CO-WORKERS’ EGREGIOUS AND LEWD BEHAVIOR, TOGETHER WITH THE EMPLOYER’S INADEQUATE RESPONSE, CONSTITUTED GOOD CAUSE FOR LEAVING EMPLOYMENT.
The Third Department determined that co-workers' egregious, lewd and harassing behavior, combined with the employer's inadequate response, provided good cause for claimant's leaving employment:
“Whether a claimant has left employment for good cause so as to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits is a factual issue to be resolved by the Board and its determination will be upheld if supported by substantial evidence” … . The Board was free to, and did, credit claimant's testimony that she did not feel safe or comfortable with continuing her employment after the egregious behavior of her coworker. The record evidence also reflects that claimant had previously reported harassment by another male coworker, who was reprimanded by the employer. In view of this pattern of sexual harassment and the employer's inadequate offer to transfer claimant to a nearby building — where she would still be forced to interact with the service center — substantial evidence supports the Board's determination that claimant left her employment for good cause … . Matter of Labbate (Robert Green Auto & Truck, Inc.–Commissioner of Labor), 2016 NY Slip Op 02898, 3rd Dept 4-14-16