I was fired for theft, however it was an honest and isolated circumstance. I have worked for the company almost six years. I was even originally hired as Loss Prevention. After closing the gate to the store, I was stopped by my district manager as a surprise secret shop. She checked my belongings; Before I left the store, I had my lunch box, jacket, purse, deposit and had garbage I had to take out. I threw my stuff onto a back counter and grabbed a shopping handled bag, and swiped everything into the bag. That way I could free up a hand to lock the gate and for garbage. I mistakenly swiped a bag that was a customer hold. Therefore, it appeared that I was stealing. It really was an honest mistake and I know I would’ve realized it when I had to retrieve the deposit to deposit. I then would’ve put it back because it is all inside the mall. I know it doesn’t look good, but I know I wasn’t stealing. I was taken back into the store and was put on the phone with Corporate Loss Prevention. He’s drilling me, etc. I keep answering with the same answer that it was a mistake, etc. He finally says okay your District Manager is now going to hand you some documents to fill out. Let me know when you’ve completed them. So she hands me the first, which was a statement form. I write down what happened and read it back to him. He’s not satisfied with what I wrote, However, he tells me to fill the second form out and he tells me, okay put (this) on that line and this on this line, etc. I wasn’t paying attention to what I was signing. It was a Civil Demand Notice. I do remember though, him saying after I wrote asap on the line to promise to pay the entire loss to Claire’s on or before_asap, 2013, he states don’t worry this is irrelevant because the merchandise never left. We have it. Anyway, I now appealed the denial of unemployment benefits and have a hearing. I don’t disagree with getting fired, even though I know I wasn’t stealing, I do think I should receive my benefits. I worked there almost six years without prior incidence. I don’t have any witnesses and just received their evidence documents the day before the hearing, so I don’t have time to gather and send documents prior to my hearing.
My question is, what points should I focus on, do I have any chance at all? Basically, what should I do?

I got laid off on Jan 28th. I received a document in the mail a few days later called a Settlement Agreement And Full Release. I read over it and I'm concerned that signing this would make it so I can't apply for unemployment. Is this possible?

I was wondering what are the standards and requirements to be eligible for unemployment insurance. Can you be laid off? What conduct allows an employer to challenge your eligibility?

something very strange is going on at work. I think that the company is having a very hard time. Every time I came into work let's say like 4 minutes late for the start of the day I would make it up by staying at least 5 minutes at the end.it has never been a problem before since nothing we do so early will affect a customer. Now all of the sudden 1 of the other bosses is starting to write everybody up if they come in just 2 minutes late. Those guys always come in late which is pretty aggravating. 1 of the other employees says they are doing this so they can create a paper trail to fire us so they can fight unemployment. Can they do that? What can a company do to win a case and have an employee not get unemployment benefits?

I'm a mechanic for a company. I'v been painting the fleet of vehicles for 9 years now. The paint is making me sick. I had to call in OSHA just to get protective equipment. Got back from the doctor today with a diagnosis of pnuemonia. A lot of spray painters get occupational illness. Being i'm a mechanic, can i quit for my own safety and collect unemployment?

I was laid off last week from my full-time job of 22 years in Texas. I also teach part-time as adjunct instructor at a local college. The fall semester ended the same day that I was laid off from my full-time job.

I am scheduled to teach two college classes next semester which may not make. Will part-time teaching part-time affect unemployment benefits?

If they are affected, can I choose not to teach without affecting unemployment benefits?

Also, we have moved from the area of the college but I could teach online courses.

Can you help me with this?