Your witnesses should have personal knowledge about the background, policies, incidents, or events that led up to the filing for unemployment compensation. Their knowledge should be first-hand knowledge about what happened. The best evidence is not something they heard about or heard the rumor about, but is detailed, first-hand knowledge. Either they saw the incident, heard a supervisor say something directly, or saw the paperwork connected to the event.

Contact your witnesses prior to the hearing and have them arrange their schedules so that they can participate in the hearing.

At the hearing, advise the hearing officer of your witnesses and give the hearing officer the phone numbers of your witnesses so he can conference them into the hearing. Your witnesses will need to be at a telephone that receives incoming calls in order to participate in a telephone conference call hearing. Have your witnesses remain at that telephone until the hearing officer or you release them from the hearing.

If your hearing is in-person, simply have your witnesses appear at the hearing location at the time and date for the hearing or they may participate by phone under the procedures stated above.