How does filing unemployment affect the employer - Washington ESD impact questions

Your employer already pays unemployment insurance taxes to Washington ESD regardless of whether you file or not. Filing a claim doesn't directly penalize them, but it can affect their future tax rates depending on their overall claim history. If you were laid off due to lack of work, your claim shouldn't be contested.

don't worry about it, file your claim asap! employers know this is part of doing business. if they laid you off they should expect you to file for unemployment. waiting won't help anyone

I was in HR for years and can explain how this works. Employers pay unemployment taxes based on their 'experience rating' - basically how many former employees have filed successful claims. Your individual claim might slightly impact their future rates, but it's calculated over several years and averaged out. A single layoff claim won't drastically change anything for them.

I had trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask similar questions about my claim status, but found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help you get through to actual Washington ESD agents without the endless hold times. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be helpful if you need to speak to someone at Washington ESD directly about your situation.

EMPLOYERS HATE WHEN YOU FILE!!! They try to fight every claim to keep their rates low. Don't believe anyone who says they don't care - they absolutely track this stuff and it affects their bottom line. But file anyway because you EARNED those benefits!

Let me clarify something important - Washington ESD employers can't just 'block' valid claims. They can contest them if they believe the separation wasn't due to layoff/lack of work, but Washington ESD makes the final determination. If you were genuinely laid off due to business reasons, your claim should be approved regardless of what the employer says.

Just file already! I waited weeks worrying about the same thing and all it did was cost me money. Every week you don't file is benefits you can't get back. Washington ESD has waiting periods and processing times, so the sooner you start the better.

Something to consider - good employers often prefer you file for unemployment rather than ask them for financial help or extended health coverage. It takes the pressure off them to provide assistance they might not be able to afford. Most understand it's part of the social safety net.

i filed after being laid off and my old boss actually asked me how the unemployment process was going when I ran into him at the store. he seemed genuinely concerned that I was getting the help I needed. not all employers are evil about this stuff

The tax impact varies by employer size too. Large corporations with hundreds of employees barely notice individual claims, while small businesses with just a few employees might see more impact. But again, they're already paying unemployment taxes whether claims are filed or not.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you were laid off due to economic reasons, your employer might even be relieved you're filing. It shows Washington ESD that the separation was legitimate and not due to performance issues. It actually helps document that it was a business decision, not a firing.

I'm going through something similar right now with trying to reach Washington ESD about my claim status. Someone mentioned Claimyr earlier - I actually tried it last week and it worked great. Got connected to an actual person at Washington ESD within like 20 minutes instead of calling for hours. Worth checking out if you need to talk to them directly.

Look at it this way - unemployment insurance is there for exactly this situation. Your employer has been paying into the system specifically so you'd have this safety net if needed. Using it is not taking advantage of anyone, it's using a program that was designed for laid-off workers.

just wanted to add that Washington ESD has specific protections against employer retaliation for filing claims. even if your employer didn't like it (which they probably won't care), they can't legally take any action against you for filing unemployment benefits

The bottom line is this: you paid into unemployment insurance through your paychecks (it comes out of wages in some states, though I think Washington is employer-funded). Either way, you EARNED this benefit. Don't let guilt stop you from using something you have every right to use.

Filed my claim three months ago after a layoff and just wanted to update that my former employer actually provided a positive reference for my job search. Filing unemployment didn't damage our relationship at all. Sometimes we worry about things that never become actual problems.

One practical tip - when you file with Washington ESD, be honest and accurate about the reason for separation. List it as 'laid off due to lack of work' or whatever the actual reason was. This helps ensure there are no disputes later and makes the process smoother for everyone involved.

Another angle to consider - if your employer is going through layoffs, they've probably dealt with unemployment claims before. It's likely not their first time handling this process, so they know what to expect and how it works.

I used to stress about this too but then realized - if the situation were reversed and I was the employer, I'd want my laid-off employees to file for unemployment. It's better for everyone when people have income support while job searching rather than becoming desperate or having to take jobs way below their skill level just to survive.

Final thought - you mentioned having a good relationship with your employer. If that's truly the case, they'll understand you need to file for unemployment and won't hold it against you. Good employers want their former employees to be okay financially while job hunting.