How are employers affected by unemployment claims in Washington - need to understand the process

So if more people file claims, their tax rate goes up? That explains why some employers try to fight legitimate claims.

Exactly. Higher claims = higher tax rates for the employer. That's why some contest claims even when they shouldn't.

10 days seems pretty short for them to gather all their paperwork and respond.

It is, but that's the law. Washington ESD wants to process claims quickly. If employers can't meet the deadline, that's on them.

Did you eventually win the appeal? I'm worried about the same thing happening to me.

Yes, but it was a nightmare trying to reach Washington ESD to check on the status. Kept getting busy signals and hung up on.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Really helped me when I was stuck in adjudication hell.

Good to know they can't just make stuff up. What kind of trouble can they get in?

They can face penalties and fines. Washington ESD takes employer fraud seriously, especially if they're deliberately trying to deny valid claims.

That's so messed up. We already lost our jobs, now we have to fight for the benefits we paid into?

Not all employers are like that. Many good employers don't contest legitimate claims. It's usually the bad ones that try to game the system.

True, but it only takes one bad employer to make your life hell for months while you're waiting for benefits.

That's reassuring to hear from someone on the employer side. What documentation do you typically need to provide?

We need termination letters, disciplinary records if applicable, attendance records, and witness statements. It's actually quite a bit of work to build a case.

Wish my former employer had that attitude. They contested everything just to delay payments.

You typically don't get benefits during the adjudication process, but if you win the appeal you get backpay for the entire period.

So you could be without income for weeks or months while they investigate? That's brutal.

That's why it's so important to have documentation ready and respond quickly to any requests from Washington ESD during the process.

Correct. It's called an experience rating. Companies with more claims against them pay higher rates. It's supposed to incentivize better employment practices.

In theory. In practice, some companies just factor the higher taxes into their business model and keep treating employees poorly.

Seasonal employers do get some special consideration in their tax calculations, but their employees are still eligible for regular unemployment benefits.

Good to know. I work construction and always wondered about that.

Exactly! I hate when people act like unemployment benefits are handouts. We earned these benefits through our work.

This is why I get so frustrated when employers try to deny legitimate claims. They're basically trying to avoid paying out on an insurance policy they've been paying premiums for.

Great advice. I wish I had thought to do that before I got laid off. Luckily my situation was pretty straightforward.

Also keep records of any communication with Washington ESD. If your employer contests and you end up in adjudication, having all your documentation organized can speed up the process.

I did. It was done over the phone with an administrative law judge. Both me and my former employer had to present our case. Took about an hour.

Did you have a lawyer or represent yourself?

Represented myself. You can have a lawyer but most people don't. The judge was actually pretty fair and asked good questions.

How does that service work exactly? Do you have to pay for it?

They help you get through to Washington ESD agents when the phone lines are jammed. There's a cost but it was worth it for me to avoid weeks of trying to get through on my own.

True. Even when you ultimately win your appeal, you've been without income for months. That's the real problem with the system.

And by the time you get your backpay, you might have already lost your apartment or fallen behind on bills. The system needs to be faster.

That's true. Washington ESD generally sides with workers when the evidence is unclear. Some states are much more employer-friendly.

Good to know. I was worried about my former company contesting my claim but it sounds like as long as I was legitimately laid off I should be okay.

Thanks everyone for all the info. This really helped me understand the employer side of things. I feel more confident about my claim now.

Just remember to file your weekly claims on time even if there's a contest. You don't want to lose benefits because of a technicality.

This is exactly why services like Claimyr exist. When you can't get through on the regular phone lines, you need another way to reach them. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ to see how it works.

Good point. The sooner you can provide additional documentation or clarify the situation, the faster they can make a decision.