Opinion
June 10, 1959.
September 16, 1959.
Unemployment Compensation — Availability for work — Voluntary termination of employment for good cause — Pregnancy — Circumstances — Unemployment Compensation Law.
1. In an unemployment compensation case, in which it appeared that claimant, who was advanced in pregnancy, did not report back for work after a hospital stay because her doctor had advised against any work which required her to stand while performing it, and that she did not request lighter work nor apply for a leave of absence, it was Held that the board properly concluded that claimant was not available for work and was disqualified for that reason under § 401(d) of the Unemployment Compensation Law.
2. The fact that a claimant voluntarily terminated his employment for a good cause does not in itself entitle him to benefits; it must also be shown that he was available for work within the meaning of the statute.
Before RHODES, P.J., HIRT, GUNTHER, WRIGHT, WOODSIDE, ERVIN, and WATKINS, JJ.
Appeal, No. 274, Oct. T., 1959, by claimant, from decision of Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, No. B-50902, in re claim of Minnie May Pugh. Decision affirmed.
Christopher F. Edley, with him Moore, Lightfoot Edley, for appellant.
Sydney Reuben, Assistant Attorney General, with him Anne X. Alpern, Attorney General, for appellee.
Argued June 10, 1959.
Claimant was last employed by William Penn Laundry in Philadelphia; her last day of work was August 20, 1958. On that date she was approximately five months advanced in pregnancy. After 12 days in a hospital following the above date she did not report back for work because her doctor advised against any work which required her to stand while performing it. She did not request lighter work nor did she apply for a leave of absence.
Based on these undisputed facts the bureau and the referee denied benefits on the ground that claimant voluntarily terminated her employment without good cause, under § 402(b) of the Law, 43 P. S. § 802. The Board of Review affirmed the decision but for a different reason. The board found that claimant was not available for work and was disqualified for that reason under § 401(d) of the Law, 43 P. S. § 801.
In Sturdevant Unemployment Comp. Case, 158 Pa. Super. 548, 45 A.2d 898, we said that the basic purpose of proving availability "is to establish that a claimant is actually and currently attached to the labor force." And the holding of that case is that one who has left his employment upon good cause does not in itself entitle the employe to benefits. It must also be shown that such claimant meets the "availability for work test" required by the statute. Muller Unempl. Compensation Case, 170 Pa. Super. 52, 84 A.2d 257. This claimant, because of a disabling physical condition was unable to work and she therefore was disqualified under § 401(d) since she was not available for work.
Decision affirmed.