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

Hey Natasha! I just went through a TWC appeal hearing last week for a similar situation - I had to resign because my employer kept changing my work location with no notice, making it impossible to arrange childcare. Here's what really helped me: 1. Have your phone fully charged and use a landline if possible - cell service can be spotty during long calls 2. Write out a timeline of ALL the schedule changes with specific dates and how each one affected your childcare 3. Practice explaining your situation in 2-3 sentences max - they'll ask you to be brief 4. Have copies of your company handbook/policy about schedule changes and resignation notice requirements 5. If you have any texts or emails from coworkers about the schedule chaos, include those too The hearing officer asked me directly "Did you try to work with your employer to resolve this before resigning?" so be ready with specific examples of how you tried to address the scheduling issues. I mentioned every conversation I had with my supervisor about needing consistent schedules. One more thing - don't let them rush you! If you need a moment to find a document or collect your thoughts, just say "May I have a moment to locate that document?" They're required to give you reasonable time. You've got this! The fact that you resigned properly with notice and have a legitimate childcare conflict puts you in a good position. Update us after Tuesday!

I just had my TWC appeal hearing last month and wanted to share a few things that really made a difference for me. First, make sure you have a quiet space where you won't be interrupted - I made the mistake of taking the call from my kitchen and had to apologize for background noise several times. The hearing officer will ask you to state your case, so prepare a clear, factual summary: "I resigned from my position with proper two weeks notice because my employer repeatedly changed my work schedule with little to no advance notice, making it impossible to arrange reliable childcare for my children. Despite multiple attempts to discuss this issue with my supervisor and request more consistent scheduling, the problem continued." Also, if you have any documentation showing you tried to resolve the scheduling conflicts before resigning (emails, text messages, etc.), make sure to mention those specifically. The hearing officer asked me directly about what steps I took to address the issue before leaving. One last tip - write down key phrases you want to use and keep them in front of you. When you're nervous, it's easy to forget important details or stumble over words. Having your main points written down helps you stay focused and confident. You're going to do great! The combination of proper notice + legitimate childcare conflicts + documented attempts to resolve the issue should work in your favor. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I went through a TWC appeal hearing about 6 months ago and won! Here's what I wish I had known beforehand: 1. **Test your phone connection** - Call the TWC number from the phone you'll use for the hearing a day or two before to make sure you can get through clearly. I had issues with my cell phone cutting out. 2. **Have water and tissues nearby** - Sounds silly but talking for 45+ minutes straight can make your throat dry, and if you get emotional (which is totally normal), you'll want tissues handy. 3. **Don't interrupt** - Even if your employer says something completely false, write it down and wait for your turn to respond. The hearing officer will give you a chance to address their claims. 4. **Use the phrase "good cause connected with the work"** - This is the legal standard TWC uses for voluntary resignations. When you explain your situation, specifically say that the schedule changes gave you "good cause connected with the work" to resign. 5. **If they claim misconduct, make them prove it** - Since your employer is claiming you were terminated for misconduct, they have the burden of proof. Ask them for specific dates, witnesses, and documentation of the alleged misconduct. The fact that you have documentation of your resignation and the childcare conflicts puts you in a strong position. Stay calm and stick to the facts - you've got this! Looking forward to hearing your good news on Tuesday!

I've been through two TWC appeal hearings - one I lost and one I won - so I learned a lot from my mistakes! Here are some practical tips that really made the difference: **Before the hearing:** - Set up in a quiet room with good lighting (even though it's phone-only, sitting professionally helps your mindset) - Have all documents printed and organized in chronological order with sticky tabs - Write a one-page "cheat sheet" with your key points and the specific dates of schedule changes - Practice your opening statement out loud until it's under 2 minutes **During the hearing:** - Speak slowly and clearly - hearing officers handle multiple calls and need to take notes - When your employer speaks, jot down anything factually incorrect to address later - If they interrupt you, politely say "I'd like to finish my response" - the hearing officer will usually back you up - End strong by summarizing: proper notice given + good cause (schedule conflicts affecting childcare) + attempts to resolve **Key phrase to use:** "The constant last-minute schedule changes created an impossible situation for my childcare arrangements, giving me good cause connected with the work to resign with proper notice." Your situation sounds very winnable - schedule changes affecting childcare are exactly the type of "good cause" TWC recognizes for voluntary resignations. Stay confident and factual. You've got this!

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me during my hearing - if your employer tries to claim you abandoned your job or didn't give notice, make sure to reference the specific date and method you used to submit your resignation. I had my employer try to twist my resignation into job abandonment during my hearing, but I was able to point to the exact email I sent with the date and my manager's response acknowledging it. Also, don't be afraid to ask the hearing officer to clarify questions if you're not sure what they're asking. They'd rather have you understand and give a good answer than guess and provide irrelevant information. One last tip - if your employer brings up any performance issues or disciplinary actions, remind the hearing officer that you resigned voluntarily and those issues weren't the reason for your departure. Keep bringing it back to the schedule changes and childcare conflicts that led to your resignation. You sound well-prepared from reading all these responses! The fact that you're taking the time to research and prepare shows you're taking this seriously, which will come across during the hearing. Wishing you the best of luck on Tuesday - we're all rooting for you!

I haven't been through a TWC appeal hearing myself, but I wanted to offer some encouragement as someone who works in HR and has seen these situations from the employer side. Your case sounds really strong - voluntary resignation with proper notice due to childcare conflicts caused by last-minute schedule changes is exactly the type of situation TWC considers "good cause connected with the work." A few additional thoughts based on what I've observed: - Make sure to emphasize that you were a reliable employee who wanted to continue working, but the employer's scheduling practices made it impossible - If you have any documentation showing other employees complained about the same scheduling issues, that could help establish it was a workplace problem, not just your personal issue - Don't let them paint you as someone who was looking for an excuse to quit - focus on how you tried to make it work but the situation became untenable The advice everyone else has given you is spot-on. You clearly did everything right by giving proper notice and trying to work with your employer first. Stay confident in your facts and remember that the hearing officer has probably heard similar cases many times. You've got this, and we're all pulling for you! Please update us after Tuesday - I have a feeling you're going to get good news!

I've been through a TWC appeal hearing and wanted to share something that really helped me stay organized during the call - create a simple document outline with headers like "Timeline of Schedule Changes," "Childcare Impact," "Attempts to Resolve," and "Resignation Documentation." Under each header, list your key points with dates. This way you can quickly find the right information when the hearing officer asks specific questions. Also, since your employer is claiming misconduct but you actually resigned, be prepared for them to potentially mischaracterize what happened. I've seen employers try to muddy the waters by bringing up unrelated issues or claiming the resignation was really a termination. Stay focused on your narrative: you were a good employee who gave proper notice because workplace scheduling made childcare impossible. One practical tip - have a glass of water and some throat lozenges nearby. These hearings can go longer than expected and you don't want your voice giving out halfway through. The hearing officer needs to hear you clearly to understand your side. You're going to do great! The fact that you have documentation of your resignation and legitimate childcare reasons gives you a solid foundation. Looking forward to your update on Tuesday - rooting for you!

I just wanted to jump in and add something that really helped me during my TWC appeal hearing last year - make sure you have a backup plan for the phone call! I had my hearing scheduled and my landline went out that morning due to a storm. Luckily I had tested my cell phone connection beforehand and had a quiet backup location ready. Also, I noticed you mentioned your employer is claiming misconduct even though you resigned. This is actually pretty common - some employers will claim misconduct hoping it sticks, but if you have your resignation email and their acknowledgment, that's solid evidence of voluntary resignation. The hearing officer will see right through their attempt to reframe the situation. One thing that really helped me was writing down 3-4 bullet points about why the schedule changes were unreasonable and how they affected your childcare. For example: "March 15th - notified at 4pm that my shift changed from 9-5 to 2-10 the next day, making it impossible to pick up my child from daycare" - specific dates and impacts like that really resonate with hearing officers. You sound incredibly well-prepared after reading through all this advice! The combination of proper resignation notice + documented childcare conflicts + attempts to resolve the issue first is exactly what TWC looks for in good cause cases. Sending you positive vibes for Tuesday - can't wait to hear your success story!