassuring to hear. I guess I'm overthinking it because I liked working there.

0 coins

You're entitled to benefits if you qualify. Don't let guilt stop you from getting help you need.

0 coins

The only time it really affects employers is if they contest your claim, which they might do if they think you quit or were fired for misconduct. But for a layoff? They usually don't fight it because they know you'll win.

0 coins

Makes sense. There's definitely no misconduct here - just company downsizing.

0 coins

Right, and even if they did contest it, Washington ESD would investigate and you'd likely still get approved for a legitimate layoff.

0 coins

I spent forever trying to call Washington ESD about something similar and couldn't get through. Found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you want to see how it works. Made the whole process way easier when I had questions about my claim.

0 coins

That's interesting, I'll check it out. The Washington ESD phone lines are supposedly really hard to get through on.

0 coins

Yeah those phone lines are ridiculous. Sometimes you call 50 times and still don't get through.

0 coins

Exactly why I used Claimyr. Their website is claimyr.com and they basically handle the calling for you. Saved me hours of frustration.

0 coins

Just file already! You paid into the system through your payroll taxes, and so did your employer. This is literally what unemployment insurance exists for - people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.

0 coins

You're right, I need to stop overthinking this and just apply.

0 coins

Exactly. And the sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. There's usually a waiting period anyway.

0 coins

been there done that, employers expect it when they lay people off. Mine even gave me info about filing for unemployment when they let me go. It's standard procedure.

0 coins

That's helpful to know. I wish my company had been more clear about the process.

0 coins

A lot of HR departments aren't great at explaining unemployment benefits unfortunately.

0 coins

The only thing that might affect your employer is if Washington ESD finds out they laid you off illegally or something, but that doesn't sound like your situation at all.

0 coins

No, it was definitely a legitimate layoff. Multiple people got let go due to budget issues.

0 coins

Then you're golden. Mass layoffs are pretty clear-cut cases for unemployment approval.

0 coins

I worked in HR for years and dealt with unemployment claims all the time. Unless there's fraud or misconduct involved, most employers just provide the requested information to Washington ESD and move on. It's routine paperwork for them.

0 coins

That's really helpful perspective from the employer side. Makes me feel better about filing.

0 coins

Good insight. Most people don't realize how routine these claims are for employers.

0 coins

If you're worried about it, you could always reach out to your former manager and let them know you're planning to file. But honestly, they probably expect it and won't be surprised.

0 coins

I might do that actually. We parted on good terms so it couldn't hurt to give them a heads up.

0 coins

That's thoughtful but not necessary. They'll find out when Washington ESD contacts them anyway.

0 coins

Don't overthink it man. I filed unemployment after getting laid off and my old boss actually wrote me a LinkedIn recommendation a few months later. Good employers understand these things happen.

0 coins

That's actually really nice of them. Gives me hope that my situation will be similar.

0 coins

Yeah decent employers don't hold unemployment claims against you. It's just business.

0 coins

The unemployment tax rates for employers are based on their overall claim history, not individual cases. So your one claim won't make a huge difference unless they have tons of claims all the time.

0 coins

That makes sense. And this was their first layoff in years so probably not a big deal.

0 coins

Exactly. Companies with stable employment histories have lower tax rates anyway.

0 coins

I had the same guilt when I got laid off. Turns out my employer had been paying unemployment taxes for years and never had a claim before mine. They were actually prepared for it.

0 coins

That's probably similar to my situation. Small company, very few layoffs historically.

0 coins

Small companies often have lower unemployment tax rates because of their stability.

0 coins

Just went through this whole thing myself. Washington ESD sent my employer a form to fill out about my employment. Took them like 10 minutes tops. No big deal at all.

0 coins

Good to know it's not a huge burden for them. I was imagining all kinds of complicated paperwork.

0 coins

Yeah it's just basic info - dates of employment, reason for separation, final wages. Pretty simple.

0 coins

You know what affects employers more? When good employees leave because they can't afford to stay unemployed and take crappy jobs instead of waiting for something better. File for unemployment and take time to find the right next job.

0 coins

That's a really good point. I do want to find something that's a good fit rather than just taking the first offer.

0 coins

Exactly! That's the whole point of unemployment insurance - giving you time to find appropriate work.

0 coins

I tried calling Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and could never get through. Someone mentioned Claimyr earlier - I ended up using them too and it was a lifesaver. Actually got to talk to a real person at Washington ESD within a day.

0 coins

Seems like a lot of people have had good experiences with that service. Might be worth it if I run into issues.

0 coins

Yeah it's definitely worth it if you need to actually speak to someone. Saved me so much frustration.

0 coins

Stop feeling guilty and file already! Your employer laid you off - they made a business decision and now you need to make decisions that are best for you. That includes claiming benefits you're entitled to.

0 coins

You're absolutely right. I'm going to file this weekend.

0 coins

Good for you! And don't delay - you want to get your claim in as soon as possible.

0 coins

The fact that you're even asking this question shows you're a thoughtful person. But seriously, this is what the unemployment system is designed for. Your employer will be fine.

0 coins

Thanks, that means a lot. I think I was just overthinking the whole situation.

0 coins

It's natural to overthink when you're dealing with job loss. But you're making the right choice.

0 coins

Filed unemployment 3 times in my career due to layoffs. Never had any issues with former employers. Most of them knew I was filing and some even provided reference letters for my job search. It's just part of business.

0 coins

That's really reassuring to hear from someone with multiple experiences. Thank you!

0 coins

Yeah, experienced workers know this stuff happens. It's not personal.

0 coins

Update us when you file! I'm sure it'll go smoothly. And remember you still need to do job search activities while collecting benefits, so start thinking about that too.

0 coins

Will do! And yes, I've been reading about the job search requirements. Seems like I need to apply to at least 3 jobs per week.

0 coins

That's right - 3 job contacts per week is the standard requirement. Keep good records of your applications.

0 coins

Already started a spreadsheet to track everything. Thanks for all the advice everyone!

0 coins

Washington Unemployment AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
20,087 users helped today