63 Pa. Commw. 5 | Pa. Commw. Ct. | 1981
Opinion by
James J. Jackim (Petitioner) brings this appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (Board) which affirmed a referee’s order denying him unemployment compensation benefits. The referee concluded and the Board agreed that Petitioner was discharged from Ascot Imported Cars (Employer) because of willful misconduct, rendering him ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits pursuant to Section 402(e) of the Unemployment Compensation Law, Act of December 5, 1936, Second Ex. Sess., P.L. (1937) 2897, as amended, 43 P.S. §802 (e). We affirm.
Petitioner was hired as a lube and “go-for” man. By his own testimony,
The crux of Petitioner’s argument here is that Employer failed to meet its burden of proving willful misconduct, in that a request to do rustproofing would be an unreasonable change in work assignments. Petitioner also takes issue with the Board’s finding that
The law concerning an employer’s right to alter job assignments as it concerns unemployment compensation is succinctly stated in Tucker v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 14 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 262, 264, 319 A.2d 195, 196 (1974):
Normally, when any person is employed, he is employed to do a particular task at an assigned time, and at an assigned place. It does not follow that the employer agrees never to modify or change the task, the time, or the place.
If the employer should decide to modify or change any of these and the change is reasonable, the employee must abide by the employer’s decision at the risk of being ineligible for Unemployment Compensation if he refuses. (Emphasis added.)
Petitioner’s own testimony indicates that he was hired to do “whatever came along.” We do not believe a request by the Employer that Petitioner familiarize himself with the process of rustproofing in order to assist when needed is an unreasonable change in Petitioner’s duties.
Though a work request may be reasonable, the law also provides that an employee may refuse to comply and still be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits if he can establish that he had good cause for the refusal. Mitsch v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 53 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 547, 417 A.2d 1347 (1980). The employee bears the burden of proving such good cause. Gane v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 41 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 292, 398 A.2d 1110 (1979). Where the party with
The Board’s findings that Petitioner’s reason for not following his supervisor’s instructions was because he assumed he would have to rustproof after working hours and that Petitioner failed to ask for any clarification on this matter are supported by the record and will not be disturbed here.
Order
And Now, this 30th day of November, 1981, the order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, Decision No. B-183700, dated April 30, 1980, is affirmed.
Employer failed to appear at tlie hearing.
The Employer’s Separation Notice, entered, into evidence by the referee, indicated that Petitioner was fired for “refusing to do rustproofing.” Petitioner’s own testimony at one point revealed the following: “Bob Riley asked if I would go watch him. I said sure. I wasn’t doing anything at the time . . . Bob Riley asked me if I was willing to do it and I said I would have to think about it. He asked me a second .time. I said I. would have to think about it.” At another point the following occurred:
Q: What was your reason for not going and watching. . . . ?
A: It was in my opinion since I had already seen it unknown to Bob Riley, I didn’t think much more could be accomplished.
Q: Did you let him know you had seen the process of rustproofing?
A: No ma’am I don’t think I did.
Q: What reason did you give him for not going?
A: I just said I didn’t want to then.
: What reason did you give him for not going?
A: I just said I didn’t want to then.
Q: Was there.......Did you feel you couldn’t do
that job?
A: Well if I was to do rustproofing I did not feel I would have proper training as I would if trained by Rust Jones Technicians. I feel as though I would have done a much better job.
Q: But you didn’t make Mr. Riley understand .this at this time, is that it?
A: I would say that’s it because he did not explain to me anything involved with doing it. He did not say whether I would be doing at (sic) at night or mating time and a half.
Q: But nothing was discussed. All he did teas ash you to go watch Randy rustproof.
A: No.
Q: He didn’t say why. . . . anything further as to when it would be done. You fust assumed all this?
A: Right. (Emphasis added.)