Having coworkers or company associates testify for you can be a double-edged sword. In this article, an Augusta Social Security disability lawyer discusses how poor testimony can be improved.
Testimony From A Co-worker
Ineffective: I’m sorry to tell the Augusta Social Security disability lawyer this, but your client just can’t do the kind of hard work that operating a power sewing machine involves.
Effective: The Augusta Social Security disability lawyer’s client worked the sewing machine beside mine, so I had plenty of opportunity to observe how she was doing. When you work one of these machines you’re sitting down all day. We have a half-hour for lunch with one 15-minute break in the morning and another in the afternoon, but that’s all. The machine takes both hands and both feet to operate and we have to complete a minimum number of garments every day. Then we have to carry the stacks of finished pieces and they can weigh more than 20 pounds. Sewing machine operators need good hand/foot coordination and good vision. Unless your client is able to maintain the pace and make her quota, the job will be too much for her.
Ineffective: Allow me to introduce myself to the Augusta Social Security disability attorney as our company’s Human Resources director. I’m sorry to say it but your client, despite her best efforts, was not able to perform the minimum requirements for this position.
Effective: In my capacity as Human Resources manager, I am able to describe with precision to the Augusta Social Security disability attorney the type of work the employee was required to do. She operated a hand sanding machine in the finishing shop working on wooden furniture. Her job involved standing for long periods with only the normal breaks, bending and stooping, lifting pieces that weighed as much as 30 pounds and working for long periods in uncomfortable positions.
I can further state for the Augusta Social Security disability attorney that in the last six months of her employment with us, her attendance record shows that she was out for 31 full days and left work early on 16 more due to a problem with her nerves. She did her best to work very hard and when she was able to come to work her performance was satisfactory. However, her repeated absences forced us to halt the assembly line, so we finally had to terminate her.
Testimony Referencing Employer Disability Benefits
Ineffective: Our company is already paying the Augusta Social Security disability lawyer’s client disability benefits through our program. Since he qualifies with us, he should qualify for Social Security disability as well.
Effective: One of my responsibilities as HR director is to process disability claims for our employees through our benefits plan. I can assure the Augusta Social Security disability lawyer that under our program and after careful evaluation of the employee’s condition we found him disabled. His impairment rendered him incapable of performing his normal work for the required six month period, nor was he able to do any type of work that might be considered comparable to what he did before.
Don’t Leave Anything to Chance
A Social Security disability hearing is a serious situation and quality testimony is crucial. Your Augusta Social Security disability lawyer can help you spot weaknesses in your witnesses’ testimony before they can harm your case. Call us today. Don’t wait.