DocketNumber: No. CV93 532802S
Citation Numbers: 1994 Conn. Super. Ct. 7944
Judges: KOLETSKY, J.
Filed Date: 8/8/1994
Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 7/5/2016
The board certified the record of this appeal to the court CT Page 7945 pursuant to General Statutes §
The plaintiff was employed by defendant Riverside Health Care Center, Inc. (employer) from October 31, 1989 until May 20, 1993. On or about May 22, 1993, the plaintiff was a "no call no show." The plaintiff was at home caring for her father, who suffers from cancer. The care rendered by the plaintiff was not acute or emergent in nature, and the plaintiff could have found time to call her employer. The plaintiff was aware that her employment status was tenuous because of poor attendance.
The plaintiff was late to work on four occasions in January and February, 1993 due to personal problems that needed the plaintiff's attention. These "lates," together with absences for sick leave, were the subject of a counseling notice on April 5, 1993. The plaintiff received a prior notice on December 22, 1992 based upon twenty absences, which was considered excessive. The plaintiff received a warning on August 13, 1992 for being late nine times since June 10, 1992. The employer attempted to work with the plaintiff to improve her attendance on many occasions.
On June 22, 1993, the defendant ruled the plaintiff ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits. On July 8, 1993, the plaintiff filed a timely appeal from that decision to the board for a hearing before an appeals referee.
After a hearing, in a decision dated August 6, 1993, the referee affirmed the decision of the defendant and dismissed the appeal. The referee found that the employer had proven that the plaintiff was discharged for repeated wilful misconduct, because of the plaintiff's absenteeism and tardiness. Therefore, the referee found that the plaintiff was ineligible for unemployment compensation pursuant to General Statutes §
The plaintiff appealed the referee's decision to the board on August 12, 1993. On September 24, 1993, the board affirmed the decision of the referee and dismissed the plaintiff's appeal. After reviewing the record, the board adopted the referee's findings of fact and decision as its own. (ROR, Item 9).
On October 4, 1993, the plaintiff filed a motion to reopen the board's decision of September 24, 1993. (ROR, Item 10). On November 3, 1993, the board issued a decision denying the CT Page 7946 plaintiff's motion to reopen. (ROR, Item 12). In its decision, the board stated that while it recognized and sympathized with the plaintiff's personal situation, the record amply supported its previous decision finding the plaintiff ineligible for benefits because of wilful misconduct due to excessive absenteeism and tardiness.
The plaintiff filed a timely appeal of the board's decision to the superior court, which was received by the board on November 9, 1993. (ROR, Item 13).
To the extent that an appeal pursuant to General Statutes §
"Whether the circumstances of an employee's termination constitute wilful misconduct on the employee's part is a mixed question of law and fact." Id., 386. "The application of statutory criteria to determine a claimant's eligibility for unemployment compensation under §§
General Statutes §
(1) the individual committed the act intentionally or deliberately or with reckless indifference for the probable CT Page 7947 consequences of such act; and (2) the individual intended the act to have a detrimental effect on his employer or evinced a reckless disregard of a substantial employer interest.
Section
To find that an individual was discharged or suspended for repeated wilful misconduct, the Administrator must find that: (1) the individual committed two or more acts of wilful misconduct, as determined under subsection (a), either the same or different in nature, during the course of his employment; (2) the final act of the individual which actually precipitated the discharge or suspension constituted wilful misconduct, under subsection (a); and (3) the individual committed at least one prior act of wilful misconduct within the year immediately preceding the act which precipitated the discharge or suspension.
Section
Absence from work, in and of itself, is not wilful misconduct. Absence from work is wilful misconduct, under section
31-236-26 only if the individual did not have good cause for being absent from work, or the individual failed without justification to take those steps reasonably necessary to notify his employer of his absence and the reason therefor.
Section
The Administrator shall find that tardiness constitutes repeated wilful misconduct, under section
31-236-26 , only CT Page 7948 if: (1) such tardiness is excessive; and (2) the individual's employer did not condone the individual's tardiness explicitly or by acquiescence, or by condonation of repeated tardiness of other employees; and (3) such tardiness was without reasonable excuse, or where the tardiness could have been anticipated by the individual, the individual failed without justification to take those steps reasonably necessary to notify the employer of his expected tardiness.
The record contains copies of warnings dated April 5, 1993, December 22, 1992, June 10, 1992, March 7, 1992, and August 3, 1992 received by the plaintiff from her employer for tardiness and absenteeism. (ROR, Items 1, 5). The April 5, 1993 warning reflects five absences and four late arrivals by the plaintiff in 1993. The December 22, 1992 warning reflects twenty absences in 1992, which "is considered excessive." In the notice dated June 10, 1992, reflecting five late arrivals and four absences, it is noted that over the next two months, "progressive discipline will continue could include probation or termination." The warning dated March 7, 1992 is labelled a "final warning," and was for a "no call, no show." This warning states: "The next [no call, no show], regardless of cause will result in loss of employment. The importance of reporting absence, even if its (sic) late is critical for providing continuity of patient care." The August 3, 1992 warning reports nine occasions of tardiness since the June 10, 1992 warning.
It is clear that the warnings described above support the finding by the board and referee that the plaintiff's tardiness constituted wilful misconduct under General Statutes §
It is found that the evidence in the record supports the findings of fact of the referee and board. The court finds that the decision by the referee and board that the plaintiff's conduct constituted "repeated wilful misconduct" pursuant to General Statutes §
For the foregoing reasons, the plaintiff's appeal is dismissed.
Koletsky, J.