Your failure to appear may result in a denial of all rights of further appeal . The hearing is a fact-finding process. It is like a trial, but not as formal. The appeal hearing is carefully controlled by the Hearing Officer. The hearing will begin with the Hearing Officer making an opening statement about what will happen during the hearing.
All testimony is given under oath and is tape-recorded.
The Hearing Officer will begin receiving testimony by swearing in the first witness, usually either the claimant or employer. In a separation, the burden of proof varies depending on the issue. If the employer dismissed the claimant it will be the employer's burden to prove that the claimant was dismissed due to the misconduct of the claimant. The party carrying the burden of proof usually presents their case first. The Hearing Officer will usually question the witness first and allow them to tell their story.