Timothy J. Fish, Relator v. Young Men?s Christian Association - YMCA Brainerd, Department of Employment and Economic Development ( 2014 )

This opinion will be unpublished and
may not be cited except as provided by
Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2012).
STATE OF MINNESOTA
IN COURT OF APPEALS
A14-0728
Timothy J. Fish,
Relator,
vs.
Young Men’s Christian Association - YMCA Brainerd,
Respondent,
Department of Employment and Economic Development,
Respondent
Filed December 15, 2014
Affirmed
Worke, Judge
Department of Employment and Economic Development
File No. 31970545-3
Timothy J. Fish, Crosby, Minnesota (pro se relator)
Young Men’s Christian Association – YMCA Brainerd, Brainerd, Minnesota (respondent
employer)
Lee B. Nelson, Department of Employment and Economic Development, St. Paul,
Minnesota (for respondent department)
Considered and decided by Worke, Presiding Judge; Reyes, Judge; and Crippen,
Judge.*
*
Retired judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, serving by appointment pursuant to
Minn. Const. art. VI, § 10.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
WORKE, Judge
Relator challenges the unemployment-law judge’s (ULJ) decision that he was
discharged for employment misconduct and ineligible for unemployment benefits. We
affirm.
DECISION
The ULJ determined that relator Timothy J. Fish was discharged from his
employment as an evening custodian at respondent Young Men’s Christian Association –
YMCA Brainerd for employment misconduct and is ineligible for unemployment
benefits. We review a ULJ’s decision to determine whether substantial rights were
prejudiced because the findings, inferences, conclusions, or decision are unsupported by
substantial evidence in view of the record as a whole or affected by an error of law. 2014
Minn. Laws ch. 271, art. 1, § 1, at 1028-29 (to be codified at Minn. Stat. § 268.105, subd.
7(d) (2014)).
An employee who is discharged for employment misconduct is ineligible for
unemployment benefits. Minn. Stat. § 268.095, subd. 4(1) (2012). Employment
misconduct is “intentional, negligent, or indifferent conduct . . . that displays clearly:
(1) a serious violation of the standards of behavior the employer has the right to
reasonably expect of the employee; or (2) a substantial lack of concern for the
employment.” 2014 Minn. Laws ch. 239, art. 2, § 4, at 772 (to be codified at Minn. Stat.
§ 268.095, subd. 6(a) (2014)).
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Whether an employee committed employment misconduct is a mixed question of
law and fact. Stagg v. Vintage Place Inc., 796 N.W.2d 312, 315 (Minn. 2011). “Whether
the employee committed a particular act is a fact question, which we review in the light
most favorable to the decision and will affirm if supported by substantial evidence.”
Dourney v. CMAK Corp., 796 N.W.2d 537, 539 (Minn. App. 2011). But whether that
particular act constitutes disqualifying misconduct is a question of law that we review de
novo. Schmidgall v. FilmTec Corp., 644 N.W.2d 801, 804 (Minn. 2002).
The ULJ found that on December 1, 2013, Fish punched in for work and then went
into an empty room, removed his glasses and shoes, and lay on a couch because he was
not feeling well. Another employee found Fish in this position approximately 30 minutes
later. Fish neither explained to this employee that he was ill, nor sought permission to lie
down from a supervisor. While Fish concedes that he committed this act, he argues that
it was not misconduct.
Fish first argues that the ULJ should not have considered an incident from 2008 in
evaluating whether this current incident was misconduct. The YMCA presented to the
ULJ counseling forms documenting Fish’s work performance. One from 2008 indicated
that Fish was reading a newspaper when he had approximately 40 minutes remaining in
his shift. The form provided: “Since previous warnings have been given, if there are any
additional complaints [the YMCA] will be forced to terminate your employment. Final
warning.” Fish claims that the incident from 2008 was an isolated, unrepeated incident,
and was too stale to be relevant. Contrary to Fish’s assertion, the incident from 2013 was
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the second time that Fish failed to work while punched in. And, despite the first incident
occurring in 2008, Fish received warnings in 2009 and 2010.
A form from 2009 indicated that: “[Fish] has failed to respond to notes left for him
requesting improved and corrected cleaning in [the lobby and women’s locker room] and
has not demonstrated a consistent cleaning work ethic.” The form served as “warning
that further violation or continued unsatisfactory performance may result in immediate
termination.” And one from 2010 indicated: “Unsatisfactory performance [failure to
adequately clean the women’s locker room] has also been discussed with [Fish] and
documented in previous evaluations, meetings and trainings all signed by [Fish].” The
form served “as a FINAL documented warning that further violation or continued
unsatisfactory performance will result in immediate termination.”
The incident from 2008 was not an isolated event, but served as the starting point
in tracking Fish’s progressively deficient work performance. See Drellack v. Inter-Cnty.
Cmty. Council, Inc., 366 N.W.2d 671, 674 (Minn. App. 1985) (stating that employee’s
behavior “as a whole” may be considered in determining the propriety of the discharge
and qualification for unemployment benefits); Flahave v. Lang Meat Packing, 343
N.W.2d 683, 686-87 (Minn. App. 1984) (adopting a last-straw doctrine in concluding that
repeated infractions of employer’s rules demonstrate substantial disregard of employer’s
interest and the duties and obligations owed to the employer).
Fish also argues that his work performance was merely unsatisfactory. Simple
unsatisfactory conduct is not employment misconduct. 2014 Minn. Laws ch. 239, art. 2,
§ 5, at 772 (to be codified at Minn. Stat. § 268.095, subd. 6(b)(3) (2014)). But “[a]n
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employer has a right to expect that its employees will abide by reasonable instructions
and directions.” Vargas v. Nw. Area Found., 673 N.W.2d 200, 206 (Minn. App. 2004),
review denied (Minn. Mar. 30, 2004); see Evenson v. Omnetic’s, 344 N.W.2d 881, 883
(Minn. App. 1984) (stating that an employer has the right to reasonably expect an
employee to work scheduled hours). “[A]n employee’s decision to violate knowingly a
reasonable policy of the employer is misconduct” and “[t]his is particularly true when
there are multiple violations of the same rule involving warnings or progressive
discipline.” Schmidgall, 644 N.W.2d at 806. Despite being warned after the incident in
2008 that he was expected to work when he was punched in, Fish failed to follow this
reasonable directive.
Fish further argues that his conduct was reasonable under the circumstances and
had no negative impact on the YMCA. In Auger v. Gillette Co., the supreme court
determined that two night janitors were not entitled to unemployment benefits after they
were terminated for sleeping on the job. 303 N.W.2d 255, 256-57 (Minn. 1981). In
Auger, the employees were found sleeping on cardboard, with pillows, a blanket, and an
alarm clock. Id. at 257. Relevant in the court’s analysis was the fact that the employees
worked at night with little supervision and accountability. Id. Also relevant were
“complaints of other employees indicat[ing] morale was in danger of being adversely
affected.” Id.Similar to Auger, Fish was an evening custodian with little supervision and
accountability. Also similar is that Fish was comfortably settled with his shoes and
glasses removed. While Fish claims that he was not feeling well, it was quite
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coincidental that he was well enough to work at the moment the other employee entered
the room. See Krantz v. Larco Div., 363 N.W.2d 833, 834 (Minn. App. 1985) (stating
that deliberate work avoidance may support a determination of employment misconduct).
Additionally, Fish’s conduct negatively impacted the YMCA because he challenged his
employer’s ability to trust that he would perform his job duties. See Skarhus v.
Davanni’s Inc., 721 N.W.2d 340, 344 (Minn. App. 2006) (concluding that cashier’s
single theft, in the context of her job responsibilities, had a significant adverse impact
because the employer could no longer trust the employee). The YMCA was also
negatively impacted because, like Auger, an employee complained about Fish’s conduct.
Fish lastly argues that he used his best discretion and committed an error in good
faith. Good-faith errors in judgment if judgment is required are not employment
misconduct. 2014 Minn. Laws ch. 239, art. 2, § 5, at 773 (to be codified at Minn. Stat.
§ 268.095, subd. 6(b)(6) (2014)). When a directive is clear, no judgment is required.
Potter v. N. Empire Pizza, Inc., 805 N.W.2d 872, 877 (Minn. App. 2011), review denied
(Minn. Nov. 15, 2011). Judgment was not required. Fish punched in to work, not to lie
down. He was not in a position to judge whether he should work or lie down. Even if
judgment was required, Fish’s conduct was unreasonable. If Fish were not feeling well
when he punched in, it would have been reasonable for him to either (1) punch out, rest,
and punch in again when he was feeling well, or (2) call his supervisor and seek
permission to lie down. The ULJ appropriately determined that Fish engaged in
employment misconduct that resulted in him being ineligible for unemployment benefits.
Affirmed.
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