What happens to an employer when an employee files for unemployment with Washington ESD?

Washington ESD does notify employers when a claim is filed against their account. They get a 'Notice of Application for Benefits' within a few days and have 10 days to respond if they want to contest it. If they don't respond, the claim usually gets approved automatically.

your boss is probably worried about their UI tax rate going up. employers pay into the unemployment system and their rate can increase if they have too many claims

Don't let your employer intimidate you! I had a similar situation where my manager tried to discourage me from filing. Washington ESD protects workers' rights to file legitimate claims. If you were laid off through no fault of your own, you're entitled to benefits regardless of what it costs the employer.

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status but can never get through their phone lines. The automated system just hangs up after being on hold forever. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

Here's what actually happens from the employer side: 1) They get notified of your claim, 2) They can respond with employment details, 3) Their UI tax account gets charged if benefits are paid out, 4) Their future tax rate might be affected based on their 'experience rating' which includes claim history.

Some employers try to contest legitimate claims to keep their tax rates low. If your boss does contest, don't panic - just be honest about the circumstances and provide any documentation you have about the layoff.

my old company tried to say i quit when i was actually laid off. took 3 weeks to sort out but washington esd sided with me once i provided the emails

The bottom line is that unemployment insurance exists to protect workers when they lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Your employer's concerns about costs don't override your right to benefits. File your claim and let Washington ESD sort out the details.

Just want to add that employers who try to intimidate workers out of filing legitimate claims are walking on thin ice legally. Washington has strong worker protection laws.

For what it's worth, most reasonable employers understand that UI claims are part of business cycles. It's usually only the problematic ones who make a big deal about it.

I'm dealing with something similar but my employer is claiming I was fired for attendance issues when I was actually having medical problems. Should I still file?

Can confirm the Claimyr thing works. I used it last month when my claim went into adjudication and I couldn't reach anyone at Washington ESD. Got connected to an agent within a day and resolved my issue.

PROTIP: Screenshot or save any communications about your layoff before filing. Some companies have been known to 'revise' their records after getting the claim notice.

The employer notification process is pretty standard. They get the notice, they can respond or not, and if there's a dispute it goes to adjudication. Most legitimate layoffs go through without contest.

Your boss sounds like they're trying to scare you out of filing. Don't fall for it. File your claim and move forward with finding new employment.

One thing to remember is that even if your claim affects their UI tax rate, it's spread out over time and calculated with other factors. It's not like they get hit with a massive bill immediately.

Has anyone had experience with employers trying to offer severance to avoid UI claims? My friend's company offered her two weeks pay if she wouldn't file.

The Washington ESD website has a whole section explaining employer responsibilities and the claim process. Might be worth showing your boss if they're really concerned about understanding the process.

File your claim ASAP! There's a waiting period and delays in processing, so the sooner you start the process the better. Don't let your employer's concerns delay your financial security.

Just to close the loop on this - employers deal with UI claims all the time. It's a normal part of business operations. Your boss is either inexperienced or trying to manipulate you.