PA UC claim being contested - employer falsely claiming childcare issues as termination reason

Your employer is trying to make it look like you were fired for cause to avoid their UC tax rate increasing. This is actually pretty common. What matters now is your response to the fact finding questionnaire. Did you clearly explain the real reason for separation and that childcare was never mentioned as an issue during your employment?

omg thats so messed up!! my old boss tried something similar saying i was "always late" when he literally never mentioned it once when i worked there. some employers will say ANYTHING to avoid paying unemployment

This is a common tactic, unfortunately. Here's what you need to do: 1. Gather any documentation showing the real reason for separation (emails, texts, separation letter) 2. Collect performance reviews showing no issues with attendance/childcare 3. If you have coworkers who were also laid off at the same time, note their names 4. Document any company announcements about downsizing/financial issues The UC examiner will schedule a fact-finding interview. Be prepared to clearly explain that childcare was never an issue and the employer never documented any problems. Stay calm and stick to facts. If your claim is denied, immediately file an appeal - you'll have 15 days to do so.

One thing to know is that PA unemployment actually puts the burden of proof on the employer in these cases. They can't just make claims without evidence. If they never documented these supposed childcare problems or gave you warnings, they'll have a hard time proving their case. I went through something similar and won my appeal.

If ur struggling to reach PA UC to discuss this (which is likely), try using Claimyr to get through to an agent quickly. I was in a similar situation with a lying employer and needed to talk to someone ASAP. Used claimyr.com and got through in under 15 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Being able to talk directly to an agent made all the difference in my case.

when is ur fact finding interview scheduled for??? make sure u dont miss it or theyll auto-deny ur claim. that happened to my cousin last year and it was a huge hassle to fix

Since you have the separation letter mentioning position elimination and restructuring, you're in a strong position. That document directly contradicts their new claim about childcare issues. Make sure to mention this during your fact-finding interview and be prepared to submit a copy if they haven't received it yet. Also, in Pennsylvania, the job search requirements continue even while your claim is in dispute. Make sure you're completing your work search activities and documenting them each week.

This happened to my sister too!!! her boss said she was fired for attendance but it was actully because the company was moving to a different state!!! some employers are such LIARS when it comes to unemployment!!

Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you have the documentation needed to counter their false claims. Having that separation letter that specifically mentions "position elimination due to departmental restructuring" is extremely valuable evidence. Make sure to have it ready during your fact-finding interview. One important thing to remember during your interview: stick to the facts and avoid expressing anger about your former employer's false claims, even though it's justifiable. UC examiners respond better to calm, factual responses. When they ask about the childcare allegation, simply state that it was never mentioned during your employment, you had no attendance issues related to childcare, and point to your separation letter as evidence of the true reason for termination.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's infuriating when employers flat out lie to avoid paying into the UC system. The good news is you have that separation letter explicitly stating "position elimination due to departmental restructuring" which completely contradicts their childcare claim. A few additional tips for your Tuesday interview: - Have all your documents organized and ready (separation letter, performance reviews, attendance records) - If asked about your childcare arrangements, briefly explain they were stable and never interfered with work - Mention the other employees who were laid off around the same time - this supports the restructuring narrative - Keep detailed notes during the interview in case you need them for an appeal You've got solid evidence on your side. Employers who make false claims often can't back them up with actual documentation when pressed by UC examiners. Stay confident and factual - you've got this!