My employer dismissed me after 18 months of employment during which I was commended and given 3 raises and told I was the best employee he ever had in that position. At the time of my dismissal my employer stated that he was "terminating my position". When I tried to file for unemployment I was informed that I was not eligable because I was terminated for violating a company policy of sharing salary information. Through talking with ex-coworkers I learned that the person who moved into my position alegged that I shared my salary information with him. The incident he is refering to was actually the HR/secretary left my check on her desk in plain view of anyone who walked by. The person I supposedly discussed salary information with is a 3 time convicted felon (fraud, forgery, embesslement) and my employer never even asked my side of the story.

As far as the ESC is concerned, is a 3 time convicted felon a credible witness?
I am in the 1st appeal stage of my claim and I want to know if I need a lawyer now of if these chages will even be taken seriously by the ESC.

Thank you.

My employer dismissed me after 18 months of employment during which I was commended and given 3 raises and told I was the best employee he ever had in that position. At the time of my dismissal my employer stated that he was "terminating my position". When I tried to file for unemployment I was informed that I was not eligable because I was terminated for violating a company policy of sharing salary information. Through talking with ex-coworkers I learned that the person who moved into my position alegged that I shared my salary information with him. The incident he is refering to was actually the HR/secretary left my check on her desk in plain view of anyone who walked by. The person I supposedly discussed salary information with is a 3 time convicted felon (fraud, forgery, embesslement) and my employer never even asked my side of the story.

As far as the ESC is concerned, is a 3 time convicted felon a credible witness?
I am in the 1st appeal stage of my claim and I want to know if I need a lawyer now of if these chages will even be taken seriously by the ESC.

Thank you.

If that is your employer's stance that you discussed your salary information with a co-worker, then your termination is likely a wrongful termination, if they admit to it, because it is in violation of of the NLRB which states that employees who discuss salary information between each other (theior own salaries not another co-workers) is a concerted activity under the law.

In other words, just appeal. No one here can tell you who may be questioned or who the state will believe, but if you don't appeal, it is a sure bet you will not get benefits.