Case Name: In the Matter of the Claim of Frederick A. Burns, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1999-03-04
Citations: 259 A.D.2d 797
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Claim of Frederick A. Burns, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 259
Pages: 797–797

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Claim of Frederick A. Burns, Appellant. Commissioner of Labor, Respondent.
[686 NYS2d 188]

Opinion:
Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed March 28, 1997, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because his employment was terminated due to misconduct.
Claimant was discharged from his employment as a security guard after he failed to show up for his shift on January 15, 1996 or call in to report his absence. He received a warning for committing a similar infraction two weeks earlier. Substantial evidence supports the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board's ruling that claimant lost his employment under disqualifying circumstances. It is well established that a claimant's unauthorized absence from work may constitute disqualifying misconduct (see, Matter of Svetlich [Sweeney], 236 AD2d 762). Claimant's assertion that his absence from work was excusable based upon his belief that the day was a work holiday raised an issue of credibility for resolution by the Board (see, Matter of Boyle [Sweeney], 247 AD2d 809). The issue was properly resolved in the employer's favor in light of claimant's admission to reading the employer's handbook which did not include Martin Luther King Day as one of the employer's paid holidays.
Cardona, P. J., Mikoll, Mercure, Crew III and Yesawich Jr., JJ., concur. Ordered that the decision is affirmed, without costs.