Giovanoni v. Review Board of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development

927 N.E.2d 906, 2010 Ind. LEXIS 375

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: June 1, 2010
• Docket: No. 93S02-0907-EX-311
• Status: Published

Opinions

SULLIVAN, Justice.

Indiana's Unemployment Compensation Act provides "benefits to persons unemployed through no fault of their own. ..." Ind.Code § 22-4-1-1. In this case, an employer's attendance policy subjected an employee to discharge for exceeding the permitted number of absences, whether excused or unexcused. Under the Act as written at the time of the employee's discharge, violation of the attendance policy did not disqualify the employee from unemployment compensation because the employee had been discharged through no fault of his own.

Background

John D. Giovanoni was a pharmacy technician employed from November 15, 2006, through December 26, 2007, by Clarian Health Partners, Inc. ("Clarian"), which operated the inpatient pharmacy at Riley Hospital for Children. Clarian's written attendance policy was a "no-fault" policy where all unscheduled absences were considered equal regardless of the reasons for the absences unless they fit within qualified exceptions identified within the policy.¹ The policy provided for progressive discipline beginning with the accumulation of five "occurrences" (instances of tardiness or absence) in any rolling 12-month period, and ending with termination after eight occurrences in any such period. An administrative law judge ("ALJ") for the Review Board of the Department of Workforce Development found that the attendance policy "is essential to [Clarian] as attendance is critical as patients need to be able to receive their medications when nee-essary." (Appellant's App. at 5.)

During the term of his employment, Giovanoni began to experience a severe medical condition identified as an arachnoid cyst in his brain that caused seizures and debilitating migraines. Aware of the attendance policy, Giovanoni made a concerted effort to come to work, even when his condition rendered him largely unable to perform his duties. Despite his efforts, Giovanoni accumulated seven occurrences as a result of his medical condition; he received written warnings on the last three of these, and the pharmacy manager met with him following the seventh occurrence.²

On December 16, 2007, Giovanoni had his eighth occurrence, due to hazardous road conditions caused by severe winter weather, and was terminated a few days later. Giovanoni sought unemployment benefits. Although a claims deputy originally granted Giovanont's request, an ALJ reversed the decision of the deputy on Clarian's appeal. The Review Board summarily affirmed the ALJ's findings of fact and conclusions of law.

A divided panel of the Court of Appeals reversed, holding that Giovanoni was not discharged for just cause and therefore was entitled to unemployment benefits. Giovanoni v. Rev. Bd. of Ind. Dep't of Workforce Dev., 900 N.E.2d 437 (Ind.Ct.App.2009). Judge Brown dissented.

The Review Board sought, and we granted, transfer, thereby vacating the opinion of the Court Appeals. Ind. Appellate Rule 58(A).

Discussion

I

The Indiana Unemployment Compensation Act (the "Act"), Indiana Code art. 22-4, provides benefits to those who are out of work through no fault of their own. To be eligible for benefits, an individual must meet the requirements set forth in Indiana Code ch. 22-4-14. Unemployment insurance benefits, however, are not an unqualified right and may be denied to claimants who are disqualified by any of the various exceptions provided in ch. 22-4-15. Specifically, an individual is disqualified if discharged for "just cause." IC. § 22-4-15-1.³ "Just cause" is defined in subsection (d) to include the following: "(2) [an employee's] knowing violation of a reasonable and uniformly enforced rule of an employer; [and] (8) ... unsatisfactory attendance, if the individual cannot show good cause for absences or tardiness[.]" 1.C. § 22-4-15-1(d)(2)-(83).

The central issue in this appeal concerns the construction and interpretation of these two exceptions as a basis for disqualification of unemployment insurance benefits where an employee is discharged for violation of a "no-fault" attendance rule. In this case, the ALJ and the Board denied Giovanoni's application for benefits under section 22-4-15-1(d)(2) ("subsection (d)(2)"), reasoning that Clarian's policy was a reasonable rule and Giovanoni's violation of this rule disqualified him from eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits.

To make out a prima facie case of termination for just cause based on a violation of an employer attendance rule so as to disqualify a former employee from receiving unemployment insurance benefits under subsection (d)(2), the employer must show that the employee: (1) knowingly violated, (2) a reasonable, and (3) uniformly enforced rule.⁴ McClain v. Rev. Bd. of Ind. Dep't of Workforce Dev., 693 N.E.2d 1314, 1318 (Ind.1998). An employer's attendance rule is reasonable, as is required for the employer to deny unemployment compensation to a claimant fired for violating the rule, if the rule protects the interests of employees as well as those of the employer. Jeffboat, Inc. v. Rev. Bd. of Ind. Emp. Sec. Div., 464 N.E.2d 377, 380 (Ind.Ct.App.1984).

In contrast, it is well established law that under subsection (d)(8) of the Act, just cause for termination should not be found where an employee's absence or tardiness is beyond the employee's control. "Most every wage earner, at various periods during his productive life, faces family emergencies and matters of urgent personal nature. Such absences may if reasonable and not habitual be excused." White v. Rev. Bd. of Ind. Emp. Sec. Div., 151 Ind.App. 426, 431, 280 N.E.2d 64, 67 (1972). While a just-ecause termination analysis pursuant to subsection (d)(3) assesses the legitimacy of the employee's justifications for excessive absentecism and tardiness, discharge for excessive absenteeism pursuant to an attendance policy analyzed under subsection (d)(2) does not, on its face, require such individualized analysis, but instead looks only to the reasonableness of the rule.

In light of these conflicting interpretations, the Court of Appeals has been divided on the reasonableness of no-fault attendance policies under subsection (d)(2). In some instances, the Court of Appeals has held that because such policies subject an employee to discharge for excused and unexcused absences, they are per se unreasonable and discharge for unsatisfactory attendance is more appropriately analyzed under subsection (d)(8). Giovanoni, 900 N.E.2d at 443 ("[Aln attendance rule that subjects an employee to discharge for excused as well as unexcused absences is per se unreasonable, but an employee who is discharged for problem attendance will be disqualified from unemployment benefits if the employee cannot show good cause." (citing Love v. Heritage House Convalescent Ctr., 463 N.E.2d 478 (Ind.Ct.App.1983))); accord Parkison v. James River Corp., 659 N.E.2d 690 (Ind.Ct.App.1996). In other cases, the Court of Appeals has held that a no-fault attendance policy is not per se unreasonable solely because some absences caused by illness could result in termination. Beckingham v. Rev. Bd. of Ind. Dep't of Workforce Dev., 903 N.E.2d 477, 482 (Ind.Ct.App.2009) ("[Aln employer's attendance plan is not per se unreasonable simply because it allows excused absences and/or absences caused by illness to be included toward the benchmark at which an employee has been excessively absent and will be discharged.") rev'd, 927 N.E.2d 913 (Ind.2010), Beene v. Rev. Bd. of Ind. Dep't of Emp. & Training Servs., 528 N.E.2d 842, 846 (Ind.Ct.App.1988) ("The fact that [claimant]'s absences and tardiness were allegedly caused from occurrences 'beyond her control is not the litmus test in Indiana.... As long as the [employer puts forth a prima facie case for discharge under [subsection (d)(2) ], insufficiently rebutted by the employee, the employee's discharge and denial of benefits can be upheld." (citing Jeffboat, 464 N.E.2d at 380)).

II

In the words of the Legislature, the purpose of the Indiana Unemployment Compensation Act is

to provide for payment of benefits to persons unemployed through no fault of their own, to encourage stabilization in employment, and to provide for integrated employment and training services in support of state economic development programs, and to provide maximum job training and employment opportunities for the unemployed, underemployed, the economically disadvantaged, dislocated workers, and others with substantial barriers to employment, is, therefore, essential to public welfare; and the same is declared to be a proper exercise of the police powers of the state.

I.C. § 22-4-1-1 (emphasis added).

In light of the Legislature's pronouncement, "just cause" determinations, as they pertain to an employee's discharge, must be consistent with the legislative purpose underlying the Act-to provide financial assistance to an individual who had worked, was able and willing to work, but through no fault of his or her own, is temporarily without employment. Disqualification is inappropriate if the totality of the cireumstances establishes that a claimant is unemployed through no fault of his own. At a minimum, the claimant must have performed some volitional act or have exercised some control over the cireumstances resulting in the discharge from employment. See Wakshlag v. Rev. Bd. of Ind. Emp. Sec. Div., 413 N.E.2d 1078, 1082 (Ind.Ct.App.1980) (holding that under a previous version of the Act the terms "'fault[{ P [and] 'just cause' mean[ ] failure or volition, and do[ ] not mean something blameworthy, culpable, or worthy of censure." (emphases added)). "In this regard, whether unemployed persons are without fault must be determined upon the facts and circumstances of the individual case." White, 151 Ind.App. at 431, 280 N.E.2d at 67 (citing Thompson v. Hygrade Food Prods. Corp., 137 Ind.App. 591, 210 N.E.2d 388 (1965)).

Whether the analysis proceeds under subsection (d)(2) or (d)(8), the purpose of the Act must be carried out. Thus, the law will not countenance the denial of unemployment compensation under a "no-fault" attendance policy unless and until a determination is made for just cause in a way that gives full power and effect to the Legislature's mandate. And just cause, as it relates to absenteeism, demands an individualized analysis of whether the employee violated the policy through no fault of his or her own.

Many states have held that excessive absences, necessitated by cireumstances beyond the employee's control, are not willful misconduct for the purpose of disqualifying an employee from receipt of unemployment benefits. Washington v. Amway Grand Plaza, 135 Mich.App. 652, 354 N.W.2d 299, 302 (1984) ("[It is well established that what may justify discharge from employment does not necessarily constitute statutory misconduct sufficient to disqualify the employee for unemployment benefits."); Kelley v. Manor Grove, Inc., 936 S.W.2d 874 (Mo.Ct.App.1997); McCourtney v. Imprimis Tech., Inc., 465 N.W.2d 721, 724 (Minn.Ct.App.1991); Vester v. Bd. of Rev. of Okla. Emp. Sec. Comm'n, 697 P.2d 533, 538 (Okla.1985); Tynes v. Uniroyal Tire Co., 679 P.2d 1310, 1313 (Okla.Ct.App.1984).⁵ In addition, three states have held that termination pursuant to a "no-fault" attendance policy still requires an individualized inquiry into the reasons behind the absenteeism to disqualify an employee from receipt of unemployment benefits. See Gonzales v. Indus. Comm'n, 740 P.2d 999, 1003 (Colo.1987); Alliant Health Sys. v. Ky. Unemp. Ins. Comm'n, 912 S.W.2d 452, 454 (Ky.Ct.App.1995); Gillespie v. Commonwealth, Unemp. Comp. Bd. of Rev., 105 Pa.Cmwlth. 243, 523 A.2d 1205, 1207 (1987). Contra Sutherlin v. Interstate Brands Corp., 79 Ohio App.3d 635, 607 N.E.2d 1076 (1992) (per curiam) (rejecting the argument that a no-fault attendance policy that fails to consider underlying reasons for absences cannot satisfy the just-cause standard for employee discharge under the Ohio Unemployment Compensation Act). The wording of the Colorado, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania unemployment compensation statutes varies slightly from our statute; however, the question in Gonzales, Alliant Health, and Gillespie was whether violation of an employer's no-fault attendance policy automatically disqualifies an employee from receiving unemployment compensation benefits, and each court held that it did not.

Although not bound by this authority, we find it to be persuasive. An employer may not, by way of a policy or otherwise, unilaterally cireumvent a basic determination that underlies all disqualification provisions: an assessment of whether under the totality of the circumstances the claimant's violation of the employer's rule was volitional. See Gonzales, 740 P.2d at 1008 ("adoption of such an approach would in effect grant employers ultimate authority to determine that some claimants automatically should not receive unemployment compensation benefits. ...").

The effect of denying Giovanoni benefits for violating Clarian's no-fault attendance policy, where all of his absences were beyond his control, is to deny benefits to an employee who became unemployed through no fault of his own. It is permissible for an employer to utilize a "no-fault" attendance policy and such policy may form an appropriate basis for discharge from employment. But when determining eligibility for unemployment benefits, the existence of such a policy does not obviate the statutory mandate to analyze whether, under the totality of the circumstances, an employee's absenteeism is the result of circumstances beyond that employee's control. Such an analysis ef-feectuates the mandate of the Act "to provide for payment of benefits to persons unemployed through no fault of their own."

Conclusion

The decision of the Unemployment Review Board is reversed.

SHEPARD, C.J., and DICKSON, BOEHM, and RUCKER, JJ., coneur.

DICKSON, J., concurs with a separate opinion in which SHEPARD, C.J., joins.

1 . The qualified exceptions enumerated by the policy are not at issue in this case.

2 . Because all of Giovanoni's absences for medical illness occurred within the first year of his employment with Clarian, he did not qualify under the provisions of the federal Family Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") that protects employees from discharge and other adverse employer actions for absences pursuant to a qualifying illness. See 29 U.S.C. § 2601 (2006).

3 . Amendments were made to this section of the Act by the Legislature in 2009, including provisions directly addressing the issues raised by this litigation. 2009 Ind. Acts 1831, P.L. 175-2009, § 23, effective July 1, 2009. We express no opinion as to the statute as amended.

4 . Giovanoni does not challenge the knowledge or uniform enforcement prongs of this standard, but rather whether Clarian's policy is reasonable as a matter of law.

5 . While we recognize that our statute does not require a finding of "misconduct" or "willful misconduct" as do some of the statutes relied on by the courts cited above, we find these cases instructive because the "just cause" requirement contained in ch. 22-4-15 must be read in light of the Act's overriding purpose to provide benefits to those who are unemployed through no fault of their own.