How does Washington ESD know if you refuse a job offer while on unemployment?

employers can absolutely report it to Washington ESD if you refuse their offer, especially if they know you're on unemployment. they have to report new hires anyway so some of them will mention when someone turns them down

You need to understand that Washington ESD considers 'suitable work' based on several factors. The job has to match your skills and experience reasonably, and the wage can't be significantly below your previous earnings (especially early in your claim period). If the commute is unreasonable or the working conditions are unsafe, you may have valid grounds to refuse. However, you should document everything - the job offer details, why you refused, etc. Also, you're required to report any job offers on your weekly claim.

I went through this exact situation last year. Had trouble reaching anyone at Washington ESD to ask about refusing a job offer until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually got me through to a real person who explained the suitable work rules. Turns out I had valid reasons to refuse the job I was worried about. There's a video demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

The whole system is rigged against us. They want you to take any crappy job so they can stop paying benefits. I refused a job that paid $3 less per hour than my previous job and they cut off my benefits for 6 weeks.

Here's how it really works: Washington ESD tracks job refusals through multiple sources. Employers can report when someone declines an offer. WorkSource offices share information about job referrals and whether people follow through. Some employers are required to report hiring outcomes for certain programs. Plus, you're supposed to self-report on your weekly claims. The key is understanding what constitutes 'suitable work' under Washington state law.

omg I'm so paranoid about this too! I had an interview yesterday and I'm pretty sure they're going to offer but the job seems awful

My sister works in HR and she told me they always report to Washington ESD when someone on unemployment refuses their job offer. It's part of their process now.

I refused a job last month because it was a 2-hour commute each way and Washington ESD said that was reasonable grounds for refusal. They consider commute time as part of suitable work determination. You should call them and ask about your specific situation.

The Washington ESD handbook says suitable work means work that matches your training and experience and pays at least a certain percentage of your previous wages. Early in your claim it's like 80% of your previous wage. Later it drops to minimum wage basically.

Whatever you do, don't lie about it. My cousin lied about refusing a job and they caught him somehow and made him pay back like 8 weeks of benefits plus penalties.

I work in staffing and we definitely report to Washington ESD when someone on unemployment refuses our job offers. It's standard practice. We have to document everything for compliance purposes.

This is why I'm scared to even apply for jobs. What if they offer me something terrible and I have to take it or lose my benefits?

I had this exact worry when I was on unemployment. Ended up using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD and they walked me through the whole suitable work policy. Definitely worth it for peace of mind. The video demo on their site shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

Bottom line - Washington ESD can find out about job refusals through employer reports, WorkSource referrals, or cross-referencing with other databases. Your best bet is to be honest and make sure you understand what constitutes suitable work before you refuse anything. Document everything and report accurately on your weekly claims.

Just went through adjudication for refusing a job. They looked at the job duties, wage, location, and my work history. Since the commute was over an hour each way and the pay was 40% less than my previous job, they ruled in my favor. The key is having legitimate reasons and being upfront about it.

I was in a similar situation recently and learned that employers who know you're on unemployment often do report refusals to Washington ESD. The good news is that you have legitimate grounds to refuse unsuitable work - long commutes and significantly lower pay than your previous job are valid reasons, especially early in your claim period. Make sure to document everything about the job offer (commute time, pay, duties) and report it honestly on your weekly claim if you do refuse. It's better to be upfront than have them find out another way. You might also want to review Washington's suitable work guidelines on their website before making your decision.

I actually called Washington ESD about this exact situation a few months ago and learned some helpful details. They told me that while employers CAN report job refusals, it's not automatic - it really depends on the employer and whether they think to do it. However, you're definitely required to report any job offers you receive on your weekly claims, so don't try to hide it. The good news is that Washington has pretty reasonable "suitable work" standards, especially early in your claim. A brutal commute and significantly lower pay are legitimate reasons to refuse, particularly if you're still within your first few months of collecting benefits. The adjudicator I spoke with said they look at the whole picture - your previous wage, work experience, the job location, and working conditions. Just make sure you can clearly explain your reasoning if they ask about it later.

I went through something similar last year and want to share what I learned from my experience. Washington ESD does track job refusals through multiple channels - employers can report it (especially larger companies with formal HR processes), and you're required to self-report on your weekly claims. The key thing that helped me was understanding that "suitable work" has specific criteria under Washington law. Early in your claim period, you're generally not required to accept jobs that pay significantly less than your previous wage (I believe it's around 80% initially). Unreasonable commute times are also valid grounds for refusal. When I had to refuse a job offer due to a 90-minute each-way commute plus much lower pay, I documented everything - the job details, my reasons for refusal, and reported it honestly on my weekly claim. Washington ESD reviewed it and determined my refusal was justified. My advice: don't try to hide it, document your legitimate reasons, and be prepared to explain your decision if they ask. The system is actually more reasonable than you might think if you have valid grounds for refusal.