Economic News

Developed through a strategic partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) and state unemployment insurance (UI) agencies, the State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) and SIDES E-Response offer employers and third-party administrators (TPAs) –free of charge – a secure, electronic and nationally-standardized format to better anticipate and supply the data needed for responding to UI information requests, reduce follow-up phone calls and streamline UI response processes.

SIDES E-Response is a website that provides an easy and efficient way to respond to UI information requests from state UI agencies. SIDES is a more automated data-exchange interface between employers’ IT systems and SIDES. It is designed for employers and TPAs that typically deal with a large volume of UI information requests and is especially helpful to those employers and TPAs that operate in multiple states.

SIDES and SIDES E-Response are available free of charge to every employer and TPA in any state implementing the SIDES and SIDES E-Response systems. As of September 30, 2012, 42 states will be using SIDES and SIDES E-Response. To find out if your state is participating, please visit http://info.uisides.org

Currently, UI information related to job separation is exchanged through SIDES and SIDES E-Response. Other exchanges, including earnings verification and monetary and potential charges will be available soon.

SIDES and SIDES E-Response give employers and TPAs an electronic way to simplify and streamline responses to UI information requests, saving time and money by:

• Eliminating delays related to paper mail delivery and allowing more time to gather information and respond timely.
• Ensuring more complete information is provided through standard edits, validations and business rules, reducing time-consuming follow up phone calls.
• Reducing paper handling, staff time and postage costs.

As a result, improper payments are prevented, and UI tax rates are kept as low as possible.

SIDES and SIDES E-Response were developed through a strategic partnership between the USDOL and state UI agencies to improve the UI information exchange process, reduce instances of improper UI payments and save employers and TPAs time and money.

SIDES and SIDES E-Response are administered by participating state UI agencies.

Employers and TPAs will need to assess the cost of integrating their IT system with SIDES. The cost will depend on an employer’s or TPA’s existing system design. SIDES was developed using World Wide Web open design and follows industry standards.