How to respond to unemployment claim employer notice - Washington ESD requirements?

You definitely need to respond to that notice within the 10-day deadline, even if you don't want to contest the claim. Washington ESD uses your response to determine the claimant's benefit amount and whether they qualify. You'll need to provide accurate wage information and the reason for separation (quit, fired, layoff, etc.). If you miss the deadline, you lose your right to appeal later if issues come up.

Make sure you fill out that wage information section completely and accurately. Washington ESD will use this to calculate their weekly benefit amount. If you have payroll records, use those exact figures. Don't estimate or guess - they can audit your records later if there are discrepancies.

I had to deal with this last year and couldn't get through to Washington ESD when I had questions about the form. Spent hours on hold trying to reach someone. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual Washington ESD representative who walked me through the employer response process. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Really saved me time and stress.

What was the reason for separation? That's the most important part of your response. If they were laid off due to lack of work, just state that clearly. If they were fired for cause or quit, you need to provide specific details and any documentation you have.

ugh these government forms are so confusing! i got one of these last month and spent forever trying to figure out what they wanted. the instructions weren't clear at all

One thing to remember - your unemployment insurance rates might be affected depending on how many claims are filed against your account. This is called 'experience rating.' But don't let that pressure you into contesting legitimate claims. Washington ESD takes fraudulent protests seriously.

Just be honest and complete in your response. I've seen employers get in trouble for providing incomplete or inaccurate information. Washington ESD cross-references everything with wage records and other data they have.

If you need to contest the claim for legitimate reasons (like misconduct or voluntary quit), make sure you have documentation ready. Washington ESD will likely schedule a phone hearing where both you and the claimant can present your side.

Don't forget about the deadline! I know someone who missed the 10-day window and couldn't appeal later when they discovered the claimant had lied about the separation reason. Washington ESD is strict about those deadlines.

The online employer portal is actually pretty easy to use if you want to submit your response electronically. Faster than mailing and you get confirmation it was received.

this whole system is such a pain for small businesses. we barely have time to run our business let alone deal with all this paperwork

One tip - if you have multiple locations or business entities, make sure you're responding from the correct employer account. Washington ESD tracks everything by employer ID number.

I remember my first employer response notice - I was so worried about doing something wrong. Turns out it's not as complicated as it seems if you just stick to the facts and meet the deadline.

Just to follow up on the Claimyr thing I mentioned earlier - I know a couple other business owners who've used them when they needed to reach Washington ESD quickly about claim issues. Really helpful when you're on a tight deadline and can't afford to spend hours on hold.

Make sure you understand what 'suitable work' means if the claimant asks about job search requirements. As their former employer, you might get questions about whether they're genuinely looking for work.

Whatever you do, don't ignore the notice even if you're busy. I've seen employers get surprised by benefit charges on their account because they never responded to contest questionable claims.

The wage reporting part is really important for the claimant too - if you underreport their wages, it could lower their weekly benefit amount unfairly. So double-check those numbers.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about filling out this form now. Going to gather my payroll records tonight and submit the response online tomorrow. Really appreciate this community.

One thing I'd add is to make sure you keep detailed records of all your communications with Washington ESD about this claim. Save copies of your response, any follow-up correspondence, and note down dates/times if you speak with anyone by phone. This documentation can be really valuable if there are any issues or appeals down the road. Also, since this is your first time dealing with this, it might be worth reviewing your employee handbook and separation procedures to make sure you're prepared if this situation comes up again in the future.