Why do employers fight Washington ESD unemployment claims - what's their deal?

Employers pay unemployment taxes based on their experience rating - basically how many former employees have collected benefits. The more claims against them, the higher their tax rate goes up. So they contest claims to keep their rates low, even if it means screwing over people who genuinely need help.

Unfortunately this happens all the time with Washington ESD claims. Employers will contest even legitimate layoffs because it's cheaper for them to fight it than pay higher unemployment taxes. The good news is that if you were truly laid off through no fault of your own, you should win the adjudication process.

I had the exact same situation happen to me earlier this year. My employer contested my claim even though they eliminated my entire department. I couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks until someone told me about this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Game changer for getting through to someone who can explain what's happening with your claim.

Employers contest claims because they're cheap and greedy. Period. They'd rather spend money on lawyers than support people they laid off. It's disgusting how the system works.

The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD will look at the facts of your separation. If you were laid off due to lack of work or company restructuring, that's typically approved even if the employer contests it. Make sure you document everything about your layoff.

same thing happened to my brother, his company contested even though they closed his whole location. took forever but he eventually got approved and got back pay for all the weeks he waited

Another factor is that some employers genuinely don't understand the unemployment system. They think contesting every claim protects them legally, when really they should only contest claims where there was misconduct or voluntary quitting.

I'm dealing with a contested claim too. Been trying to reach Washington ESD for over a month with no success. The automated system just hangs up on you after being on hold forever.

The unemployment tax system needs major reform. Employers shouldn't be incentivized to fight legitimate claims just to save money on taxes.

Quick tip - make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even during adjudication. If you win your case, you'll get back pay for all those weeks, but only if you filed the claims.

I worked in HR for years and saw this from the employer side. Companies get scared about their unemployment tax rates going up, especially smaller businesses. They often contest claims reflexively without really evaluating if they have a case.

Has anyone actually gotten through to Washington ESD recently? I've been trying for weeks and the phone system seems completely broken.

For those waiting on adjudication decisions, Washington ESD typically sends a written determination once they make a decision. The employer and employee both get copies, and either party can appeal if they disagree with the decision.

The whole system is a joke. Employers pay pennies into unemployment insurance then fight tooth and nail to avoid paying out benefits. Meanwhile workers who paid into the system their whole careers get treated like criminals.

I won my contested claim last year after my employer tried to say I was fired for attendance when I was actually laid off. The key was having documentation of the layoff conversation and email notifications about workforce reductions.

Pro tip: if you do get through to Washington ESD, ask them specifically what information they need for your adjudication case. Sometimes they're waiting on specific documentation that you could provide to speed things up.

employers contest claims because the unemployment system lets them. there should be penalties for frivolous contests but there arent

Keep your chin up OP. I know it's stressful waiting for the adjudication decision, but if you were legitimately laid off, you should win your case. The system is slow but it generally works correctly in the end.

I used to work for an employment law firm and saw this constantly. Employers contest claims even when they know they'll lose because the delay saves them money in the short term. It's a calculated business decision that unfortunately hurts workers.

Update on my situation - I finally got through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. The agent explained exactly where my case stands in the adjudication process and what to expect next. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck like I was.