Opinion
2014-07-31
In the Matter of the Claim of Victor C. MANIESON, Appellant. v. COMMISSIONER OF LABOR, Respondent.
Victor C. Maineson, Albany, for appellant. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York City (Bessie Bazile of counsel), for respondent.
Victor C. Maineson, Albany, for appellant. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, New York City (Bessie Bazile of counsel), for respondent.
Before: LAHTINEN, J.P., McCARTHY, ROSE, LYNCH and CLARK, JJ.
Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed December 3, 2013, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because his employment was terminated due to misconduct.
Claimant worked as a direct support professional at a facility operated by the employer, a nonprofit organization that provides services to developmentally disabled adults. Following a number of instances in which claimant failed to follow the employer's protocol governing the care of its clients, the employer issued a final warning on May 15, 2013 advising him that such further conduct could result in his termination. The day after claimant received this warning he committed additional errors, including failing to adhere to established fire drill procedures, failing to make sure that a client's dentures were in place and failing to document the dispensing of vitamins to a client. Claimant's employment was terminated as a result. The Department of Labor issued an initial determination denying his claim for unemployment insurance benefits and, following a hearing, an Administrative Law Judge concluded that claimant had engaged in disqualifying misconduct and sustained this determination. The Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board affirmed this decision and claimant now appeals.
Initially, whether a claimant has engaged is disqualifying misconduct is a factual issue for the Board to decide and its decision will be upheld if supported by substantial evidence ( see Matter of Jaiyesimi [ISS Action Inc.-Commissioner of Labor], 114 A.D.3d 983, 983, 979 N.Y.S.2d 720 [2014];Matter of Hallock [Commissioner of Labor], 107 A.D.3d 1288, 1289, 967 N.Y.S.2d 776 [2013] ). A claimant's failure, despite repeated warnings, to follow the reasonable policies of an employer that, in turn, has a detrimental effect on the employer's interest has been held to constitute disqualifying misconduct ( see Matter of Dzugas–Smith [Commissioner of Labor], 60 A.D.3d 1178, 1178, 875 N.Y.S.2d 320 [2009];Matter of Steadman [Commissioner of Labor], 55 A.D.3d 1124, 1124, 865 N.Y.S.2d 745 [2008] ). Here, evidence was presented that claimant consistently disregarded the employer's policies governing client care by, among other things, not documenting important medical information and ignoring safety precautions, to the detriment of the employer, even though he had received prior warnings regarding such conduct. Although claimant denied committing such errors and offered explanations for his conduct, his testimony presented a credibility issue for the Board to resolve ( see Matter of Jenkins [Commissioner of Labor], 109 A.D.3d 1073, 971 N.Y.S.2d 589 [2013];Matter of Farnsworth [Ellis Hosp.-Commissioner of Labor], 108 A.D.3d 1008, 968 N.Y.S.2d 919 [2013];Matter of Oakes [Commissioner of Labor], 100 A.D.3d 1136, 953 N.Y.S.2d 514 [2012] ). Under the circumstances presented, substantial evidence supports the Board's finding that claimant's behavior rose to the level of disqualifying misconduct ( see Matter of Ochs [Commissioner of Labor], 21 A.D.3d 1196, 1197, 801 N.Y.S.2d 98 [2005] ). We have considered claimant's remaining arguments and find them to be unpersuasive. Therefore, we find no reason to disturb the Board's decision.
ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, without costs.