50 Pa. Commw. 512 | Pa. Commw. Ct. | 1980
Opinion by
Benjamin O. Smith (claimant) appeals here from an order of the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review (Board) affirming the referee’s finding that he had voluntarily terminated his employment and was consequently ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits under Section 402(b) (1) of the Unemployment Compensation Law (Law), Act of December 5, 1936, Second Ex. Sess., P.L. (1937) 2897, as amended, 43 P.S. §802(b) (1).
The claimant was employed by Jones Motor Company (employer) where he drove a truck owned by a Paul Schatz. On June 22,1978 he and Mr. Schatz had a misunderstanding and Mr. Schatz indicated that he would no longer permit the claimant to drive his truck. That same day, upon hearing of the claimant’s difficulties with the truck owner, his employer reassured the claimant that he remained in good standing as an employee but recommended that he should try to resolve his dispute with the truck owner. The claimant argues that he responded to the effect that he would attempt to obtain another truck.
It is well established that an employee who is absent from work without authorization may be held to have voluntarily quit if the absence extends for an unreasonable period of time. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review v. Metzger, 28 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 571, 368 A.2d 1384 (1977). Furthermore, in the case of a prolonged absence, the burden is on the employee to manifest his intention not to abandon his employment. Simpson v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 29 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 245, 370 A.2d 432 (1977).
As the claimant here points out, there may well be instances where an unexcused absence even longer than his (i.e., twenty-one days) does not amount to a voluntary termination.
"We believe, therefore, that the employee’s absence here was unreasonable and we must affirm the Board’s decision that he voluntarily quit his job.
Order
And Now, this 15th day of April, 1980, the order of the Unemployment Compensation Review Board, decision number B-165857, dated November 16, 1978, is affirmed.
Compare Simpson v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 39 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 246, 395 A.2d 309 (1978) (absence of eleven days amounted to a voluntary termination where employee failed to notify the employer of his intention to return to work) with Martinez Unemployment Compensation Case, 186 Pa. Superior Ct. 50, 140 A.2d 351 (1958) (absence of twenty-three days was not voluntary termination where employee made a good faith effort to notify the employer of his intention to return to work).