Employer Advocacy Program (EAP)

The DC Chamber of Commerce operates the Employer Advocacy Program (EAP).  EAP’s purpose is to represent employers contesting DC unemployment compensation claims.  The District government funds the program, and employers from any state can be represented by EAP attorneys free of charge.  The EAP is staffed by two DC-barred attorneys who can advise you on the process and your rights.  These attorneys can assist employers from the initial stages of a claim through an appeal at the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).

EAP advises and represents employers challenging unemployment compensation claims brought by former employees.  EAP only works on DC unemployment compensation matters, but it does represent employers outside the District.  How is this possible?  Generally, a former employee (claimant) can bring an unemployment claim in either the jurisdiction where (s)he resides or the jurisdiction where (s)he works.  Therefore, EAP sees many cases where, for example, the claimant works for a company located in Virginia, but the claimant lives in DC and files for unemployment in DC.  

EAP also hosts four seminars per year for employers.  The topics for each seminar concern business or employment law.  These seminars are free as well.

EAP is a tremendous value:

• It is free of charge to the employer.  There is no retainer, no legal bills whatsoever... ever.
• Every time a claimant wins, the employer’s unemployment insurance rate goes up.  EAP keeps your taxes down and saves your business money.  Employment claims can cost anywhere from a couple hundred to tens of thousands of dollars per year, and there is no benefit to the business.
• We do this every day.  We know the OAH forum, and have a strong record.
• Since we can take the documents relating to the separation from employment and file your documents for the hearing, your business’ HR personnel can work on other tasks.
• Unemployment hearings are like “mini-trials,” and the EAP attorneys handle these matters on a very regular basis.