Employment question about unemployment?

Question

I was working at a company where the manager was editing my time card to avoid paying me over time and when I complained I got fired. I have never been written up or reprimmanded. The reason the manager gave me was I created a hostile work environment. Two days after I was fired, a co worker text messaged me that the manager had coerceised her into signing a statement saying that I threatened her and and held her job over her head. I can't pay my bills and because I was fired I am unsure if I can collect unemployment. What can I do? I don't have proof. ( I do have the text message still though) Its my word against the manager's! Help! Can I still get unemployment to help until I get hired elsewhere still or am I screwed?

Answer 1

You need to take your case to an attorney who specializes in labor law in your state.  Also, contact the state department that oversees employment law where you live.  Have any documents you have (the text message, your wage statements, any logs of hours worked, etc) ready to hand to them.  Also, find out if the former coworker who sent you the message will provide you with a written statement.  Once you file a complaint, and that complaint should explain how the manager changed your time card.  It's generally illegal for anyone but you to log your time.

If there is an investigation, the investigator will probably request the documents that show your hours.  If you were reporting your time manually, there will be a visual record of the changes.  It may be a bit more difficult if the changes were electronic, depending on how those changes are logged.  

Talk to an attorney.

Answer 2

Might be in a tough situation.  Best bet show the text message.  If you need a job www.J-Allen.net  It is work, it does pay, it does require time.

Answer 3

I'd call your state labor department and talk to someone there about the timecard changes, and the retaliation.

Answer 4

it sounds like you qualify for unemployment, I would also file a case in small claims court. No attorney is necessary.

Answer 5

If you were fired, then you can definitely get unemployment.