At least in California, businesses pay rates that are partially determined by the number of UI claims the company has paid out. You get a letter-based score that has many different tiers.

Startups without a long history end up in the worst category be default, iirc.

random from google: https://www.patriotsoftware.com/blog/payroll/handling-unempl...

>Again, you are responsible for paying FUTA and SUTA tax for your employees. And when former employees file for unemployment benefits, you are (indirectly) the one footing the bill.

>Benefit payments are charged to your employer tax account, which results in increased state tax rates. The more unemployment claims the state approves, the more you contribute for unemployment taxes.