What if your employer does not show to Washington ESD unemployment hearing?

If your employer doesn't show up to the hearing, you'll likely win by default. The administrative law judge will make a decision based on the information available, which would be your testimony and any documentation you provide. Make sure you still prepare thoroughly and bring all your evidence - termination letter, emails, performance reviews, etc.

I went through this exact situation last year. My employer didn't show and I won my case, but the judge still asked me detailed questions about what happened. Don't think it's going to be easy just because they might not show. Prepare like they will be there.

Honestly, trying to reach Washington ESD to get clarification on hearing procedures is nearly impossible. I spent hours on hold last month trying to get answers about my own case. If you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about your hearing, I'd recommend checking out Claimyr at claimyr.com - they have a service that helps you get through to ESD agents. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Even if they don't show up, you still need to prove your case. The burden is on you to show that you were eligible for benefits and that your termination wasn't due to misconduct. Bring copies of everything - your work schedule, any performance reviews, company policies, etc.

This happened to me and my employer still won even though they didn't show up! Turns out they had submitted written statements beforehand. Don't assume anything.

The Washington ESD hearing process is actually pretty fair if you come prepared. Even if your employer doesn't show, the judge will still want to hear your side of the story and see evidence. Don't go in unprepared thinking it's an automatic win.

I work in HR and I can tell you that most employers do show up to these hearings, especially if they're contesting the claim. They usually send their HR representative or a manager who was involved in the termination decision.

Just had my hearing last month. Employer showed up with their lawyer and everything. Still won though because I had all my documentation ready. The key is being organized and truthful.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED! I've been to three hearings and lost every single one even when I had documentation. These judges always side with the employers no matter what!!!

Quick question - do you know what time your hearing is? Mine is at 10 AM and I'm wondering if I should take the whole day off work or just the morning.

I used Claimyr when I needed to speak with Washington ESD about rescheduling my hearing. Worked great - got through to an agent in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. Really saved me a lot of stress.

Make sure you understand the difference between a misconduct termination and a layoff. If your employer is claiming misconduct, they need to prove that you willfully violated company policy or were negligent. A budget cut layoff is completely different.

Been through this process twice. First time my employer didn't show and I won easily. Second time they showed up with a whole presentation and I still won because I had better documentation. It really comes down to who has the better evidence.

wait so if they dont show up do you still have to do the hearing or does it get canceled?

I'm actually going through something similar right now. My employer is claiming I was fired for cause but I know it was really because I complained about safety violations. Has anyone dealt with wrongful termination claims during unemployment hearings?

For what it's worth, I've found that Washington ESD judges are generally pretty fair. They want to hear both sides and make a decision based on the facts. Don't stress too much about it - just be prepared and tell the truth.

One thing I learned - if your employer doesn't show up, you might get a decision that day. If they do show up, it could take several days or even weeks to get the written decision in the mail.

I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times to ask about my hearing procedures and could never get through. Finally found Claimyr and they got me connected to an agent who answered all my questions. Definitely recommend it if you need to talk to someone at ESD.

Whatever happens, don't take it personally. These hearings are just about determining eligibility for benefits based on the facts. Stay professional and focused on what actually happened.

Update us after your hearing! I'm curious to know how it goes. Good luck!