Washington ESD unemployment claims increasing since minimum wage hike - anyone else notice this?

That's rough. Did any of your coworkers end up having to file with Washington ESD for partial unemployment?

couple people did yeah, but the weekly claim process was confusing for them

So if my employer specifically said they had to lay people off because of wage costs, that doesn't disqualify me from Washington ESD benefits?

Correct - layoffs due to economic factors like increased labor costs are considered involuntary separations, which typically qualify for unemployment benefits.

Just make sure when you file your initial claim that you clearly state it was a layoff, not a quit or termination for cause.

The phone lines are definitely swamped right now. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach Washington ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you.

Really? That sounds almost too good to be true. How does it actually work?

You give them your info and they call Washington ESD on your behalf, wait on hold, then connect you directly to an agent when they get through. Saved me hours of calling.

I can see both sides honestly. Higher wages help workers who keep their jobs, but some definitely lose employment.

at least unemployment benefits exist for people who get laid off because of this stuff

Yes, you can file for partial unemployment if your hours are significantly reduced. Washington ESD allows claims when your weekly earnings are less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5.

How do I calculate what my weekly benefit amount would be? This is all so confusing.

Your weekly benefit is based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. The Washington ESD website has a calculator, or you can call them - though as others mentioned, getting through by phone is challenging.

What industries have you seen hit hardest by this pattern?

Retail, food service, and smaller manufacturing operations seem to struggle most with sudden wage jumps.

did she have any trouble with her claim? seems like washington esd would approve that pretty easily

took a few weeks but got approved, no issues since the employer didnt contest it

Good point! I saved the email where my manager explained the hour cuts were due to labor cost pressures.

Perfect - that kind of documentation makes your claim much smoother to process.

While that's one economic perspective, there are also studies showing minimal employment effects from modest wage increases due to reduced turnover and increased productivity.

Maybe for large corporations, but small businesses don't have those efficiency margins to work with.

That's great news! How long did the whole process take with Claimyr?

About 45 minutes total - they called me back when they had an agent on the line. Way better than spending hours calling myself.

True, though the timing seems pretty coincidental in my area at least.

How quickly should someone file after losing their job or having hours cut?

File as soon as possible after your last day of work or when your hours are significantly reduced. Benefits are paid from your claim filing date, not your separation date.

thats really sad, small business owners are caught in the middle of this stuff

At least those workers should qualify for unemployment benefits without any issues since it was clearly an economic layoff.

I understand the frustration, but at least Washington ESD benefits provide a safety net during job transitions.

Washington ESD publishes monthly unemployment statistics on their website, but it usually takes a few months for trends to become clear in the data.

Nonprofits are in a particularly tough spot with wage mandates since they can't just raise prices like for-profit businesses.

Exactly - we're serving fewer people in our community because we can afford fewer staff members.

That's awesome! How long did the approval process take?

About 2 weeks from filing to first payment. Had to do the weekly claims but no big issues.

If that happens, file your unemployment claim immediately. Don't wait to see if you can find another job first.

That matches what I've seen - larger businesses have more flexibility to absorb cost increases through efficiency improvements or price changes.

How much does something like that cost though?

I'd rather pay a reasonable fee than waste entire days trying to get through myself. Check their website for current pricing.