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If you apply for unemployment does your employer know - Washington ESD notification process

I'm thinking about filing for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD but I'm worried about my current employer finding out. I got laid off from my main job but I still have a small part-time gig that barely covers anything. Will Washington ESD automatically notify my current part-time employer when I file my claim? I don't want them to think I'm trying to double-dip or anything sketchy. How does the employer notification process actually work?

Washington ESD does send notifications to employers listed on your claim, but it's not immediate. They typically send a 'Notice of Application for Benefits' to employers from your base period (usually the last 18 months). Your current part-time employer will only be notified if you worked there during your base period and they paid into the UI system.

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That makes sense. I've only been at the part-time job for about 6 months, so they would definitely be in my base period. Will the notice tell them exactly how much I'm claiming or just that I filed?

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The notice shows basic info - that you filed, the benefit year dates, and gives them a chance to respond if they have concerns about your eligibility. It doesn't show your weekly benefit amount.

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yeah they definitely know. got the same situation and my boss asked me about it like a week after i filed. wasn't a big deal though

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Oh no, that's exactly what I was afraid of! How did you explain it to your boss?

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just told them the truth - got laid off from main job and filing unemployment while keeping the part time work. most employers understand these days

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This is actually super common and nothing to stress about. The key thing is being completely honest on your weekly claims about any work you do. Washington ESD allows you to work part-time while collecting benefits - you just report your earnings each week and they adjust your benefit amount accordingly. Your part-time employer getting the notice is just part of the standard process.

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That's reassuring to hear. So as long as I report all my part-time earnings on my weekly claims, I should be fine legally?

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Exactly. Just be accurate about your hours and earnings. The system is designed to help people transition back to full-time work, so part-time work while claiming is encouraged.

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This is good info. I was worried about the same thing when I had to file last year.

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I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about this exact situation. Spent hours on hold trying to talk to someone who could explain the employer notification process clearly. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have this video demo thing (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful once I could actually talk to someone.

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Never heard of Claimyr before. How does it work exactly? Do they just help you get through the phone lines?

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Pretty much, yeah. They handle the calling and waiting on hold part so you don't have to sit there for hours. When they get an agent on the line, they connect you directly.

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Interesting, might have to check that out. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication status.

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The employer notification thing used to freak me out too but honestly it's no big deal. Most employers are used to getting these notices, especially in the current job market. Your part-time employer probably gets them regularly.

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That's a good point. I guess I'm overthinking it. Better to file and keep the part-time income than struggle financially.

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Exactly. The whole system is set up to help people get back on their feet, not to punish them for trying to work.

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wait so if I'm working like 15 hours a week at my current job and file for unemployment from my old job that got eliminated, my current boss will definitely find out? this is stressing me out now

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Yes, they'll get notified, but it's completely legal and normal. Many people work part-time while collecting unemployment. Just be upfront with your current employer if they ask.

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ok but what if they decide to fire me because they think I'm not committed or something?

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They can't legally fire you just for filing unemployment from a previous job. That would be retaliation. But definitely document everything just in case.

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I work in HR and we get these Washington ESD notices all the time. Most employers barely pay attention to them unless there's something obviously fraudulent. We just file them away. Don't worry about it.

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That's really helpful to hear from the employer side. I feel much better about filing now.

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yeah see? told you it wasn't a big deal

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Question though - what if you worked for like 10 different employers in the past year because of temp work? Do they ALL get notified?

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Potentially yes, if they all paid into the UI system and are in your base period. Washington ESD pulls from all your covered employment in the base period.

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wow that could be awkward. some of those jobs ended on bad terms

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The notices are pretty standard and don't really invite drama. Most employers just process them routinely.

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This whole thread is making me realize I should have filed for unemployment months ago. I've been struggling financially because I was worried about my part-time job finding out. Sounds like it's really not that big of a deal.

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Same here! I've been putting it off for weeks but I think I'm going to file tomorrow.

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Definitely file if you're eligible. The benefits are there to help you get through tough times.

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One thing to keep in mind is that Washington ESD also sends quarterly wage reports to employers, so they might already know about your other employment anyway. The unemployment notice isn't revealing anything they don't already have access to through normal payroll reporting.

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I hadn't thought about that. So they probably already know I had other jobs recently anyway.

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Exactly. It's all part of the same reporting system. Nothing secretive about any of it.

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THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS SET UP TO MAKE YOU FEEL GUILTY FOR NEEDING HELP! Don't let them intimidate you into not filing. You paid into unemployment insurance through your paychecks - it's YOUR money!

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While I appreciate the passion, the employer notification process is actually just a standard part of preventing fraud. It's not meant to shame anyone.

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maybe not meant to but it definitely has that effect when people are scared to file because of it

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I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it was actually pretty helpful. Got connected to a Washington ESD agent in like 20 minutes instead of calling for hours. They explained the whole employer notification process clearly.

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Did you end up having to pay much for it? I'm wondering if it's worth the cost.

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It was worth it for me just to avoid the phone tree nightmare and actually get answers to my questions. The peace of mind was valuable.

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quick question - if your employer contests your claim do you find out right away or does it just delay everything?

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If an employer contests, Washington ESD will investigate and you'll get notified of the contest. It can delay your first payment while they review everything. You'll have a chance to provide your side of the story.

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ugh that sounds stressful. hopefully most employers don't bother contesting

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Most don't contest unless they have a legitimate reason like misconduct or voluntary quit. If you were laid off legitimately, contests are pretty rare.

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This thread convinced me to finally file. Been putting it off for two months because I was worried about my weekend job finding out. Sounds like I was worrying over nothing.

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Good for you! I filed mine this morning after reading all these responses. Feeling much better about the whole thing.

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Nice! Hopefully we both get approved quickly and can stop stressing about money.

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Just want to add that timing matters too. The employer notification usually goes out within a week or two of filing, so don't be surprised if your boss mentions it relatively quickly.

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Good to know the timeline. I'll probably give my manager a heads up when I file so it doesn't come as a surprise.

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That's probably smart. Shows you're being transparent and professional about the whole situation.

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For what it's worth, I've never had an employer react negatively to the unemployment notice. Most understand that people lose jobs and need to file for benefits. It's really not a big deal in most workplaces.

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This whole thread has been so reassuring. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

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Yeah this was really helpful. Good to know so many people have gone through the same situation.

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Glad I could help with the Claimyr suggestion too. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to get clarity on these things.

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Just wanted to share my recent experience since this thread helped me so much. I filed for unemployment about 3 weeks ago after being laid off from my main job while keeping my weekend retail position. My weekend boss did get the notification and actually brought it up to me, but it was totally fine - she just wanted to make sure I was doing okay and that she wasn't going to lose me as an employee too! She said they get these notices pretty regularly and it's never been an issue. I've been reporting my weekend earnings on my weekly claims and everything has been smooth. Really wish I hadn't spent so much time worrying about it. The financial relief has been huge and I can focus on job searching instead of stressing about bills.

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Thanks for sharing your actual experience! This is exactly what I needed to hear. It's so reassuring to know that your boss was understanding and even supportive about the situation. I've been overthinking this whole thing for weeks when I should have just filed already. Your story about being able to focus on job searching instead of stressing about bills really hits home - that's exactly where I want to be right now.

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