Does unemployment cost the employer in Washington ESD claims?

Yes, unemployment claims do cost employers indirectly. Washington ESD uses an experience rating system where employers pay unemployment taxes based on their claim history. More claims = higher tax rates for them next year. That's probably why they're fighting your claim.

Washington ESD employers pay into the unemployment insurance fund through payroll taxes. The rate they pay depends on their 'experience rating' which goes up when former employees collect benefits. Small businesses especially hate this because it can really impact their bottom line.

I had a similar situation where my employer contested my claim for bogus reasons. Took forever to get through adjudication and I couldn't reach anyone at Washington ESD to check on the status. Finally used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person - they have this system that calls repeatedly until you get connected. Check out claimyr.com, they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Your employer's unemployment tax rate is calculated based on the total benefits paid to their former employees over several years. If you collect unemployment, it goes into their calculation for future tax rates. That's why some employers fight every claim regardless of merit.

The experience rating system in Washington state looks at the ratio of benefits charged to an employer's account versus their total payroll. Higher ratios mean higher tax rates. Small employers get hit hardest because one or two claims can really spike their rates.

I used to work in HR and can confirm that employers absolutely track their unemployment costs. We had meetings specifically about contesting claims to keep our experience rating low. It's all about the money, not fairness.

Washington ESD has different tax rates for different employers based on their history. New employers pay a standard rate, but established ones pay based on their experience rating. More claims = higher rates for years to come.

Don't let them bully you! If you were laid off for restructuring, that's not misconduct. Gather any documentation you have about the layoff and fight their contest. You have rights as a worker.

Same thing happened to me - got laid off then employer contested claiming misconduct. Took 6 weeks to resolve through adjudication but I eventually won. The key is having documentation and being persistent with Washington ESD.

Employers in Washington pay unemployment taxes quarterly and their rates are adjusted annually based on their experience rating. One bad year of claims can affect their rates for several years running.

I tried calling Washington ESD about my contested claim but could never get through. Someone mentioned Claimyr earlier - I actually tried that service and it worked great. Got connected to an adjudicator within a few hours instead of days of busy signals.

The restaurant industry is notorious for contesting unemployment claims. They have high turnover anyway so they try to minimize their tax burden by fighting every claim they can.

Washington ESD adjudication can take forever, especially with contested claims. The employer hopes you'll just give up and find another job rather than wait for benefits. Stay strong and keep following up.

The unemployment tax system is set up so that employers with more claims pay higher rates. It's supposed to encourage job stability but instead creates an incentive to contest every claim regardless of merit.

Bottom line: yes, your unemployment claim costs your employer money through higher taxes. That's why they're fighting it even though you were legitimately laid off. Don't let them intimidate you into withdrawing your claim.

I've been through this exact scenario. Employer said layoff initially then claimed misconduct when I filed for unemployment. Took 8 weeks to resolve but I eventually got my benefits. The inconsistency in their story really hurt their case.

Pro tip: if you can't get through to Washington ESD by phone, try the Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I used it last month when my claim was stuck in adjudication and finally got answers. Worth checking out their demo video to see how it works.

Your employer is probably betting that you'll give up rather than fight through the adjudication process. Small restaurants especially hate paying unemployment taxes and will contest claims just to delay payments.

The experience rating system needs major reform. Employers shouldn't be able to contest legitimate claims just to protect their tax rates. It creates a system where workers are presumed guilty until proven innocent.

Keep documenting everything and stay persistent with Washington ESD. Contested claims take longer but you'll eventually get a decision. Don't let your former employer intimidate you into giving up benefits you're entitled to.