Does your job pay for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD system?

Your employer doesn't pay your individual unemployment benefits directly. They pay unemployment insurance taxes to Washington ESD throughout the year, which funds the unemployment insurance system. When you file a claim, benefits come from this pooled fund, not directly from your specific employer's pocket.

well technically your employer does pay for it through their unemployment tax rate but its not like they write a check every time someone files a claim lol

The key thing to understand is that employers pay different tax rates based on their 'experience rating' - companies that lay off more workers pay higher rates. This creates an incentive for employers to avoid unnecessary layoffs. Your benefits are calculated based on your wages, not what your employer paid in taxes.

I had to deal with this when I got laid off last year. My employer contested my claim initially but Washington ESD still approved it after reviewing the situation. The whole process took about 3 weeks though because of the contest. If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to check on claim status, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually get through to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

EMPLOYERS HATE PAYING UNEMPLOYMENT TAXES!!! Mine fought my claim tooth and nail even though they laid off half the department. The system is rigged to favor businesses over workers.

yeah my cousin works in HR and she says they track their unemployment claims really carefully because it affects their tax rate for the next year

To clarify the experience rating system: Washington ESD calculates each employer's tax rate based on their history of unemployment claims over a specific period. New employers start at a standard rate. Companies with more claims relative to their payroll pay higher rates, while those with fewer claims get lower rates. This system is called 'experience rating' and it's used in all states.

I've been through several layoffs and the one constant is that employers will often try to characterize terminations as 'for cause' to avoid unemployment liability. Document everything if you think a layoff might be coming. Save emails, performance reviews, anything that shows you were doing your job properly.

Does anyone know if temp agencies pay unemployment taxes differently? I work through a staffing company and I'm not sure how that affects things.

The whole system is confusing but basically employers pay in advance through taxes and then workers can claim benefits if they become unemployed through no fault of their own. It's like insurance - you pay premiums (taxes) and then can make claims (unemployment benefits) when needed.

i got laid off in december and my old boss kept calling me asking when i was going to stop filing unemployment claims because it was 'costing the company money' - like dude, that's not how it works!

For anyone struggling to get through to Washington ESD to verify eligibility or check claim status, I recently discovered Claimyr which actually gets you connected to a real person. Found them at claimyr.com and they have a demo video showing exactly how it works. Saved me probably 20 hours of calling and getting busy signals.

My unemployment claim got held up because my employer reported that I was fired for misconduct, which wasn't true. It took weeks to resolve and I had to provide all kinds of documentation. The employer was probably just trying to protect their tax rate.

quick question - if i work for a really small company with like 5 employees, do they still pay unemployment taxes?

The bottom line is that unemployment benefits are funded by employer taxes, but they're administered by Washington ESD as insurance for workers. Your employer doesn't get to decide whether you get benefits - that's up to Washington ESD based on the circumstances of your separation from employment.

One thing to remember is that even if your employer contests your claim, you should still file as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Washington ESD will investigate and make a determination, but you don't want to delay filing because you're worried about your employer's reaction.

Anyone else think it's weird that we have to worry about our employers fighting our unemployment claims? Like, if they laid us off, they should expect us to file for benefits. It's not personal, it's just how the system works.

I used to work in payroll and can confirm that employers pay unemployment taxes quarterly. The rate varies based on their claims history and industry. Construction companies typically pay higher rates than office businesses because they have more seasonal layoffs.

Just went through this whole process last month. Had trouble reaching Washington ESD for weeks until someone recommended trying Claimyr to get through to an actual agent. Ended up using their service and finally got my questions answered about my claim status. Worth checking out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you're having similar issues.

Thanks everyone for all the explanations! This thread really cleared up my confusion about how unemployment insurance works. I feel much more confident about the system now.