Employer Newsletter - April 2022 | Issue 19

WA Cares Fund: The latest guidance from ESD

Earlier this year, newly passed legislation delayed the implementation of WA Cares and improved the benefit for Washingtonians. Stay up to date on the latest information from WA Cares by visiting the employer page on our website. 

Here’s the latest WA Cares guidance from ESD: 

  • Stop withholding WA Cares premiums from employee earnings.

  • Reimburse employees for withheld WA Cares premiums as soon as possible. All premiums must be refunded to employees within 120 days.

  • Continue to maintain copies of exemption approval letters for workers who’ve provided them.

Remember, you still need to report for Paid Family & Medical Leave. For more information, check out Paid Leave’s employer toolkit. 

Paid Leave: Legislative changes and more coming this summer

New legislation that goes into effect this summer will make changes to the Paid Leave program. As we implement this bill, we’re taking the opportunity to upgrade our technology system.

Changes for benefit customers

Most of these upcoming changes will affect people applying for and using benefits. Examples include changes to the waiting week and weekly claims, as well as changes specifically for people taking leave after the birth or loss of a child.

Over the next two months, we’ll email updated information and resources you can share with your employees.

Changes for some employers

Employers with voluntary plans and those that elect coverage will also experience some changes. We’ll communicate directly with those employers over the next two months, so keep an eye out for our emails.

Finish reporting

If you haven’t reported for Quarter 1, please log in to your employer account and submit your report soon. While you are in your account, check to make sure your previous wage reports are submitted for each quarter you had payroll.

Questions? Call the Paid Leave Customer Care Team or learn more about employer reporting.

Unemployment Insurance: Watch for upcoming SOC code webinars

Keep practicing using Standard Occupational Classification codes.

Last month, we asked employers who use EAMS for Single Filers (also called EAMS 5 or new EAMS) to practice inputting  Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes when submitting quarterly tax reports.

Reporting SOC codes is currently optional, but you will be required to report them starting with your fourth quarter 2022 tax report. At that time, you could get a penalty for incorrect SOC code reporting.

What is SOC?

SOC is a federal coding system that helps government agencies and private businesses compare occupational data.

SOC resources to help you practice

Want to learn more? Attend an upcoming webinar.

If you have questions or want to learn more about using SOC codes, stay tuned. We’re working to schedule instructional webinars to help.

During these webinars, we’ll talk about:

  • What are SOC codes?

  • When are SOC codes mandatory?

  • How to look up SOC codes.

  • How to add SOC codes with keyed wage data.

  • How to add SOC codes with imported wage data.

We’ll also answer all your SOC-code questions during these webinars.

We’ll let you know when you can sign up. Watch for times and dates in the Employer Newsletter or on our SOC page on esd.wa.gov.

National HIRE Vets Medallion award program is now accepting applications

Apply by April 30, 2022

Did you know that employers of all sizes can receive an award from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for their efforts to recruit, employ, and retain America’s Veterans?

  • The HIRE Vets Medallion Program (HVMP) award highlights companies and organizations committed to hiring and retaining America’s veterans in good, family-sustaining careers

  • The HVMP award is the only federal-level veterans’ employment award that recognizes employers.

  • Award recipients will receive a certificate and digital images of the medallion for use as part of their marketing and promotional activities.

  • The application deadline is April 30, 2022.

Visit the HIREVets.gov website to learn more about the national HVMP award program, the award criteria, the application process and fees.

The HVMP program is similar to our statewide YesVets program which recognizes Washington state employers committed to hiring Veterans. We encourage YesVets employers to apply for the national HVMP award and vice versa, Washington state HVMP winners are encouraged to sign up for the no-cost YesVets initiative.

For more information about both the HVMP and YesVets programs, email Hannah Schoepp.

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CHA Washington