(4-20-2026) - Alaska Receives SIDES Unemployment Integrity Dedication Award

Alaska Receives SIDES Unemployment Integrity Dedication Award

April 20, 2026
No. 26-7

JUNEAU, Alaska - The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program received the Gold Award from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) during the UI State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) Seminar in Denver, Colorado held on April 16, 2026. The Gold Award was given to Alaska for being connected with 100% of SIDES integrated partners. An integrated partner is a company or organization whose internal software is directly connected to SIDES via a system integration, allowing automatic data exchange instead of manual entry.

"SIDES is a great tool for Alaskan businesses to streamline the management of unemployment insurance responsibilities, said DOLWD Commissioner Catherine Muoz. If possible, business owners should consider becoming an integrated partner."

SIDES and SIDES E-Response are web-based programs developed through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and state UI agencies to simplify and streamline requests and responses for UI information. SIDES and SIDES E-response use a nationally standardized, electronic format to process UI information exchanges. Both options offer employers and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) a free, time-reducing, secure option instead of filling out paper forms.

SIDES and SIDES E-Response will:

• Reduce paperwork and administrative costs
• Ensure secure and accurate information exchanges
• Eliminate postage fees
• Minimize UI rates
• Reduce overpayments and appeals

If you are an employer who would like to sign up for SIDES, email us at [email protected] and provide the following information:

• Your business name and FEIN
• Contact name & phone number
• The email address where you would like the information requests sent

For additional information about SIDES, please visit https://labor.alaska.gov/estax/SIDES.htm.

###