Crabbe v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Faith Crabbe, :
Petitioner :
: No. 455 C.D. 2016
v. :
: Argued: December 6, 2017
Unemployment Compensation :
Board of Review, :
Respondent :
BEFORE: HONORABLE MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge
HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
HONORABLE ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge
HONORABLE PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
OPINION BY
JUDGE McCULLOUGH FILED: February 28, 2018
Faith Crabbe (Claimant) petitions for review from the February 24, 2016
order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (Board) affirming the
decision of a referee which denied her unemployment compensation benefits under
section 402(e) of Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation Law (Law).1
1
Section 402(e) of the Law, Act of December 5, 1936, Second Ex. Sess., P.L. (1937) 2897,
as amended, 43 P.S. §802(e). Section 402(e) provides that “an employe shall be ineligible for
compensation for any week . . . [i]n which his unemployment is due to his discharge or temporary
suspension from work for willful misconduct connected with his work, irrespective of whether or not
such work is ‘employment’ as defined in this act.” 43 P.S. §802(e).
Statutory Background
The General Assembly amended portions of the Child Protective Services
Law (CPS Law)2 several times in 2014 and 2015. Relevant here, before 2014, the CPS
Law required background checks for new employees who would be working with
children. This background check requirement did not apply to long-time existing
employees, like Claimant. See former Section 6344(k) of the Child Protective Services
Law, 23 Pa.C.S. §6344(k). However, Act 153 of 2014,3 effective December 31, 2014,
eliminated the exception for long-time existing employees. See id., Historical and
Statutory Notes, Act 2014-153 legislation (among other changes, deleting subsection
(k)).
Act 153 of 2014 added a new provision, section 6344.4, 23 Pa.C.S.
§6344.4 to the CPS Law. Among other things, this new provision required
recertification for existing child care employees. In pertinent part, the new section
6344.4 allowed an employee 36 months from the date of his existing certification to
obtain the recertification now required by Act 153 of 2014; however, if his certification
was older than 36 months, the employee needed to obtain recertification within one
year of the effective date of the new section. See former Child Protective Services
Law, 23 Pa.C.S. §6344.4(1)(iii), Historical and Statutory Notes, Act 2015-15
legislation. Because Act 153 of 2014 was generally effective December 31, 2014, a
child care employee with an existing certification older than 36 months would have
until December 31, 2015, to comply. Based on Claimant’s testimony that she held a
2
23 Pa.C.S. §§6301-6386.
3
Act of October 22, 2014, P.L. 2529, No. 153.
2
certification from “many years before,” this deadline would have applied to Claimant.
(Certified Record (C.R.) at Item No. 10; Notes of Testimony (N.T.), 11/3/15, at 53.)
The General Assembly amended Act 153 of 2014 with Act 15 of 2015,
generally effective July 1, 2015.4 In part, Act 15 of 2015 clarified some of the
recertification requirements of the new section 6344.4. Relevant here, section
6344.4(1)(iii) now provides: “Any person identified in Section 6344 with a current
certification issued prior to the effective date of this section [December 31, 2014] shall
be required to obtain the certifications required by this chapter within 60 months of the
date of the person’s oldest certification or, if the current certification is older than 60
months, within one year of the effective date of this section.” 23 Pa.C.S.
§6344.4(1)(iii). Thus, the July 1, 2015 amendment did not disturb Claimant’s
December 31, 2015 deadline.
Facts and Procedural History
Claimant was employed with Greater Norristown Police Athletic League
(Employer) as a facility manager from August 1, 2004, to August 18, 2015. She was
terminated for continuing to ignore guidelines of her employment, which included
insubordination and failure to obtain all child care background clearances within the
specific time period provided by Employer. Claimant filed an application for
unemployment compensation benefits. (C.R. at Item No. 13; Referee’s Finding of Fact
(F.F.) No. 27.) The local service center denied Claimant benefits under section 402(e)
of the Law. Claimant appealed and a referee held a hearing at which Claimant, who
was represented by counsel, and Kenneth Fennal, Employer’s director of operations,
4
Act of July 1, 2015, P.L. 94, No. 15.
3
testified. Ultimately, the referee determined that Claimant was ineligible under section
402(e) of the Law and affirmed the service center’s denial of benefits.
Employer is a non-profit, volunteer organization serving youth and
families in the community with recreational, educational, and cultural programs. Act
153 of 2014, effective December 31, 2014, imposed new requirements on certain
employees and volunteers to obtain state and federal criminal background checks and
child abuse clearances. The clearances included (1) a Pennsylvania State Police
Criminal Background Check; (2) a Department of Human Services Child Abuse
Clearance; and (3) a FBI Criminal Background Check with fingerprinting (collectively,
clearances). (C.R. at Item No. 13; Referee’s op.; F.F. Nos. 2-3.)
Claimant alleged she sustained a back injury while at work on May 7,
2015.5 Claimant sent an email to several other employees advising she would be out
of work until May 25, 2015. Mr. Fennal responded by requesting that Claimant provide
a doctor’s note before her return and reminding her that all further communications
relating to her employment status should remain private and should be directed only to
her immediate supervisor. On May 25, 2015, Claimant returned to work with no
limitations or restrictions. (C.R. at Item No. 13; F.F. Nos. 4-8.)
As noted above, the legislature enacted Act 15 of 2015, effective July 1,
2015, which amended Act 153 of 2014. Act 15 included a new deadline of August 25,
5
On May 13, 2015, Employer held a staff meeting. (C.R. at Item No. 4, Exhibit 10.) The
meeting minutes indicate that the new clearance requirements for all employees, “effective, July 1 st”
were discussed. Id. While Claimant’s name does not appear in the list of those in attendance, (id.),
Claimant did acknowledge in her testimony that she knew of the clearance requirement in May, (C.R.
at Item No. 10, N.T., 11/3/15, at 64).
4
2015, for prospective adult volunteers, who had never previously volunteered, to obtain
the required clearances.6
On May 27, 2015, Mr. Fennal emailed several employees, including
Claimant, with an explanation of how the employees could obtain their clearances and
included a link. On June 1, 2015, Mr. Fennal emailed Claimant, reminding her that she
had not provided information or documentation regarding her alleged May 7, 2015
work injury. Thereafter, Claimant alleged that she sustained a second back injury and
Employer placed her on light duty. Claimant returned to full duty on June 27, 2015.
(C.R. at Item No. 13; F.F. Nos. 9-11, 14.)
In the meantime, on June 15, 2015, Mr. Fennal emailed several
employees, including Claimant, with a summary of proposed changes to the CPS Law.
On June 22, 2015, Mr. Fennal again sent an email to several employees, including
Claimant, stating that all employees were expected to provide the required clearances
by June 29, 2015, so that the clearances would be “in place” by July, 1, 2015. 7 (C.R.
6
In one of the findings of fact, the referee stated that, under Act 15, “[a]ll other compliance
deadlines remain[ed] the same.” (C.R. at Item No. 13; F.F. No. 13.) This was a misstatement in that
Act 153 of 2014, which allowed those with existing certifications 36 months to obtain the new
clearances, was amended by Act 15 of 2015 to permit those existing certifications issued prior to
December 31, 2014, 60 months to obtain the new clearances, unless the certification was older than
60 months, in which case the employee would have until December 31, 2015. However, as discussed
further below, this finding was, at most, tangential to the referee’s reasoning for finding that Claimant
was dismissed for willful misconduct.
7
While the specific date that Claimant first learned of the deadline for these clearances is
unclear, during the hearing, under questioning by Claimant’s present counsel of record, Claimant was
asked:
[Claimant’s counsel:] Now were you aware that the law was being
changed as of July 1 which required everyone to apply for these
clearances?
5
at Item No. 4, Exhibit 15.) As of July 1, 2015, Claimant had not provided Employer
with the necessary clearances. On July 8, 2015, Mr. Fennal sent an email reminding
employees, including Claimant, that the clearances were “NEEDED FROM ALL.”
(C.R. at Item No. 4, Exhibit 16.) On July 20, 2015, Mr. Fennal sent Claimant an email
stating that he had not yet received her clearances or her applications for them, with
the exception of the FBI fingerprint request. (C.R. at Item No. 13; F.F. Nos. 12, 15-
17.)
On July 23, 2015, Mr. Fennal sent all employees a memo with information
regarding the required clearances and reminded them that the deadline for submitting
clearances was July 1, 2015. The memo also stated that Employer’s Employee
Compliance Committee determined that any employee who had not yet submitted
clearances and/or proof of applications to Mr. Fennal would have 48 hours to do so.
The policy was to take effect upon receipt of the memo, which was sent by email and
in person, the verification of which was to be done by “read receipt.” (C.R. at Item No.
13; F.F. No. 19.) The memo warned that failure to comply would subject an employee
[Claimant:] Yes.
[Claimant’s counsel:] Okay. When did you come to know that?
[Claimant:] We had a staff meeting.
...
[Claimant’s counsel:] And when was that held?
[Claimant:] That was in May or June. June.
(C.R. at Item No. 10; N.T., 11/3/15, at 53-54.) On cross-examination, Claimant conceded that she
learned of the clearance requirement in May 2015. (Id. at 64.)
6
to disciplinary action, including termination. Claimant received Mr. Fennal’s July 23,
2015 memo. (C.R. at Item No. 13; F.F. Nos. 18-20.)
On July 24, 2015, Mr. Fennal notified all employees of his plan of action.
Anyone without “some kind of ‘paper trail’” of clearances would not be able to enter
the building the following Monday. (C.R. at Item No. 13; F.F. No. 21.) “Paper trail”
meant either an email indicating that the employees had applied for clearances or had
the printed/mailed clearance paperwork. Id.
On the following Monday, Mr. Fennal escorted Claimant from the
building because she had not submitted all clearances to Employer “as required under
the [CPS] Law.” (C.R. at Item No. 13; F.F. No. 22.) Claimant obtained one of the
clearances in July 2015, and one in early to mid-August 2015; however, the referee
noted that she did not obtain the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Background
Check.8 On August 18, 2015, Mr. Fennal presented Claimant with a letter of
termination. The referee found that Claimant was discharged for “continuing to ignore
the guidelines of her employment, including but not limited to the State of PA
Clearances requirements, which elevated to the level of insubordination on multiple
occasions.” (C.R. at Item No. 13; F.F. No. 27.)
In his reasoning, the referee noted that Claimant was given information
and instructions regarding applying for the clearances in May of 2015, and was notified
about the legal necessity of the clearances. The referee observed that Claimant had
well over two months to take the proper steps to retain her position and employment
with Employer. Finally, the referee stated that Claimant had not offered any reasonable
explanation as to why she could not obtain the clearances “as required under the [CPS]
Law within the reasonable amount of time provided by the [E]mployer.” (C.R. at Item
8
Claimant maintains that she had applied for and was in the process of obtaining the third
clearance from the Pennsylvania State Police when she was terminated. (Claimant’s brief at 8.)
7
No. 13; Referee’s op.) Thus, the referee concluded that Claimant’s actions amounted
to willful misconduct and affirmed the service center’s determination denying
Claimant benefits.
Claimant appealed to the Board, which affirmed. The Board adopted and
incorporated the referee’s findings and conclusions in their entirety. From this
decision, Claimant now petitions for review to this Court.
Discussion
On appeal,9 Claimant argues that the Board erred by denying her benefits
because it applied the wrong burden of proof to substantiate a finding of willful
misconduct. Claimant asserts that, although she “tried to the best of her ability to obtain
the necessary clearances in a timely manner,” her failure to do so was not a deliberate
and willful disregard of the interests of the employer that elevated her conduct to willful
misconduct. (Claimant’s brief at 9). Claimant also argues that her “minimal
understanding of the re-certification requirements,” and lack of computer skills and
ongoing home access to the internet meant that she “could not possibly have committed
willful misconduct by failing to obtain the necessary clearances in a timely manner.”
(Claimant’s brief at 10.) Additionally, Claimant asserts that Employer did not give her
accurate legal deadlines, sufficient instructions, or timely notification as to how to
obtain the clearances in order to keep her position.
9
Our review is limited to determining whether necessary findings of fact were supported by
substantial evidence, whether errors of law were committed, or whether constitutional rights were
violated. Hessou v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 942 A.2d 194, 198 (Pa. Cmwlth.
2008). Findings of fact made by the Board, which are not specifically challenged, are conclusive
upon review. Campbell v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 694 A.2d 1167, 1169 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 1997).
8
The Board responds that, regardless of the fact that the statutory deadline
for current employees, such as Claimant, to comply with certification requirements was
December 31, 2015, both parties understood Employer’s deadline to be July 1, 2015,
and further, Claimant waived the issue by raising it for the first time on appeal. We
agree.
As the Board notes, a review of Claimant’s petition for appeal to the Board
reveals that this issue was not raised. See C.R. at Item No. 12. “On appeal from a final
order of an administrative agency, a reviewing court may address only those issues
which were raised in exceptions to the agency.” Gateway School District v.
Department of Education, 634 A.2d 738, 741 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1989). See also Pa.R.A.P.
1551(a).10 Not having been alerted to the question of rule reasonableness by Claimant’s
petition, the Board did not address it. The failure of Claimant to raise the issue with
the Board impairs our ability to review the Board’s decision with respect to that issue.
10
The rule provides:
No question shall be heard or considered by the court which was not raised before the
government unit except:
(1) Questions involving the validity of a statute.
(2) Questions involving the jurisdiction of the government unit over
the subject matter of the adjudication.
(3) Questions which the court is satisfied that the petitioner could not
by the exercise of due diligence have raised before the government
unit. If, upon hearing before the court, the court is satisfied that any
such additional question within the scope of this paragraph should be
so raised, it shall remand the record to the government unit for further
consideration of the additional question.
Pa.R.A.P. 1551(a).
9
Consequently, the issue was waived.11 See Chapman v. Unemployment Compensation
Board of Review, 20 A.3d 603, 611 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2011) (A claimant waived an issue
by failing to raise it before the referee or the Board); Reading Nursing Center v.
Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 663 A.3d 270, 275 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1995)
(same); Tri State Scientific v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 589 A.2d
305, 307 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1991) (same).
11
We note that the entirety of the Dissent’s analysis is devoted to addressing this argument,
which constitutes a mere two sentences of Claimant’s entire 12-page brief. A review of the record
reveals that the heart of Claimant’s appeal from the outset was based upon an assertion that, because
she did not clearly understand the process necessary to obtain the clearances, lived in a low-income
area of Norristown, PA, had a hostile supervisor, lacked computer skills and ongoing home access to
the internet, and believed (without any evidence) that other employees were in a similar inchoate
status, her behavior should not be classified as willful misconduct. See C.R. at Item No. 2; C.R. at
Item No. 7 at 2A; C.R. at Item No. 12. Notably, the issue of the legal compliance deadline was only
raised by Claimant for the first time in her petition for review, in which she focuses on the July versus
August dates where she states, “The Employer, [UC] Referee and the UCBR misstated the
recertification deadlines required for existing employees that were outlined in the Child Protective
Services Law Act and required by the 2015 amendments to same.” (Petition for Review at ¶4)
(emphasis in original). It is only in her brief to this Court that Claimant for the first time specifically
references the December 31, 2015 compliance date. (Claimant’s brief at 7-8.)
In taking the position that the issue was not waived, the Dissent asserts that the following
quote from Claimant’s appeal from the local service center’s determination should have somehow
prompted Employer, who was not represented by counsel, to sua sponte explain why its rule deviated
from the statutory deadline, despite not being asked as much by Claimant’s counsel during the
hearing: “It should be further noted that [Claimant] was not only a volunteer but a long term employee
of [Employer].” (C.R. at Item No. 7 at 2A.) The Majority fails to see how such a statement
sufficiently raised the issue of whether Employer could choose the July deadline such that it should
have put Employer on notice to come prepared to the hearing to address the matter. Further, if
Claimant were indeed raising the issue in the above quote, it is inexplicable why Claimant’s counsel
did not then address it during his questioning of Mr. Fennal in the hearing that followed.
Contrary to the Dissent, the Majority does not misperceive the procedural posture in which
the issue of the inaccuracy of the referee’s Finding of Fact No. 13 (relating to the deadlines of Act
15) was purportedly raised. Claimant did not raise any issue concerning this finding or the deadlines
in her appeal to the Board.
10
Furthermore, even if the issue were not waived, Claimant’s argument
would fail, as Employer’s alleged mistaken reading of the CPS Law and the referee’s
inclusion of a finding regarding compliance deadlines for new volunteers, which was
inapplicable to Claimant, had no impact upon the referee’s conclusion that Claimant’s
actions amounted to willful misconduct. Essentially, Claimant argues that because, in
retrospect, she has identified that Employer’s rule regarding the July 1, 2015 deadline
was, in her opinion, based upon an erroneous reading of Act 15, an error which the
referee did not realize, Claimant’s choice not to comply with the Employer’s rule was
excusable because the rule was unreasonable.
Willful misconduct is defined as (1) wanton and willful disregard of an
employer’s interests; (2) deliberate violation of an employer’s rules; (3) disregard of
the standards of behavior that an employer can rightfully expect from an employee; or,
(4) negligence showing an intentional disregard of the employer’s interest or the
employee’s duties and obligations. Grieb v. Unemployment Compensation Board of
Review, 827 A.2d 422, 425 (Pa. 2003). If an employer alleges misconduct because of
a claimant’s violation of a work rule, the employer must prove the existence of the rule
and its violation, and the court will determine whether the claimant’s violation
constituted willful misconduct. Caterpillar, Inc. v. Unemployment Compensation
Board of Review, 703 A.2d 452, 456 (Pa. 1997). “[W]e examine whether ‘the rule or
policy is reasonable in light of all the circumstances, and if so, whether the employee
[had] good cause to violate the rule or policy.’” Id. (quoting Spirnak v. Unemployment
Compensation Board of Review, 557 A.2d 451, 453 (Pa. 1989)). The reasonableness
of an employer’s rule is determined based upon whether its application of the rule under
the circumstances was “fair, just, and appropriate to pursue a legitimate interest.”
Caterpillar, Inc., 703 A.2d at 456-57.
11
Here, there can be no doubt that Employer, an organization that serves
children, had a legitimate interest in requiring its employees to obtain criminal
background checks in an effort to protect those children. Our legislature confirms the
existence of that very interest in protecting children with the enactment of Act 153 of
2014 and Act 15 of 2015, which mandate the acquisition of the clearances.
Further, Employer gave Claimant two months to comply with the directive
to obtain these clearances and Claimant was reminded of her need to submit them no
less than six times. (C.R. at Item No. 4, Exhibits 11, 13, 15-16; C.R. Item No. 10,
Exhibits 8-9.) The Board, as fact-finder in this case, adopted the findings of the referee,
who determined that Employer allowed Claimant “a reasonable amount of time” to
obtain the criminal background clearances. (C.R. at Item No. 13; Referee’s op.) A
reasonable person could certainly conclude that such a time frame was “fair, just, and
appropriate to pursue a legitimate interest”— a fact which is not undermined simply
because it was not as lax as would have been legally permissible under Act 153 of
2014. Caterpillar, 703 A.2d at 457.
The referee found:
12. On June 15, 2015, Mr. Fenn[al] sent an e-mail to the
[C]laimant and several other employees, which included a
summary of proposed change[s] to the PA Child Protective
Services Law to become effective July 1, 2015.
...
15. The [C]laimant had not provided the [E]mployer with
the necessary clearances as of July 1, 2015.
16. On July 20, 2015, Mr. Fenn[al] sent an e-mail to the
[C]laimant.
12
17. The e-mail reminded the [C]laimant the [E]mployer has
not received her clearances or application of items, except
FBI Fingerprint request.
18. On July 23, 2015, Mr. Fenn[al] provided all employees
with information of required clearances.
19. Mr. Fenn[al] reminded all employees the deadline for
submitting clearances was July 1, 2015 via e-mail, staff
meeting, and in-person. The Employee Compliance
Committee had determined any employee that has not yet
submitted their clearances and/or proof of applications will
have 48 hours to do so. This will take effect, as of receipt of
this employee memo, via e-mail and in-person. Verification
will be received by “read receipt.” Failure to comply will
subject an employee to disciplinary action, not limited to and
including termination.
20. The [C]laimant received Mr. Fenn[al]’s e-mail sent on
July 23, 2015.
21. On Friday, July 24, 2015, Mr. Fenn[al] notified all
employees of his plan of action after talking to several Board
Members. Anyone without some kind of “paper trail” of the
clearances will not be able to come into the building on
Monday. “Paper trail” means an e-mail indicating that they
have actually applied for “clearances” and/or has the actually
printed/mailed clearance paperwork.
22. On July 27, 2015, Mr. Fenn[al] escorted the [C]laimant
out of the building because she did not have all clearances
submitted to the [E]mployer as required under the Law.
23. The [C]laimant obtained a Child Abuse Clearance near
the end of July of 2015.
24. The [C]laimant obtained an FBI Criminal Background
Check in early-to-mid August of 2015.
25. The [C]laimant has not obtained a Pennsylvania State
Police Criminal Background Check.
13
26. On August 18, 2015, Mr. Fenn[al] presented the
[C]laimant with a letter of termination.
27. The [C]laimant was discharged for continuing to ignore
guidelines of her employment, including but not limited to
the State of PA Clearances requirements, which elevated to
the level of insubordination on multiple occasions.
(C.R. at Item No. 13; F.F. Nos. 1, 5, 12, 15-27.)
Furthermore, with regard to the specific date that Employer chose as the
deadline for compliance, it is clear from the record that both Claimant and Employer
were operating under the July 1, 2015 deadline for all employees to obtain the required
clearances. Moreover, Claimant did not raise the issue of the statutorily-permissible
December 31, 2015 deadline—as opposed to Employer’s imposed deadline of July 1,
2015—as the basis for her non-compliance with Employer’s rule; nor did Claimant
raise her inability to comply with the deadline, seek help attaining the clearances, or
ask for an extension.12 Claimant simply chose not to comply without reasonable
explanation. (C.R. at Item No. 13; Referee’s op.)
Consequently, there is substantial evidence supporting the findings
necessary for the Board to conclude that Claimant was discharged for willful
12
During argument, counsel for Claimant suggested that Claimant was unable to obtain the
third clearance because her only means of doing so was through use of Employer’s work computers,
as she lacked ongoing home internet access, and that, once Claimant was disallowed from entering
Employer’s building, she lacked the means by which to obtain the third clearance. This argument,
however, is belied by the fact that Claimant was made aware that she had not submitted all three
clearances on July 23 and was warned that she would have 48 hours to do so. Claimant had the ability
to obtain the clearances at work during those subsequent 48 hours but again took no action and, as a
result, was understandably no longer permitted to enter the building. Furthermore, we note that
Claimant was able to access the internet from outside the workplace while on leave, which was
demonstrated by her email correspondence with Employer regarding her alleged back injury. (C.R. at
Item No. 10, Exhibits 4-5, 7.)
14
misconduct. As such, the Board correctly determined that Claimant was ineligible for
benefits pursuant to section 402(e) of the Law.13
13
We note that the entirety of the Dissent’s analysis is premised upon the hypothetical notion
that Employer inadvertently chose as its compliance date the date that the law took effect (July 1,
2015) instead of adopting the December 31, 2015 statutory compliance date for existing employees,
which was the date by which Employers, under penalty of law, had to ensure all such employees were
compliant. See 23 Pa.C.S. §6349(c) (allowing civil penalties up to $2,500 for noncompliance with
child care personnel regulations). The Dissent acknowledges that Employer’s reasoning in choosing
the July 1, 2015 date is unknown (presumably because the issue was not raised during the hearing)
stating, “Employer failed to explain why its new rule was reasonable in light of the deviation from
the predicate statutory requirements.” (Dissent, slip. op. at 2.)
Furthermore, despite the Dissent’s recognition of “an employer’s prerogative to impose rules
which are more stringent than those set by the General Assembly,” (Dissent, slip. op. at 7), taken to
its logical conclusion, the Dissent’s theory would prohibit employers from doing just that unless,
apparently, the employer is able to explain its rationale in such a way that the Dissent would consider
sufficient to “interfere with an employee’s receipt of UC benefits.” (Id.) Moreover, despite the
Dissent’s insistence that Employer was required to explain why its “new rule was crafted to deviate
from predicate statutory requirements,” (id.), the Dissent has not provided any authority which would
require as much.
With regard to the issue of why Claimant’s application for the third clearance did not satisfy
Employer’s rule, the Dissent quotes from Claimant’s appeal from the determination of the local
service center: “Claimant had previously been told that as long as she documented her continuing
efforts to get the certification, she would not be terminated. [Employer] terminated her despite this
promise.” (Id.) However, Claimant’s alleged receipt of the third clearance by the date of her
termination was an assertion made solely by Claimant and, consequently, because it is not a fact of
record, its adoption by the Dissent constitutes fact-finding. As to why Claimant’s application for the
third clearance on Monday, July 27, 2015, did not satisfy the requirement that employees submit their
clearances and/or proof of applications within 48 hours or risk termination, the Dissent fails to note
that the memo giving that instruction was sent on Thursday, July 23, 2015. (C.R. at Item No. 13; F.F.
Nos. 18-19.) As such, Claimant’s alleged attempt to apply for the third clearance four days later was
plainly not within the 48 hours the memo allowed. See supra note 12. Any discussion of alleged
“promises” made by Employer are simply irrelevant as they are, again, not facts of record.
Finally, to the extent that the Dissent suggests the Referee’s inclusion of those portions of Act
15 which were inapplicable to Claimant was a “patent misstatement of the law” requiring reversal,
(Dissent, slip op. at 3), even if the Dissent were correct that Employer and the referee misunderstood
the re-certification requirements of the CPS Law, it is clear that striking the offending portions of that
15
Accordingly, we affirm the order of the Board.
________________________________
PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
finding of fact would not disturb the referee’s reasoning underlying his conclusion that Claimant’s
conduct amounted to willful misconduct. Instead, the referee emphasized that Claimant had over two
months to take the necessary steps to complete the paperwork for the clearances, had still not obtained
all clearances by the time of her termination, and had not provided any reasonable explanation for her
failure to do so. Although Claimant now makes an argument in passing regarding the reasonableness
of the specific compliance date Employer chose, at no point has Claimant suggested that the fact that
Act 15 permitted her additional time to obtain clearances was the basis upon which she refused to
comply with Employer’s rule. Once again, Claimant cannot rely upon a since-discovered error as a
retroactive justification for her prior continual decision to willfully ignore Employer’s work rule.
16
IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Faith Crabbe, :
Petitioner :
: No. 455 C.D. 2016
v. :
:
Unemployment Compensation :
Board of Review, :
Respondent :
ORDER
AND NOW, this 28th day of February, 2018, the February 24, 2016
order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review is hereby affirmed.
________________________________
PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Faith Crabbe, :
Petitioner :
:
v. : No. 455 C.D. 2016
: Argued: December 6, 2017
Unemployment Compensation :
Board of Review, :
Respondent :
BEFORE: HONORABLE MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge
HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
HONORABLE ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge
HONORABLE PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
DISSENTING OPINION
BY JUDGE SIMPSON FILED: February 28, 2018
Because the Unemployment Compensation (UC) authorities committed
an acknowledged error of law and mistake of fact, I respectfully dissent.
This case involves termination of a long-term employee for violation of
a new employer rule predicated on new statutory requirements. Here, neither the
employer, the Greater Norristown Police Athletic League (Employer), nor the UC
authorities understood all the new statutory requirements, which in pertinent part
required those with employment that brings them in contact with children to obtain
re-certification (clearances) by a specified date under the Child Protective Services
Law (CPS Law).1
1
23 Pa. C.S. §§6301-6386.
Unfortunately, Employer’s new rule did not conform to the predicate
new statutory requirements as to onset of statutory duties. In particular, amendments
to the CPS Law required Faith Crabbe’s (Claimant) re-certification by December 31;
however, Employer’s new rule required re-certification by July 1. Neither Employer,
which bore the initial burden of proof, nor the UC authorities, addressed this legal
problem. In particular, Employer did not attempt to explain why a July 1 compliance
date was needed when the statute did not require Claimant’s compliance until
December 31. July 1 was the effective date of the relevant amendment to the CPS
Law. Claimant was removed from the Employer’s building on July 27, and officially
terminated on August 18.
I would hold that in a willful misconduct case, the failure of the
employer to explain why its new rule deviates from the predicate statutory
requirements is fatal to its attempts to defeat unemployment compensation for the
terminated employee. Stated differently, I would reverse the denial of
unemployment benefits because Employer failed to explain why its new rule was
reasonable in light of the deviation from the predicate statutory requirements.
The Majority acknowledges the UC authorities’ misstatement of law.
Maj. Slip Op. at 5 n. 6. The Majority also acknowledges the UC authorities’
“inclusion of a finding regarding compliance deadlines for new volunteers, which
was inapplicable to Claimant ….” Maj. Slip Op., at 10-11. The Majority dismisses
these faults because Claimant failed to timely raise them, and because the faults “had
no impact upon the referee’s conclusion that Claimant’s actions amounted to willful
misconduct.” Id. I disagree with both these positions.
RES - 2
First, as to waiver, information regarding the re-certification timelines
of the amendments to the CPS Law was submitted by Employer as part of its
Separation Information. See Certified Record (C.R.), Item #4 at 12. This
information was identified and admitted during the hearing before the referee. E.g.,
Referee’s Hr’g, 11/3/15, Notes of Testimony (N.T.), at 6.
Also, the referee relied on this submission in part, and he made specific
findings based on its content. See Referee’s Dec., 12/1/15, Findings of Fact (F.F.)
Nos. 3, 13. In particular, the referee found as follows:
13. Pennsylvania legislature created Act 15 to become
effective July 1, 2015. Act 15 amended the [CPS] Law to
clarify changes made to Act 153 of 2014. The Act
included a new deadline date for prospective adult
volunteers, who have never volunteered before, to obtain
the required clearances by August 25, 2015. All other
compliance deadlines remain the same. Volunteers are
required to obtain the clearances if they provide care,
supervision, guidance or control and have routine
interaction with children.
F.F. No. 13 (emphasis added).
As discussed below, and as acknowledged by the Majority, the
emphasized portion of Finding of Fact No. 13 is a misstatement of the law. Further,
the referee did not focus on the parts of the amendments to the CPS Law which
related to Claimant; instead, the referee addressed a deadline for certification of new
volunteers, rather than re-certifications for existing employees. Obviously, neither
Employer nor the referee understood the predicate re-certification requirements of
the CPS Law.
RES - 3
Because evidence about the re-certification dates was received by the
referee, and because the evidence was actually utilized by the referee, and later the
Board, to make findings of fact, albeit incorrectly, I cannot conclude that this issue
was waived. Rather, the issue was raised by Employer at the hearing.
Additionally, Claimant’s counsel raised the referee’s erroneous Finding
of Fact 13 in the appeal to the Board.2 Counsel wrote: “It should be further noted
that [Claimant] was not only a volunteer but a long term employee of [Employer].”
C.R., Item #7 at 2A. For reasons that are unclear, the Board did not address this
significant factual error on appeal.
The Majority claims without explanation that the absence of discussion
by the Board (which adopted the referee’s findings and conclusions without
supplementation) somehow impairs its review for errors of law. Inconsistently, the
Majority then devotes several pages to its extensive discussion of the issue. Under
these circumstances, the Majority’s unexplained claim of impairment is not
persuasive. Certainly, I suffered from no impairment to my ability to discern and
evaluate errors of law.
More broadly, I cannot hold Claimant to a higher level of understanding
of the new statutory requirements than Employer (whose misinformation she was
2
Much of the Majority’s discussion in a long note 11 is premised on the mistaken belief
that Claimant raised this challenge in an appeal from the local service center’s determination to
the referee, prior to the hearing. This is incorrect. Claimant’s counsel raised the issue of the
inaccuracy of Finding of Fact 13 after the referee’s hearing, in her appeal to the Board. Because
the Majority misperceives the procedural posture in which Claimant’s counsel raised the issue,
some of the Majority’s discussion makes little sense in the context of this case.
RES - 4
following) and the UC authorities. This is especially true in a willful misconduct
proceeding, where Claimant bears no initial burden of proof, and has no ability to
explain why Employer crafted its new rule as it did. Only Employer has control of
rule-design rationale.
Second, as to determinations that Claimant was guilty of willful
misconduct, Employer’s new rule required existing employees to obtain re-
certification, or at least “proof of applications[,]” by July 1. See F.F. Nos. 19
(Director reminded employees that deadline for submitting clearances was July 1),
21 (referencing “proof of applications” and “some kind of ‘paper trail’”).
At the time of termination, Claimant had two of the three clearances
required. Further, she had paperwork establishing that she applied for the third
clearance. In fact, she applied with the help of her supervisor. Claimant physically
received the last clearance after she was terminated. Br. of Pet’r at 8; N.T. at 54-63.
However, there were no findings by the UC authorities, and hence no fact-based
discussion by the Majority, as to why Claimant’s “paper trail” or “proof of
applications” did not satisfy Employer’s new rule. To the contrary, the UC
authorities, after noting Employer’s “paper trail” rule as of Friday, July 24, F.F. No.
21, found that Claimant was escorted from the building on Monday, July 27,
“because she did not have all the clearances submitted to the employer as required
under the Law.” F.F. No. 22 (emphasis added).3 The UC authorities made no
findings whatsoever as to the dates of Claimant’s applications or her “paper trail.”
3
Contrary to the assertion of the Majority, the UC authorities made no finding that
Claimant did not apply for the last clearance until Monday, July 27, and the Majority does not
quote any in its opinion.
RES - 5
This “proof of applications” question was specifically raised in
Claimant’s appeal to the Board, but the Board never answered it. C.R., Item #7 at
2A (“Claimant had previously been told that as long as she documented her
continuing efforts to get the certification, she would not be terminated. [Employer]
terminated her despite this promise.”). This unexplained gap in factual findings,
together with the referee’s erroneous legal statement as to the statutory compliance
date for Claimant, cause real concern whether the UC authorities’ misunderstanding
of the predicate statutory requirements clouded their judgment as to conduct
amounting to willful misconduct.
As to whether the Employer’s new rule was reasonable, we examine
whether a rule or policy is reasonable in light of all the circumstances. Caterpillar,
Inc. v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 703 A.2d 452, 456-57 (Pa. 1997).
However, there is no indication that the circumstance of the statutory December 31
compliance date was considered at all by either Employer or the UC authorities.
Further, there is no indication that the reason for Employer’s deviation from the
predicate statutory requirements was considered at all by the UC authorities.
Therefore, in these two particulars, the UC authorities did not consider all the
important circumstances.
The statutory requirement for the onset of new duties was a policy
matter of concern to the General Assembly, and not a technical quibble. Thus, after
eight-and-a-half months, the General Assembly amended Act 153 of 20144 with Act
4
Act of October 22, 2014, P.L. 2529, No. 153, effective December 31, 2014.
RES - 6
15 of 2015.5 In part, the 2015 Act clarified some of the new re-certification
requirements of the 2014 Act. Relevant here, through Section 6344.4(1)(iii) of the
2015 Act, 23 Pa. C.S. §6344.4(1)(iii), the General Assembly sought to extend, not
reduce, the time for re-certification, while retaining a December 31, 2015 re-
certification date for older existing certifications (extending certain periods of re-
certification from 36 months to 60 months); see C.R., Item #4 at 12 (titled “Bill
Summary,” “[Act 15 of 2015] more clearly defines who is subject to the
requirements and makes those less onerous in some instances.”). Employer’s new
rule not only deviated from the new statutory requirements, it actually moved in the
opposite direction from what the General Assembly was trying to accomplish in
making compliance less onerous in some instances.
I recognize an employer’s prerogative to impose rules which are more
stringent than those set by the General Assembly. I also recognize that an employer
may terminate an employee who does not comply with its rules. It is a different
question, however, whether an employer can interfere with a terminated employee’s
receipt of UC benefits without first explaining why its new rule was crafted to
deviate from predicate statutory requirements. This should not be burdensome, as
almost any logical explanation could suffice. But, Employer did not even meet this
low threshold.
5
Act of July 1, 2015, P.L. 94, No. 15, generally effective July 1, 2015.
RES - 7
Because not all the circumstances regarding the new Employer rule
were considered, I cannot conclude the non-compliant rule was reasonable.
Accordingly, I would reverse.
ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge
President Judge Leavitt joins in this dissent.
RES - 8