Colorado Unemployment Law Representation You Can Trust

With more than 20 years of experience in unemployment law, including 16 years as a Colorado Department of Labor & Employment Hearing Officer, Jonathan Greschler offers unparalleled knowledge, honest advice, and strong representation for employees and employers alike.

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About Me

I’m Jonathan Greschler, a licensed Colorado attorney with over two decades of experience in Colorado unemployment law.

For 16 years, I served as a Hearing Officer at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), presiding over thousands of unemployment hearings and later promoted to Senior Hearing Officer, where I trained and supervised other hearing officers.

Beyond government service, I’ve represented former employees through a legal services organization in Denver, and I’ve counseled and represented employers as corporate counsel for an unemployment outsourcing firm.

This unique combination of experience, on both sides of the unemployment process, means I have an understanding of how hearing officers think and how former employees and employers can prepare to best present their case.

Our Services

I represent both employees and employers in all unemployment-related matters, including:

Employee Representation

I help former employees secure the unemployment benefits they deserve by guiding them through claims, appeals, and hearings with strong, experience-based advocacy.

Employer Representation

I work with employers to respond to claims, challenge improper filings, and handle audits efficiently, protecting both compliance and business interests.

Unemployment Hearings

With 16 years as a former CDLE Hearing Officer, I know how hearings work. I’ll prepare your case, develop a strategy, and represent you from start to finish.

Appeals Before the Industrial Claims Appeals Office

If you disagree with a hearing decision, I handle appeals with precise arguments and filings to ensure your case is fully considered at the next level.

Independent Contractor Disputes

Colorado applies a complex test for contractor status. I provide skilled representation to clarify disputes and protect your rights or business.

Training & Educational Presentations

I offer customized in-person presentations to help organizations understand unemployment law, improve compliance, and prevent costly disputes.

Client Meetings and Hearings

All client consultations, case evaluations, strategic planning sessions, and hearing preparations are conducted over the phone for convenience. In-person educational presentations can be arranged at your location.

Almost all CDLE unemployment hearings are conducted by phone as well, making the process more efficient for clients across Colorado.

Our Fee Structure

Initial Consultation | $250

In my experience, in most cases before the Colorado Department of Labor do not involve attorneys, with over 80% of the parties representing themselves. If you have questions, I offer affordable meaningful guidance through an initial consultation. This fee is credited toward the overall cost if you choose to retain the firm. It includes up to a 60-minute phone interview with Jonathan Greschler, during which you’ll receive an honest assessment of your case’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as general advice on next steps, all based on extensive experience in Colorado unemployment law. Yes, you may choose to have an initial consultation at any time: Before filing for unemployment, after being notified a former employee has filed for unemployment and before answering, after reading the information provided by the former employee or employer, after receiving the initial decision granting or denying benefits and before filing an appeal hearing request, after the appeal hearing has been requested and before the hearing, after the hearing officer decision has been entered. An earlier consultation may help to ensure the strength of your case though an experienced opinion can be of value at any point.

Full Representation | $750*

Full Unemployment Appeal Hearing Representation for job separations and all other non-independent contractor decisions ($500.00; $750.00 with $250.00 initial consultation credit applied): This flat fee covers preparation and submission of documents, developing legal strategy, requesting subpoenas, pre-hearing interviews of available and necessary witnesses and If the client desires case preparation will include a phone-based hearing simulation that often helps by reducing the ‘unknown’ factor. *Up to two hours of hearing time are included, regardless of the number of hearing dates (an average hearing takes place on one day and lasts about 40 minutes). Additional time beyond two hours is billed at $180.00 per hour in 15-minute increments.

Appeal to Industrial Claims Appeals Office | $300/$500

Flat fee of $300.00 if this firm represented you in the hearing being appealed, or $500.00 if not. This fee covers filing an appeal of a hearing officer’s decision on job separation or non-independent contractor-related matters with the Industrial Claims Appeals Office. If you paid an initial consultation fee that has not yet been credited to other services, it will be applied to this fee. The cost of the recording or transcript of the hearing being appealed is not included in this flat fee and is a necessary client expense.

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Why are independent contractor-related cases different?

Colorado uses a totality of the circumstances test to determine of an individual or group of individuals are free from control and direction and separately customarily engaged in the occupation as an independent trade.

There are nine listed factors specifically to be considered in the statutes. However, literally anything relevant can be considered. It is entirely possible that a person is an independent contractor for the IRS and an employee for unemployment eligibility cases in Colorado. Representation in these matters takes more time and resources depending upon the level of complexity of the case.

Why Choose Us?

Experience based knowledge of Colorado unemployment law as a retired hearing officer who has also represented both former employees and employers as their attorney in front of a hearing officer.

Every client has the option to participate in a simulated hearing by phone before the official hearing to help them prepare.

All legal services are available by phone and email, allowing you to get timely help without the need for in-person meetings.

If you’re a former employee or employer dealing with an unemployment issue, use the Book a Consult button below to schedule an initial consultation and learn how we can help.

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Colorado Unemployment Benefits:

Essential Information & Common Misconceptions

To qualify, individuals must have lost their job through no fault of their own. What “fault” may mean in each specific situation is different. A separation occurring because of a quit or a termination alone do not define if there is or is not fault.

Applicants need to have earned at least $2,500 during the base period and must be actively seeking and available for work.

Applicants must be both physically and mentally able to work and ready to accept suitable job offers.
Applications are submitted electronically through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) https://cdle.colorado.gov/unemployment/filea-claim

After applying, you must register with a workforce center or on Connecting Colorado within a week to maintain eligibility.
Beneficiaries must regularly complete work search activities—typically between three and five per week—and keep a log of these efforts as required.

Individuals should submit payment requests weekly while unemployed or working less than 32 hours per week, reporting all work performed and gross wages, including part-time employment. Payment requests may be filed up to 14 days before the claim is subject to closure.

If an individual’s claim for benefits is denied, they will want to keep filing weekly claims during the appeal. Not doing this will put benefits at risk for those weeks if the appeal succeeds.

Staying ready and available to accept suitable work immediately is required for each week a request for benefits to be paid is submitted.
Weekly benefits are generally about 55% of your average weekly wage, from a minimum of $25.00 a week up to the current state maximum $844/week.

Benefits can be received for up to 26 weeks in a 52-week benefit year, with a one-week waiting period before payments begin for claims filed before July 6, 2025. For claims filed after July 6th, 2025, there is currently no waiting week.
Voluntarily quitting without good cause or being terminated for misconduct can disqualify individuals from receiving benefits. ‘Good cause’ and ‘misconduct’ are situation specific.

It is essential to provide truthful information; fraud or misstatements may lead to penalties and repayment obligations.
Applicants who are initially denied benefits or Employers who wish to protest the initial award of benefits must appeal within 20 days, leading to a formal hearing (almost always by phone) where they can present evidence and arguments. Do not wait to file an appeal beyond the 20 days to consult an attorney or for any other reason. The appeal can be modified later when timely filed.
In state Employers are required to monitor their My UI Employer account for notice of unemployment claims and timely provide separation information. Out of state employers, without Colorado unemployment accounts, are required to respond timely to Colorado when notified of a claim. Do not wait to consult an attorney or for any other reason to provide timely information as a late response may impact both consideration of the information by Colorado unemployment and are noted by Colorado as a non-compliance which may result in unwanted consequences in the future.

Employees must ensure their information in the system is always current and accurate .
First try reaching out by phone to the Colorado Department of Labor. While calling multiple times to get into a que and then wait on hold is at best difficult, there are times the issue can be moved forward or resolved by a call, sometimes follow-up calls, and a lot of patience.

If this does not help, an option that may help is reaching out to you Colorado State House Member and politely requesting their help. I suggest your State House Representative because they represent fewer voters then your State Senator or the Governor. This link will take you to a Find my Legislator page. https://leg.colorado.gov/ FindMyLegislator

I do not have a ‘back door’ or any other way to make this process faster.
Unemployment benefits are considered taxable income at both the state and federal level.

Recipients are required to demonstrate legal presence and authorization to work in the United States.

Myths About Colorado Unemployment Eligibility.

It is important to address frequent misunderstandings about Colorado unemployment eligibility to avoid confusion and denials:

Myth: Only people who are laid off qualify for benefits.
Fact: Layoffs are common qualifiers, but eligibility may also arise if someone is fired without misconduct, resigns for a “good cause” (like unsafe conditions, health or domestic violence), or loses work for other reasons not their fault.
Myth: Because Colorado is an employment ‘at will’ state being fired does not allow for unemployment benefits.
Fact: Unemployment benefits are awarded or denied based on the reason for job separation. ‘At will’ employment relates to the potential for a separate civil lawsuit related to a separation, not filing a claim for unemployment benefits.
Myth: If you’re fired for any reason, you are disqualified.
Fact: Generally, terminations due to a volitional act, requiring some choice (such as theft or a knowing rule violation) lead to disqualification. Being let go for performance issues, attendance or unfairly may still allow benefits.
Myth: You cannot receive benefits if you work part-time or hold a side job.
Fact: Partial benefits are allowed if you work fewer than 32 hours a week and earn less than your weekly benefit amount. Earnings up to half your benefit do not reduce payments; above that, payments are adjusted. Generally, self-employment is treated as working more than 32 hours a week because the self-employed choose how many hours they work.

Myth: Only employees (W-2) qualify—not independent contractors or gig workers.
Fact: Generally, only W-2 employees are eligible. However, there are many times an independent contractor or potentially a gig worker is classified as an employee under Colorado unemployment law, even if they are an independent contractor for federal tax purposes. This may be the case even if the employer and individual agreed at hire that they were an independent contractor.
Myth: Employees pay into unemployment, so unemployment benefits are a right.
Fact: In Colorado, only employers pay unemployment insurance taxes.
Myth: You can wait to register with workforce services after filing.
Fact: Registration with Connecting Colorado or a workforce center must occur within a week or you risk losing eligibility.
Myth: You can pause your job search or skip submitting documentation.
Fact: Ongoing requirements—actively searching for work, being available, and accurately reporting all earnings—must be met for each week in which benefits are claimed, or you risk audits, repayment, or fraud penalties.
Myth: Only your most recent job matters for eligibility.
Fact: In Colorado the state reviews all employment separations during the base period and will consider multiple jobs for qualification and disqualification factors.