Summary
In Redano v. Unemployment Compensation Bd. of Review (1981), 61 Pa. Cmwlth. 111, 433 A.2d 151, the court sustained the denial of benefits to a claimant who was discharged after writing a note which stated that she would not perform certain work in the future.
Summary of this case from Jones v. Review Bd.Opinion
Argued June 1, 1981
August 6, 1981.
Unemployment compensation — Willful misconduct.
1. For purposes of unemployment compensation eligibility, the refusal by an employee to perform work assigned by his employer can constitute willful misconduct; if the employer's request is reasonable as related to the employee's overall duties and the employee's refusal is arbitrary, the refusal can evidence a disregard of the standards of behavior an employer expects of his employees. [113]
Argued June 1, 1981, before President Judge CRUMLISH and Judges ROGERS and WILLIAMS, JR., sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 1502 C.D. 1979, from the Order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review in the case of In Re: Claim of Slata B. Redano, No. B-173554.
Application to the Bureau of Employment Security for unemployment compensation benefits. Benefits awarded. Employer appealed. Referee denied benefits. Applicant appealed to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review. Appeal denied. Applicant appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Affirmed.
John N. Keller, Beek, Patterson, Kaminski, Keller and Kiersz, for petitioner.
William J. Kennedy, Assistant Attorney General, with him Richard Wagner, Chief Counsel, and Harvey Bartle, III, Attorney General, for respondent.
Slata B. Redano appeals an Unemployment Compensation Board of Review order denying her unemployment compensation benefits on the ground of willful misconduct. We affirm.
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).
Redano was a part-time matron when the matrons' hours were reduced from 4 1/2 hours per day to 4 hours per day and their duties were modified. She disliked the new work assignment because she contends she was unable to maintain her efficiency. During September, when the changes were ordered, she was one-half hour late for work because of car trouble. Twice later, she left work early due to illness. Finally, on September 27, 1978, Redano left the following note on the principal's desk:
Mr. Stouffer, I'd like to let you know that after tonight I will not clean any more bathrooms, hallways or stairs. I will be doing the same work I have been since I started 7 years ago. The work is too much and I will not do any more. I'm not a robot. I won't quit so you can fire me if you want to. I just don't give a damn anymore.
On October 2, 1978, Redano was dismissed. Affirming the referee's denial of benefits, the Board found that Redano had given reasonable notice to her supervisor on each occasion when she arrived late or departed early, thus, these incidents did not constitute willful misconduct. The note, on the other hand, was something else. It was held to be tantamount to insubordination rising to the level of willful misconduct. We agree.
The refusal by an employee to perform work assigned by his employer can amount to willful misconduct. If the employer's request is reasonable as related to the employee's overall duties, and the employee's refusal is arbitrary, this can evidence a disregard of the standards of behavior an employer expects of his employees. Hughes v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 40 Pa. Commw. 422, 397 A.2d 494 (1979).
Substantial evidence supports the Board's finding that the adjustment in the matrons' work assignment was in conformity with other employees of the school district, and that the amount of work was not unreasonable for the time allotted, nor did it substantially vary from the matrons' original duties but, more importantly, she had failed to give prior notice to her employer of the reason for her dissatisfaction. Her note, without previous notice, simply stated an unequivocal refusal to complete a reasonable work assignment. We conclude that the note in these circumstances evidenced a disregard of the standards of behavior an employer can expect of his employees.
Affirmed.
ORDER
The Unemployment Compensation Board of Review order at B-173554, dated June 28, 1979, denying unemployment compensation benefits to Slata B. Redano is affirmed.