Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: the Claim of Luis H. VALENTIN, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent.
Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed July 25, 1997, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because he voluntarily left his employment without good cause.
Claimant was employed as a porter for a car dealership when he was issued a written warning by the employer indicating that he had been insubordinate on three separate occasions for refusing to perform certain employment duties. Claimant subsequently refused to empty oil receptacles as requested by the employer and he received another written warning advising that any further insubordination would result in his termination. When this warning was repeated to claimant at a meeting with the employer's manager, claimant announced that he would not empty the oil receptacles because he was underpaid. He then threatened to resign unless his salary was increased and walked off the job. Substantial evidence supports the ruling of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board that claimant voluntarily left his employment without good cause. Refusing to perform a reasonably assigned task and then resigning may amount to voluntarily leaving employment without good cause (see, Matter of Valentino [Sweeney], 244 A.D.2d 642, 664 N.Y.S.2d 141, lv. denied 91 N.Y.2d 811, 671 N.Y.S.2d 714, 694 N.E.2d 883). Moreover, dissatisfaction with compensation does not constitute good cause for leaving employment (see, Matter of Kilgallen [Sweeney], 222 A.D.2d 832, 635 N.Y.S.2d 109). Claimant's testimony that he did not resign but was terminated was belied by his own previous statements, as well as other evidence in the record, and created a credibility issue for the Board to resolve (see, Matter of Pappas [Sweeney], 236 A.D.2d 727, 653 N.Y.S.2d 458).
ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, without costs.
MEMORANDUM DECISION.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: July 02, 1998
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)