My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: Alabama
I worked at Target for 3 years. I was someone the managers relied on more than most. I was constantly asked to come in earlier than I was scheduled to get ahead or help in areas. When I come in early a manager clocks you in using their team number. One day the store was in a hurry so I used a managers number to clock myself in early instead of calling them over to type in the number themselves. I had permission to come in early. I was fired for typing in their number instead of them typing it in. I was denied unemployment benefits for falsification of records and/or time cards which constitutes a dishonest act. I was pulled into HR office a week before being fired to "get my side of the story" regarding me using their number. At this time I received an employee handbook that has a single sentence that says Only use your team member number when using the time clock. I didn't know I could be fired for something like this. I only wanted to get to work and there was no intent of misconduct. I also received no warning or a chance to make the situation right. They told me that the employee handbook I supposedly received when I was hired was my warning. How do I win an appeal to get my unemployment benefits until I find another job?
How is it considered falsification of time cards when I was asked to come in early? There was no dishonest act behind clocking in.

