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July 09, 2015

Resigning from one’s position for “good cause” is critical to the individual’s eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits


Resigning from one’s position for “good cause” is critical to the individual’s eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits
2015 NY Slip Op 05542, Appellate Division, Third Department

An applicant for Unemployment Insurance Benefits [Claimant] resigned from her position as the circulation coordinator at a public library after seven years of service. She was denied benefits and an administrative law judge [ALJ] sustained the administrative ruling following a hearing.

Claimant appealed and the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board reversed the ALJ’s determination and found that Claimant was, indeed, entitled to receive benefits. The employer appealed the Board’s decision.

The Appellate Division said that "'Whether a claimant has good cause to leave his or her employment is a factual determination to be made by the Board, and its decision will not be disturbed when supported by substantial evidence.'"

Here, said the court, Claimant testified to an ongoing conflict with the technology coordinator at the library, which testimony was supported by another employee. When Claimant brought these facts, along with other facts regarding the technology coordinator actions, to her supervisor’s attention, the supervisor offered no assistance to Claimant. Claimant then sought assistance from management, but was told that she would not receive assistance without the support of her supervisor.

Deferring to the Board's credibility determinations regarding the testimony of the witnesses at its hearing, the Appellate Division explained that there was substantial evidence for the Board's findings that Claimant's employer failed to take “even minimal steps to confirm or refute the alleged report that the technology coordinator had been inappropriately monitoring” Claimant's whereabouts and activities during Claimant's breaks.

The court said that it found no reason to disturb the Board's determination that such inaction by the employer provided good cause for claimant to leave her employment.

The decision is posted on the Internet at:

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