The hearing office can issue subpoenas if a crucial witness refuses your request to voluntarily testify at the hearing or refuses to voluntarily provide documents that are necessary to make a complete hearing record. Contact the hearing office for additional information. A review of past hearing decisions stored on the Internet can be very useful to give you a feel for hearings and the kind of evidence needed for the type of issue involved in your hearing. Written statements can be accepted, provided they relate to the issue before the Tribunal. However, a written statement submitted to the hearing record without supporting testimony from the signer of the statement is generally considered hearsay.
Hearsay evidence carries less weight than direct sworn testimony.
In most cases, you should have the author of the statement at least stand by a telephone in case you need to call him or her as a telephonic witness. The employer named in a separation from work determination is always an interested party and is given notice of the hearing. The Tribunal does not usually compel employers to appear for the hearing. It is not uncommon for an employer to choose not to attend a hearing. The fact you are working does not provide automatic cause to miss your hearing.