The Third Department determined that, although the employer had cause to fire the claimant for tardiness and absences, substantial evidence supported the Board’s finding her tardiness and absences did disqualify her from receiving unemployment benefits. Although claimant had been informed that her tardiness and absences were not acceptable, she was never informed that she could be fired as a result. Claimant was not fired until after she put in a claim for workers’ compensation benefits after an injury at work:
… “[W]hether a claimant’s actions rise to the level of disqualifying misconduct is a factual issue for the Board to resolve, and not every mistake, exercise of poor judgment or discharge for cause will rise to the level of misconduct”… . The Board’s determination in this regard will not be disturbed if it is supported by substantial evidence … .
The record reveals that, although claimant’s tardiness and attendance problems began in December 2014, she was not served with any notices of discipline until May 4, 2015, just after her work-related injury. Claimant’s immediate supervisor testified that she instructed claimant on the proper procedure for entering her work hours into the computer system and told her that she had to be at work between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. In fact, claimant received emails in December 2014 and March 2015 reminding her of these requirements. She was not, however, advised that adverse employment consequences would result if she did not follow the proper protocol. Likewise, the notices of discipline did not set forth the disciplinary measures that would be taken if claimant continued to engaged in the objectionable behavior. Furthermore, claimant’s termination occurred shortly after she was placed on suspension without affording her an opportunity to correct her behavior … . Under the circumstances presented, although the employer had cause to discharge claimant, she did not exhibit a willful and wanton disregard of the employer’s interest rising to the level of disqualifying misconduct … . Matter of Jelic (Ama Research Labs. Inc.–Commissioner of Labor), 2018 NY Slip Op 00588, Third Dept 2-1-18
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (ALTHOUGH THE EMPLOYER HAD CAUSE TO FIRE CLAIMANT FOR TARDINESS AND ABSENCES, CLAIMANT’S ACTIONS DID NOT DISQUALIFY HER FROM RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS (THIRD DEPT))/DISQUALIFYING MISCONDUCT (UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, ALTHOUGH THE EMPLOYER HAD CAUSE TO FIRE CLAIMANT FOR TARDINESS AND ABSENCES, CLAIMANT’S ACTIONS DID NOT DISQUALIFY HER FROM RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS (THIRD DEPT))/TARDINESS (UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, ALTHOUGH THE EMPLOYER HAD CAUSE TO FIRE CLAIMANT FOR TARDINESS AND ABSENCES, CLAIMANT’S ACTIONS DID NOT DISQUALIFY HER FROM RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS (THIRD DEPT))/ABSENCES (UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, ALTHOUGH THE EMPLOYER HAD CAUSE TO FIRE CLAIMANT FOR TARDINESS AND ABSENCES, CLAIMANT’S ACTIONS DID NOT DISQUALIFY HER FROM RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS (THIRD DEPT))