TWC Appeal Hearing on Tuesday - What to expect & how to prepare?

I went through an appeal hearing last month! First, definitely have ALL your documentation ready - resignation letter, emails about schedule changes, any written warnings or performance reviews, text messages about schedule conflicts. Organize them chronologically and have multiple copies. Even though it's by phone, I treated it like a real hearing - sat at my desk in a quiet room and had water ready. The hearing officer will swear everyone in, explain the process, and then your employer will likely speak first since they have the burden of proof for misconduct. Take notes during their testimony! You'll get a chance to ask them questions before you give your side. Be factual, concise, and ONLY answer what's asked - don't volunteer extra information. Stay calm and professional no matter what your employer says. The hearing officers are looking for facts, not emotions. Good luck!

BEWARE - these hearings are NOT as simple as TWC makes them sound!!! I lost my appeal because I wasn't prepared enough. The employer had their HR person AND a lawyer, while I was alone and got flustered. They twist EVERYTHING you say and interrupted me constantly. The hearing officer didn't stop them either! Make sure you write out EXACTLY what happened with DATES and stick to your story. Practice what you'll say beforehand. And DON'T trust that the hearing officer will be fair - some of them seem to side with employers no matter what. If I could do it over, I would've gotten someone to help me prepare or even found a lawyer. Good luck, the system is BROKEN!

Having helped several clients prepare for TWC appeals, here's my practical advice: 1. Call the TWC Appeal Tribunal at 512-463-2699 a day before to confirm your hearing and check if both parties will be present 2. Prepare a 2-3 minute opening statement focusing on key facts: why you resigned (schedule changes affecting childcare), the proper notice you gave, and any previous attempts to resolve the issue before resigning 3. For voluntary resignation cases, TWC typically looks for evidence that: a) you had good cause connected with the work to leave, and b) you made reasonable attempts to resolve the problem before quitting 4. Have a timeline document with all schedule changes and how they impacted your childcare arrangements 5. If you have any witnesses who can testify about your situation, make sure they're available during the hearing time 6. Take notes throughout the hearing - if you appeal to the Commission (next level), these notes will be crucial Most importantly, stick to relevant facts. Many appeals are lost because claimants go off-topic or get emotional.

wait do u have a lawyer? my cousin had 2 get 1 for his appeal bc the employer had legal team

After dealing with TWC for months, I found the best way to prepare for your appeal is to print out the TWC Appeals Policy Manual (you can find it on their website) and review the sections about voluntary resignation and good cause. There's actually specific language about schedule changes being good cause if they interfere with childcare! Also, I tried calling TWC for days before my hearing to ask questions and NEVER got through. After getting desperate, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually get connected to a TWC agent within 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh That made a huge difference because I was able to ask specific questions about my appeal and felt way more prepared. Honestly worth it for the peace of mind.

good luck on ur hearing!! i had mine back in march and i was so nervous i threw up that morning lol. just remember to breathe and be honest

One tip nobody mentioned yet - RECORD THE HEARING if Texas is a one-party consent state (I think it is). You can use your phone or computer to record in case you need to appeal further. Also, make sure to clearly explain how your employer's actions would have affected your children - hearing officers are human and understand childcare struggles. I had my hearing in November and thought I was super prepared, but forgot to mention some key details because I got nervous. Write yourself a checklist of important points and check them off as you cover them during the hearing. Also, did your employer ever formally acknowledge receiving your resignation notice? That could be important to establish you didn't just quit without notice.

I went thru a hearing in February totally different situation but just wanted to say BE ON TIME for the call. My old boss was 10 mins late and the hearing officer was NOT happy with him. Started things off badly for them lol