National SIDES Employer E-Response Modernized Bookmark and Share

March 24, 2022

For Immediate Release: March 24, 2022

National SIDES Employer E-Response Modernized

The State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) E-Response is a free website where employers can quickly, accurately, and securely submit responses to unemployment insurance claims directly to the Maine Dept. of Labor.

Maine - The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) announced the launch of a modernized State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) E-Response platform to provide employers with an easier and more thorough experience.

SIDES is a quick, accurate and secure way to automate responses to unemployment insurance claim notices from state workforce agencies and is currently operating in 47 states, including Maine, as well as the District of Columbia and two territories. SIDES E-Response is a free website where employers and their representatives can quickly, accurately, and securely submit responses to unemployment insurance (UI) claims directly to state unemployment agencies. Maine has used SIDES E-response since 2013.

"SIDES E-Response has been a great asset to both employers and state unemployment insurance programs, giving them a way to communicate in a simple and timely way," said Laura Boyett, Director of the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation. "This modernization will make the process even more streamlined for employers by reducing the need for follow-up information requests, further protect against potential fraud, and help ensure that eligible claimants are paid accurately and quickly."

The new system, which debuted on March 23, has several modifications to help employers provide higher-quality responses to unemployment insurance requests which include:

  • Fraud indicators alerting state workforce agencies that immediate action is needed
  • New process to collect employment details from temporary staffing agencies
  • Gathering better up-front information on employee separation to reduce follow-up time
  • The ability to upload supporting information pertaining to human resource documentation

"Over 4,700 employers in Maine currently use SIDES E-Response to quickly and easily respond to unemployment insurance separation requests and inquiries. This new update will make the process even simpler for employers," said Peter Gore, Executive Vice President of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. "I recommend that employers who have not yet signed up to receive and respond to their correspondence from the Bureau of Unemployment Insurance electronically through SIDES do so."

"The collaboration between the state workforce agencies and employer partners to complete the enhancements should be commended," said Scott B. Sanders, NASWA President, and CEO. "The integrity of the UI system is everyone's business. We are confident these changes will assist employers in providing quality responses to state requests for information, resulting in a reduction of improper unemployment benefits."

Employer Action:

Employers currently registered to receive and respond to UI claims electronically or that utilize a vendor for processing claims do not need to take action to continue participation.

The Maine Dept. of Labor strongly recommends that employers still receiving unemployment insurance requests by paper sign up for the SIDES electronic claims system at: https://reemployme.maine.gov/accessme/faces/sides/SEWEmployerWelcome.xhtml

About UI SIDES SIDES went live, securely verifying information about UI benefit claims from employers and third-party employer representatives through a nationally standardized computer-to-computer system in February 2010. The use of SIDES has since grown steadily and is available in 47 states, the District of Columbia and two territories. In addition, the secure SIDES online information-sharing website for smaller employers now receives tens of thousands of responses on requests for information about UI benefit claims. For more information, visit the UI SIDES website.

About the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (https://www.naswa.org) NASWA is the national organization representing all 50 state workforce agencies, D.C. and U.S. territories.These agencies deliver training, employment, career, and business services, in addition to administering the unemployment insurance, veteran reemployment, and labor market information programs. NASWA provides policy expertise, shares promising state practices, and promotes state innovation and leadership in workforce development.