Opinion
2014-07-24
In the Matter of the Claim of Flora MARKAJ, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent.
Flora Markaj, New York City, appellant pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York City (Marjorie S. Leff of counsel), for respondent.
Flora Markaj, New York City, appellant pro se. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York City (Marjorie S. Leff of counsel), for respondent.
Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed March 14, 2013, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because she voluntarily left her employment without good cause.
Claimant returned from sick leave to her job as a child protective specialist and resigned that day due to her frustration with a delay in being paid for her leave and in anticipation of getting another job. Claimant did not get the new job and applied for unemployment insurance benefits, citing various reasons for leaving her employment. The Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board denied the application on the ground that claimant voluntarily left her employment without good cause. Claimant now appeals.
We affirm. “Whether a claimant has good cause to leave his or her employment is a factual determination to be made by the Board, and its decision will not be disturbed when supported by substantial evidence” (Matter of Heller [Paragon Motors of Woodside, Inc.-Commissioner of Labor], 83 A.D.3d 1229, 1229–1230, 921 N.Y.S.2d 403 [2011] [citations omitted]; accord Matter of Barone [Commissioner of Labor], 108 A.D.3d 918, 918, 968 N.Y.S.2d 740 [2013] ). To the extent that claimant contends that she quit her job due to being recently reprimanded and her belief that she was going to be fired, it is well settled that “neither criticism of one's job performance nor quitting in anticipation of discharge constitutes good cause for resignation” (Matter of Hull [Commissioner of Labor], 77 A.D.3d 1012, 1013, 908 N.Y.S.2d 281 [2010];see Matter of Zerrillo [Commissioner of Labor], 91 A.D.3d 1011, 1012, 935 N.Y.S.2d 916 [2012] ). Further, we find no error in the Administrative Law Judge's decision to preclude claimant from presenting evidence concerning her contention that she resigned due to stress based upon prior reprimands and allegations that her supervisor had harassed her in the past. Claimant continued to work despite the allegations and cannot argue now that they justified her resignation ( see generally Matter of Esposito [Commissioner of Labor], 62 A.D.3d 1202, 1202, 881 N.Y.S.2d 506 [2009];Matter of Bartczak [Commissioner of Labor], 272 A.D.2d 731, 732, 707 N.Y.S.2d 718 [2000] ). Moreover, “[t]he inability to get along with a supervisor who is perceived as unduly critical does not ... constitute good cause for leaving one's employment” (Matter of Jones [Commissioner of Labor], 109 A.D.3d 1064, 1065, 971 N.Y.S.2d 588 [2013] ).
Finally, as to claimant's contention that she resigned due to both the delay in receiving her sick leave and certain overtime pay and the resultant method of payment, the record reflects that claimant contributed to the delays by failing to follow the employer's protocol for requesting such pay. Accordingly, the Board's finding that claimant left her employment for personal and noncompelling reasons is supported by substantial evidence and will not be disturbed. We have considered her remaining claims, including that the employer's payroll policy violates Labor Law § 192, and find them to be unavailing.
ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, without costs. PETERS, P.J., LAHTINEN, STEIN, ROSE and DEVINE, JJ., concur.