Refusing job offers

Workers must have "good cause" for turning down a job offer while claiming unemployment benefits. Employers can report when claimants refuse job offers.

Workers

You need to report on your weekly claim if you turn down a job offer for any reason.

When you report that you have refused a job offer, we will send you a questionnaire by mail or eServices. Examples of the questions on the questionnaire include:

  • Who offered the job? What is their contact information?
  • When was the job offer made?
  • How was the job offer made? (by phone, email or a letter)
  • Did you qualify for the type of work offered?
  • Why did you refuse the job offer?

We also will contact the employer who made the job offer.

Continue to file weekly claims while we review the job offer information you and the employer provide.  

We will send you a letter to let you know if we determined you had good cause to turn down the job. If you did not have good cause, you will need to repay benefits you got while we were completing this review. Learn more about overpayments.

Suitable work

Suitable work means the job is in line with your training, work experience, education, health, safety and morals. We consider:

  • Do you have the experience to perform the work?
  • Other than on-the-job training, do you need more training or education to do the work?
  • Have you done this type of work before?
  • What risk does the job pose to your health, safety and morals?

Unsafe worksites

If you refuse a job offer because you are concerned about safety, we will assess the workplace. We will consider information from you, the employer, and state and federal safety rules.

Washington employers need to maintain safe workplaces. They need to follow guidance from all of the following:

Work is not suitable if the employer is unwilling or unable to provide a safe workplace.

Not '"good cause" for turning down a suitable job

  • You make more on unemployment than you would at the job offered.
  • You do not want to work.
  • You are nervous about returning to work, but do not have another acceptable reason to refuse.
  • You do not like the job, even though it is suitable.
  • You want to change careers.
  • You are in school.
  • You are returning to a previous job, but do not know when.
  • You are waiting for a different employer to offer you a job.

Not reporting a job offer while you file for benefits is fraud

If you get a job offer and do not report it, we consider that fraud. You will need to pay back the overpayment. Learn more about overpayment calculation for fraud.

Employers

When you make job offers, you need to explain all of the following:

  • Pay.
  • Hours.
  • Start date.
  • Schedule.
  • Location.
  • Any other details that apply.

Job offers to former employees

The working conditions, wages and hours you offer need to be similar to what you offered before. 

Unsafe worksites

If a claimant refuses a job offer because of safety concerns, we will assess the workplace. We will consider information from you, the claimant, and state and federal safety rules.

Washington employers need to maintain safe workplaces. They need to follow guidance from all of the following:

Work is not suitable if the employer is unwilling or unable to provide a safe workplace.

When an unemployment claimant refuses your job offer

We will contact you if you or the claimant reports to us that they refused a job offer. You can use eServices to report a work refusal.

We will ask you to provide:

  • Name and Social Security number of the claimant.
  • Date of job offer.
  • Who made the job offer and their title.
  • Details of the job offer: position, location, wages, hours, etc.
  • How you offered the job: phone, email, text, etc.
  • Your business contact information.
  • The claimant's response.

It is best if you can provide a written job offer with a clear start date and full job description.

Workers and employers can appeal our decision 

You can file an appeal if you disagree with our decision. Examples of decisions you can appeal include:

  • Whether a claimant had good cause to refuse a job offer.
  • Whether the job offer was suitable.
  • Whether a claim is fraudulent.

Learn more about how to appeal a decision.