TWC appeal hearing process - will my employer be on the phone call?

Yes, typically both you and your employer will be on the same conference call during the appeal hearing. The hearing officer will lead the call, ask questions, and allow both sides to present their case. It's formal but not like a courtroom - more structured than a regular conversation though. You should prepare by: 1. Gathering any documentation that proves you didn't quit (emails, texts, performance reviews) 2. Writing down key dates and events in order 3. Making a list of points you want to make 4. Having a clear explanation of why you were forced to resign The hearing notice should include instructions on submitting evidence beforehand. Make sure you follow those exactly - there are strict deadlines.

They'll DEFINITELY be on the call lol i had my heating last year and my boss was there with their HR person AND a lawyer!! it was scary but the twc judge person kept everyone in line

I went through a TWC appeal hearing in February. Yes, your employer will be on the call, but the Appeal Hearing Officer controls the entire process. They'll explain the procedures at the start and will not allow interruptions - you'll each get your turn to speak and present evidence. Some important things to know: • The call typically lasts 30-45 minutes • Employer usually testifies first, then you • You'll be sworn in (it's under oath) • You can question the employer after they testify • They can question you after your testimony • The hearing officer will ask clarifying questions throughout • You should have all your evidence ready and numbered • Speak clearly and directly to the points in dispute • Stay calm and professional even if they say things you disagree with I was super nervous but found it more organized than I expected. The hearing officer's job is to get facts, not to intimidate anyone.

my cousin had to do this and said it was actually better having the boss on the call cuz he contradicted himself and the twc person caught it lol. just be honest and have your dates straight!

I've been trying to contact TWC for days about my upcoming appeal hearing because I have questions similar to yours, but I keep getting busy signals or disconnected. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) yesterday and got through to a TWC agent in about 20 minutes instead of calling for hours. They explained the whole appeal process to me and it was definitely worth it. Check out their video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh But to answer your question - yes, your employer will be on the call. The hearing officer runs everything and makes sure it's fair. My hearing is next week, and the agent told me to prepare a short, clear statement about why I was let go and have any evidence ready to reference during the call.

MAKE SURE YOU ACTUALLY ATTEND THE CALL!!! My sister missed her appeal call cause she thought it was at 2pm but it was actually at 9am and she automatically lost her appeal. Triple check the time and be ready 15 minutes early!!! The TWC doesn't mess around with the schedule.

To answer your follow-up question about evidence - quality over quantity is usually best. Submit the documents that directly support your case that you were forced to resign. The most effective evidence typically includes: • Written communications showing pressure to resign • Documentation of any hostile work environment • Performance reviews (if they were positive) • Company policies that were violated • Witness statements if applicable As for your other question about interruptions - no, don't interrupt. The hearing officer will give you time to respond and correct any false statements. Write down points you disagree with while the employer is speaking, then address them when it's your turn. Interrupting can make you appear unprofessional and hurt your case.

For your question about what they asked me - they mostly focused on the specific reason for separation. In my case, they asked about: 1. The final incident that led to my departure 2. Whether I received warnings 3. If I followed company procedures 4. Specific dates and times 5. Who was present during key conversations The key is they'll try to establish whether you truly had no reasonable alternative but to leave. Those emails you mentioned showing pressure to resign will be very important - make sure the hearing officer receives copies before the hearing. Based on what you've described, focus on clearly explaining why you felt forced to resign - what specifically made continuing employment impossible or unreasonable. That's the standard TWC uses for these cases.

i dont get why people make such a big deal about these hearings... i just told my side of the story when they asked and won my appeal. didnt need any fancy evidence or anything just be honest lol

i was SOOO nervous for my appeal hearing i literally threw up that morning. but honestly it wasn't as bad as i thought. the hearing officer was professional and didn't let my old boss ramble on with lies. just be prepared to explain EXACTLY why you had no choice but to resign. they're looking for specific reasons that would make any reasonable person quit.

Thank you all for the advice! I feel much better prepared now. I'm going to organize my evidence this weekend and practice explaining what happened. Those emails should help prove my case. I'll update after my hearing next month to let everyone know how it went.

Good luck with your hearing! Just wanted to add one more tip - make sure you have a quiet, private space for the call with good phone reception. I learned this the hard way when my neighbor started mowing their lawn right in the middle of my testimony and I had to ask the hearing officer to repeat questions multiple times. Also, keep a glass of water nearby because talking for 30-45 minutes straight can make your throat dry, especially when you're nervous. You've got this!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - forced resignation and then had to appeal when they denied my benefits. Yes, your employer will definitely be on the call, but honestly it worked out in my favor because they kept changing their story and the hearing officer noticed the inconsistencies. A few things that really helped me: • I recorded myself practicing my testimony beforehand so I could hear how I sounded • I made a timeline with exact dates and printed it out to reference during the call • I submitted my evidence 3 days early (don't wait until the last minute) • I treated it like a professional meeting - spoke slowly and clearly The whole process took about 40 minutes and I got my decision letter approving benefits about a week later. Those emails you mentioned about your boss pressuring you to resign are going to be crucial - that's exactly the kind of evidence that shows constructive discharge. You're going to do great!

I'm in a similar situation right now - got denied and filed my appeal last week. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helping calm my nerves! One thing I'm wondering about is whether I should have a lawyer or if most people just represent themselves in these hearings? My case seems pretty straightforward (employer cut my hours to almost nothing then claimed I "abandoned" my job when I found other work), but I'm worried about going up against their HR department alone. Has anyone here used legal representation for their TWC appeal hearing?

I just went through a TWC appeal hearing last month and can confirm everything others have said - yes, your employer will be on the same call, but the hearing officer really does keep things professional and structured. One thing I wish I had known beforehand is that you can actually request a postponement if you need more time to gather evidence or prepare. I almost did this because I was so anxious, but I'm glad I went through with it on the original date. During my hearing, my former employer brought up some things I wasn't expecting them to mention, but I just stayed focused on the main issue - why I was forced to leave. The hearing officer asked really good follow-up questions that helped clarify the situation. Since you have those emails showing pressure to resign, make sure you reference them specifically during your testimony. Don't just say "they pressured me" - mention "As shown in my submitted email from [date], my supervisor stated..." This makes your case much stronger. The waiting for the decision afterward was almost worse than the hearing itself, but I got approved for benefits about 10 days later. You've got solid evidence and a legitimate case - just stay calm and stick to the facts!

I've been through this process twice (unfortunately!) and can add a few more practical tips that helped me. Yes, your employer will definitely be on the call - it's essentially a three-way conference call with you, them, and the hearing officer. A couple of things that really made a difference for me: • Test your phone beforehand! Call a friend and make sure your connection is clear • Have a pen and paper ready to take notes during their testimony • Don't be afraid to ask the hearing officer to repeat a question if you didn't hear it clearly • If you get emotional (totally understandable), it's okay to ask for a brief moment to collect yourself The hearing officer will usually start by explaining the process, then swear everyone in, then typically have the employer present their case first. When it's your turn, focus on the specific actions that made your situation untenable - those threatening emails you mentioned are pure gold for your case. One last thing - even if your employer brings up irrelevant stuff about your performance or attitude, don't get sidetracked. Keep bringing the conversation back to why you were forced to resign. The hearing officer is trained to focus on the relevant issues, but it helps when you stay on topic too. You're going to do great! Having documentation puts you way ahead of most people in these hearings.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who recently went through this exact process! Yes, your employer will definitely be on the same call - it's structured as a three-way conference call with you, your former employer, and the TWC hearing officer moderating everything. I was terrified beforehand too, but honestly the hearing officer does a great job keeping things professional and fair. They won't let anyone interrupt or get hostile. Here's what helped me prepare: • I organized all my evidence by date and made copies for easy reference • Practiced explaining my situation in 2-3 clear sentences • Made sure I had a quiet space with good phone reception • Wrote down key points I wanted to make so I wouldn't forget when nervous Those emails you mentioned about being pressured to resign are going to be huge for your case! Make sure you reference them specifically during your testimony - don't just say "they forced me," but mention "As documented in my email from [specific date]..." The whole thing lasted about 35 minutes for me, and I got my approval decision about a week later. You've got solid evidence and a legitimate case - just stay calm, stick to the facts, and let those threatening emails speak for themselves. Good luck!

I went through a TWC appeal hearing about 8 months ago and can definitely relate to your anxiety! Yes, your employer will be on the same conference call, but the hearing officer really does control everything professionally. One thing that helped me tremendously was calling the TWC office a few days before my hearing to confirm the process and ask any last-minute questions. I know it's hard to get through to them, but it was worth the effort to clarify exactly how the call would work. During my hearing, my former employer actually ended up hurting their own case because they got defensive and started contradicting things they had said earlier. The hearing officer picked up on this immediately. Just stay calm, stick to the facts, and let your evidence do the talking. Those emails you mentioned about being pressured to resign are exactly what you need. The hearing officer will be looking for proof that you had no reasonable alternative but to leave. Make sure you can clearly explain the timeline of events and how each incident made continuing work impossible. The whole thing was less scary than I built it up to be in my head. You're going to do fine - having documentation puts you in a much stronger position than most people!

I just had my TWC appeal hearing two weeks ago and can confirm everything everyone's saying - yes, your employer will definitely be on the same call! I was super nervous too, but it really wasn't as intimidating as I expected. A few things that really helped me during the hearing: • I had all my documents printed out and numbered so I could reference them easily • I kept a glass of water nearby (you'll be talking a lot and nerves make your mouth dry) • I wrote down 3-4 key points I absolutely wanted to make so I wouldn't forget them • I found a quiet room with strong cell signal and tested it the day before Those emails where your boss threatened you with a bad reference if you didn't resign are EXACTLY what the hearing officer needs to see. That's textbook constructive discharge right there. When you reference them during your testimony, be specific - mention the date and quote directly from them. My employer tried to paint a completely different picture of what happened, but I just stayed calm and stuck to my timeline with evidence to back it up. The hearing officer asked really good follow-up questions that helped clarify things. I got my approval decision about 9 days later. You've got solid documentation and a legitimate case - that puts you way ahead of most people in these hearings. Just breathe, be honest, and let those threatening emails speak for themselves!