Does unemployment reach out to employer - Washington ESD verification process?

Yes, Washington ESD does contact employers when you file a claim. They send what's called a 'Separation Information Request' to verify the reason you left and your wages. It's standard procedure for all UI claims.

they definitely contact your employer, happened to me when I filed in March. My boss mentioned it to me when I went to pick up my final check

The employer verification is mandatory for Washington ESD to process your claim. Don't worry about it - employers are used to getting these requests and it's completely normal. They need to verify your employment dates, wages, and reason for separation to determine if you qualify for benefits.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and can never reach anyone on the phone. The wait times are insane and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a better way to contact them? I need to know if my employer responded to their request.

Your employer will definitely hear from Washington ESD. The separation request asks for details about why you left, your last day worked, and whether you violated any company policies. If you were laid off or position eliminated, it's usually straightforward.

the whole process took about 3 weeks for me from filing to getting my first payment. washington esd was pretty quick once they got the employer response back

One thing to note - if your employer disputes your claim or says you were fired for misconduct, Washington ESD will start an adjudication process. That can add several weeks to your claim processing time while they investigate.

Does Washington ESD tell you when they've contacted your employer or do you just have to wait and see?

I'm dealing with the same thing right now. Filed 10 days ago and still showing 'claim under review' status. Getting really anxious about the whole process.

Just went through this whole process myself. My employer got the separation request on a Friday and responded the following Tuesday. Washington ESD approved my claim 3 days after that. The system works, it just takes time.

Update on the Claimyr thing - I tried it yesterday and actually got through to a Washington ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They confirmed my employer had responded and my claim should be approved within a few days. Definitely worth it if you're tired of the phone runaround.

For what it's worth, most employers don't really care about unemployment claims unless there's something fishy going on. It's just standard business for them and doesn't reflect poorly on you at all.

The separation request form asks pretty standard questions - dates of employment, reason for separation, final wages, etc. Nothing too invasive or personal. Your employer has dealt with these before if they've had other employees leave.

been through this process 3 times over the years (thanks 2008, 2020, and now 2024 lol) and every time the employer verification went smoothly. washington esd is pretty efficient once they get the info they need

I work in HR and we get these Washington ESD separation requests regularly. We just fill out the form with the facts and send it back. It's not a big deal from the employer side - just part of doing business.

If you're really worried about the employer contact, you could always give them a heads up that you filed for unemployment. Most people appreciate the courtesy even though it's not required.

The whole Washington ESD verification process is designed to prevent fraud while getting benefits to people who genuinely need them. Your employer contact is just one step in that process. Nothing to worry about if everything is legitimate.

Just want to add another success story with Claimyr - used them last month when I couldn't get through about my adjudication status. The agent was able to tell me exactly what documents they needed to finish processing my claim. Saved me weeks of waiting in limbo.

Bottom line - yes, Washington ESD will contact your employer, but it's completely routine and nothing to stress about. Focus on filing your weekly claims on time and meeting any job search requirements. The employer verification is just one step in the process.

I can confirm from personal experience that Washington ESD does contact employers automatically - it's part of their standard verification process. When I filed my claim about 6 months ago, my former HR department told me they received the separation request form within about a week of my filing. The good news is that if you were laid off due to budget cuts like you mentioned, that's pretty straightforward for them to verify and shouldn't cause any delays. Most employers are very familiar with these requests and handle them routinely. Try not to worry too much about it - you're entitled to these benefits and there's nothing inappropriate about filing for unemployment after a layoff.