Got denied PA UC for 'unsatisfactory work performance' - any appeal success stories?

been there. u need to appeal ASAP, don't wait!! my boss fired me for 'poor performance' but it was rly bcuz i took medical leave and they were mad. i appealed and WON after the hearing. key thing: document EVERYTHING you can to show they changed requirements on u

I successfully appealed an unsatisfactory work performance determination last year. Here's what you need to know: 1. File your appeal immediately - don't wait until day 14 or 15 2. Gather ALL documentation showing the quota changes (emails, performance reviews, etc.) 3. Contact co-workers who might provide statements about the unreasonable quotas 4. Document any training you requested but were denied 5. The burden of proof is on the employer to show your performance issues were due to willful misconduct, not just failure to meet new expectations In my experience, many employers don't even show up to the hearing, and if they do, they're often unprepared with proper documentation. Stay calm, stick to facts, and you have a good chance.

When I got my determination letter I tried calling UC for weeks and couldn't get through. All busy signals and disconnects. I missed my appeal deadline because I was trying to ask questions first. DON'T BE ME. File that appeal right away, then try to get answers.

Something else to consider: 'unsatisfactory work performance' is generally NOT considered willful misconduct in PA unless they can prove you deliberately performed poorly or violated a known and reasonable company policy. If they simply raised standards to unreasonable levels, that should work in your favor during appeal. Be sure to emphasize any attempts you made to meet the new quotas despite their unreasonableness.

I apealed a termination for 'poor perfomance' and the UC refree asked my employer to PROVE I was given proper notice, training and opportunity to improve before firing me. They couldn't so I WON!! Make sure u ask for your personnel file too before the hearing cuz then u can see what they're gonna say about u!!!

The whole PA unemployment system is DESIGNED to deny people initially hoping you'll just give up and go away!!! My sister's friend's cousin works for UC and even admitted that to her. Don't let them win! Appeal EVERYTHING. Their own stats show over 40% of appeals get reversed in the claimant's favor. The system is broken on purpose.

When preparing for your hearing, make sure you understand the legal definition of 'willful misconduct' in PA unemployment law. It requires that the employer prove you deliberately violated their policies or acted negligently. Simply not meeting new quotas usually doesn't qualify unless they can prove you weren't trying or were being insubordinate. I recommend reviewing the PA Unemployment Compensation Board of Review precedents that specifically address performance-based terminations. Many are available online through legal research sites. Also, practice explaining your situation clearly and concisely before the hearing. The referee will appreciate a well-organized presentation of facts rather than an emotional account.

I filed my appeal for something similar online through the PA UC website and got a hearing date about 3 weeks later. Whole process took like 6 weeks from appeal to decision. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims during the appeal process! Even if they deny you now, if you win the appeal you'll get all that back pay.

Just so u know, almost NOBODY gets approved for UC first try these days so dont take it personal. PA denies everybody hoping u give up. I got denied 3 times b4 winning. System is broke. Their scare tactics worked on my friend and she never appealed and regrets it every day.

Update from my earlier comment: When you file your appeal, be very specific about why you disagree with the determination. Don't just say "I disagree" or "This is unfair" - specifically state that the performance standards were changed without proper training or resources, and cite examples with dates if possible. The more specific your appeal statement, the better impression you'll make on the referee before the hearing even begins.

u shld know the hearing might be just on the phone not in person. mine was and i was nervous but the referee was actually pretty nice. just be honest and dont let the employer lie about u. if they say something thats not true SPEAK UP right away

One more piece of advice - if you win your appeal, be prepared for the employer to possibly appeal that decision to the Board of Review. It happens frequently with larger companies that have dedicated HR departments. The good news is that if you presented good evidence at the initial hearing, the Board usually upholds the referee's decision in the claimant's favor. Just be aware it could extend the process by another 4-6 weeks.

I went through a similar situation about 8 months ago - got denied for "unsatisfactory work performance" after my company restructured and basically doubled my workload with zero additional support. The appeal process was stressful but totally worth it. Here's what helped me win: 1. I organized all my evidence chronologically - performance reviews, emails requesting help, documentation of workload changes 2. Got a statement from a coworker who witnessed the impossible expectations 3. Calculated the exact percentage increase in my responsibilities vs. any training/resources provided (spoiler: it was 0% additional support) The hearing took about 45 minutes over the phone. The referee asked really good questions about whether I was given fair opportunity to succeed under the new conditions. My former employer's HR rep couldn't provide evidence that I was deliberately underperforming - just that I wasn't hitting the new (unrealistic) targets. Won my appeal and got 8 weeks of back pay! Don't let them intimidate you - most of these denials are just their first attempt to avoid paying out. You've got documented proof they changed the game on you, which is exactly what you need. File that appeal TODAY and start gathering every piece of evidence you can find.

I successfully appealed a similar "unsatisfactory work performance" denial about 2 years ago! My employer claimed I wasn't meeting productivity standards, but they had cut our department by 30% while keeping the same workload expectations. Here's what worked for me: - Filed the appeal online the same day I got the denial letter (don't wait!) - Gathered every email showing I asked for help/training and was ignored - Calculated the math: they expected 3 people to do what 5 used to do - Found my old performance reviews showing I was "meets expectations" for 4 years straight The hearing was over the phone and lasted maybe 30 minutes. The referee basically asked my employer "Did you provide adequate training and resources for the new expectations?" They couldn't give a good answer. I won and got all my back benefits plus continued coverage. Key tip: Focus on the LACK OF SUPPORT they gave you rather than just complaining about the quotas being too high. That's what the referee cares about - whether you had a fair chance to succeed. Your documented emails asking for help will be GOLD in that hearing. You got this!

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! Got denied for "unsatisfactory work performance" when my employer suddenly changed our metrics without any warning or training. The key thing that won my appeal was proving they didn't follow progressive discipline - they went straight from "you're not meeting the new numbers" to firing me in like 2 weeks. Make sure you emphasize in your appeal that you were meeting expectations under the original system and only "failed" after they unilaterally changed the requirements. The referee will want to see if you were given a reasonable opportunity to improve under the new standards. Also, don't be intimidated by their HR department at the hearing - half the time they send someone who doesn't even know the details of your case. I had 3.5 years of good performance reviews and emails showing I requested help, and that was enough to overturn their decision. You definitely have grounds for a successful appeal with those documented emails! File it ASAP and keep your chin up - the system is designed to initially deny but appeals have a much higher success rate.

I'm in a very similar situation right now - just got denied for "unsatisfactory work performance" after my company changed our production targets by 40% overnight with zero additional support or training. Reading all these success stories is giving me hope that I can win my appeal too! Quick question for those who've been through this process - did any of you have issues with your employer trying to claim you were "insubordinate" or "refused to follow directions" in addition to the performance issues? My HR department mentioned in my termination meeting that I had "attitude problems" when I questioned the feasibility of the new quotas, and I'm worried they might try to frame it as willful misconduct rather than just performance issues. Also, for those who won their appeals - approximately how long did it take to receive your first unemployment payment after the successful appeal? I'm trying to figure out my finances while this plays out. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is incredibly helpful during such a stressful time!