Summary
holding that the claimant's disregard of instructions to spray-buff a floor and his decision to dry-buff it instead, in the belief that the latter method would be faster, constituted willful misconduct
Summary of this case from Horne v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of ReviewOpinion
February 8, 1983.
Unemployment compensation — Burden of proof — Willful misconduct — Work rule — Good cause.
1. In an unemployment compensation case the burden of proving willful misconduct is on the employer; when, however, the employee attempts to justify a breach of a work rule or an employer's order by showing that his failure to observe it was reasonable, or the order unreasonable, he bears the burden of proving such justification. [630]
2. In an unemployment compensation case, disregarding clear and simple instructions without good cause constitutes willful misconduct; the refusal of an employee to follow orders will constitute willful misconduct unless the orders are unreasonable or the employee has a good reason for his actions. [630]
Submitted on briefs November 15, 1982, to President Judge CRUMLISH, JR. and Judges MacPHAIL and DOYLE, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 2095 C.D. 1980, from the Order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review in the case of In Re: Claim of Francis L. Hartman, No. B-186700.
Application to the Office of Employment Security for unemployment compensation benefits. Application denied. Applicant appealed to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review. Appeal denied. Applicant appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Affirmed.
Catherine J. Garbus, for petitioner.
Francine Ostrovsky, Associate Counsel, with her Richard L. Cole, Jr., Chief Counsel, for respondent.
This is an appeal by Francis Hartman (Claimant) from the order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review which affirmed the decision of a referee to deny unemployment compensation benefits pursuant to Section 402(e) of the Unemployment Compensation Law.
Act of December 5, 1936, Second Ex. Sess., P.L. (1937) 2897, as amended, 43 P. S. § 802(e).
Claimant was employed by Proctor Gamble Paper Products Company (Employer) for ten years as a janitor. On his last day of work, May 6, 1980, Claimant was fired because he dry-buffed a floor. Employer had frequently instructed Claimant that floors must be spray-buffed since this method does not remove all the wax or leave a residue. Despite warnings from the Employer on prior occasions, Claimant again ignored the instructions to spray-buff because he believed his method (dry-buffing) was faster. The referee concluded, and the Board agreed, that Claimant was discharged because of willful misconduct thereby rendering him ineligible for benefits.
Before this Court, Claimant argues that his conduct did not constitute willful misconduct. The burden of proving willful misconduct is on the employer. Gane v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 41 Pa. Commw. 292, 398 A.2d 1110 (1979). When, however, the employee attempts to justify a breach of a work rule or an employer's order by showing that his failure to observe it was reasonable, or the order unreasonable, he bears the burden of proving such justification. Frumento v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 466 Pa. 81, 351 A.2d 631 (1976); Lake v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 48 Pa. Commw. 138, 409 A.2d 126 (1979). Disregarding clear and simple instructions without good cause constitutes willful misconduct. Gusoff v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 54 Pa. Commw. 539, 422 A.2d 238 (1980). The refusal of an employee to follow orders will constitute willful misconduct unless the orders are unreasonable or the employee has a good reason for his actions. Tisak v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 56 Pa. Commw. 399, 424 A.2d 635 (1981).
Following a careful review of the record, we find no indication, nor does Claimant argue, that the Employer's instructions were unreasonable. Further, Claimant's belief that his method of buffing the floors was better does not provide good cause for disregarding the Employer's instructions.
ORDER
NOW, February 8, 1983, the order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review at number B-186700, dated August 8, 1980, is hereby affirmed.