Opinion ID: 2538241
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Events Prior to and Occurring on June 6, 2002.

Text: The Commission concluded Mazon could reasonably expect Oxley would be cooperative and friendly in her dealings with him and her coworkers, but that these standards do not have universal meaning so it was incumbent upon Mazon to clearly communicate his expectations to Oxley. Practices and expectations not common within the industry and uncommunicated by the employer cannot serve as a basis for discharge. Davis, 107 Idaho at 1094, 695 P.2d at 1235. While Oxley's behavior could have amounted to misconduct, prior to June 6, Mazon did not tell Oxley her behavior was unacceptable because Mazon relied on Oxley to teach him the business and feared she would quit if confronted. There is substantial and competent evidence in the record to support the Commission's findings that Mazon had a duty to communicate standards of behavior beyond mere casual comments and to hold Oxley accountable. Mazon's warning on June 6, addressed Oxley's disrespectful and uncooperative behavior for the first time and clearly informed Oxley of her duty to perform a variety of assigned tasks. Consequently, the Commission is correct that the June 6 formal warning served, not only as notice of the standards to which Oxley would be held, but also as discipline for all of Oxley's prior misconduct.