TWC says I 'walked off the job' but I was fired - help with employer dispute?

Yes, this happens ALL THE TIME. Employers try to avoid UI tax increases by claiming you quit or were fired for misconduct. You need to immediately appeal if your claim gets denied and request a hearing. During the appeal/hearing, you'll have a chance to tell your side. Bring any evidence you have - texts from coworkers, final paystubs, performance reviews, anything that shows you were a good employee. This is actually why they tell people to get termination in writing, but most people don't know to do that.

exact same thing happened to me!! boss told me they were eliminating my position then told TWC i quit without notice! total bs!!!

omg i know how u feel. my old boss was such a liar too. he told me they were downsizing but then hired my replacement the next week & tried to say I was always late but I WASNT!!!

You'll likely get a "Notice of Determination" letter soon if you haven't already. When you do, you have exactly 14 calendar days to file an appeal. Don't miss this deadline! When you appeal, TWC will schedule a telephone hearing with an administrative law judge, you, and your former employer. During this hearing: 1. Both sides present their case 2. You can have witnesses who know about your separation 3. The judge will make a decision based on evidence To prepare, write down exactly what happened with dates, times, who was present, and what was said. If any coworkers saw you get fired, ask if they'd be willing to be witnesses. Check your personnel file if possible - did you have good performance reviews? Perfect attendance like you mentioned? The burden of proof is on the employer to prove misconduct or that you voluntarily quit, so if they can't prove you walked off, you should win your appeal.

I had something similar when I filed my claim. My employer lied and said I was fired for stealing but I wasn't! TWC denied me but I appealed and WON. Just make sure you respond to EVERYTHING on time. If you miss a deadline your screwed.

If you're having trouble getting through to TWC to discuss your claim (which you absolutely should do ASAP), I'd recommend using Claimyr. It got me through to a TWC agent in about 20 minutes after I spent days getting busy signals. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh and find it at claimyr.com. Totally worth it for situations like this where you need to talk to an actual person about your employer dispute.

You need to be prepared for the phone hearing. The TWC judge will ask VERY specific questions about what happened. Your employer will likely have HR or a manager who is trained in these hearings. Some tips: 1. Never interrupt anyone, even if they're lying 2. Take detailed notes during the hearing 3. Have your own timeline of events ready 4. Be 100% honest - even small lies can ruin your case 5. Speak clearly and professionally 6. Have evidence ready to reference Also, if your claim is denied, you can still work while appealing. If you win your appeal, they'll pay you retroactively for eligible weeks. Good luck!

UPDATE: Just got my determination letter and they DENIED my claim! It says I "voluntarily left employment without good cause attributable to the employer" which is a complete lie! I'm filing the appeal today. Has anyone here gone through the actual hearing process? I'm terrified of speaking to a judge, even on the phone.

Just an FYI, getting a denial is actually normal in these disputed cases. The initial TWC reviewer often just goes with whatever the employer says, but the appeal hearing is where you really get a fair shot. About 30% of people who appeal end up winning. Just make sure you clearly explain that you were told you were being let go due to restructuring and never walked off the job.