Court Opinion

ID: 3006011
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-30 16:02:28.156535+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:17.650865
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 521

                ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                      DIVISION I
                                     No. E-14-910

                                                Opinion Delivered   September 30, 2015

 PAUL VOSS                             APPEAL FROM THE ARKANSAS
                             APPELLANT BOARD OF REVIEW
                                       [NO. 2014-BR-02107]
 V.

 DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF
 WORKFORCE SERVICES AND
 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF
 MAGNOLIA
                   APPELLEES AFFIRMED

                         BRANDON J. HARRISON, Judge

      Paul Voss appeals the Arkansas Board of Review’s finding that he voluntarily left

work without good cause connected with the work and is therefore disqualified from

collecting unemployment benefits. He argues that the Board’s finding is not supported by

substantial evidence. We affirm.

      Voss quit his job as maintenance superintendent for the Magnolia Housing

Authority (MHA) on 19 May 2014 and applied for unemployment insurance benefits on 5

June 2014. In his claimant statement, he indicated that he quit his job due to “harassment

on the job” and that he did not take steps to resolve the problem or situation before he

quit. On June 23, the Department of Workforce Services (Department) notified Voss that

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he was disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits because he left his work

voluntarily and without good cause connected with the work.

       Voss appealed to the Arkansas Appeal Tribunal, which held a hearing on 1 August

2014. Voss testified that he worked for the MHA for fourteen years. He explained that

he had been suspended “without valid reason” in March 2014 and that when he returned

to work in May 2014, he found himself “in the midst of a hostile work environment.”

He also stated that he had a number of health issues and that he “just couldn’t handle the

pressure up there.” He explained that he only worked four days after his return to work

in May and that he left his resignation letter on the desk of his boss, Richard Wyse. Voss

stated that upon his return, Wyse had singled him out and scrutinized his actions

unjustifiedly. He also blamed Wyse for forcing him to cancel a doctor’s appointment in

2011 and stated that Wyse “had a history of giving me the third degree” whenever he had

to leave for a doctor’s appointment.

       Voss testified that there was no authority beyond Wyse whom he could speak to

about his problems and that MHA policy prohibited him from speaking to the housing

authority board members. He also stated that Wyse gave him no opportunity to talk

about his issues and that he did not inform Wyse of his resignation before leaving the

resignation letter on Wyse’s desk.

       Richard Wyse testified that in February 2014, the housing authority implemented a

new drug-testing policy for its employees, and Voss tested positive for hydrocodone.

Wyse advised Voss that the housing authority needed a letter from Voss’s doctor to verify

that he was able to do his job without interference from any medications he may be

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taking. Voss was suspended for a time, from March until May, but was ultimately allowed

to return to work and was paid for the time he was suspended. Wyse had a meeting with

Voss on May 14 and told him that he could not use a housing-authority vehicle until the

housing authority had documentation that he was not a safety risk. Wyse admitted calling

Voss but said it was to check on some reports that needed to be done, not to check up on

him. Wyse stated that Voss did not talk to him or lodge any complaints before he

resigned. Wyse also said that Voss could have talked to him or one of the housing

authority board members about any issues that he had.

       On 8 August 2014, the Appeal Tribunal issued a decision affirming the

Department’s determination. Voss then appealed to the Board of Review, which affirmed

the Appeal Tribunal. In its decision the Board made the following findings:

       Although the claimant indicated that he worked in a “hostile work
       environment” and that Wyse treated him unfairly, the Board does not find
       that the claimant presented sufficient evidence to show that he was treated
       unreasonably by his supervisor. . . . The Board finds that the claimant did
       not quit his employment for a cause which would impel the average, able-
       bodied, qualified worker to give up employment. Further, the claimant
       admitted that he left a resignation letter for Wyse without speaking to Wyse
       about his concerns or reasons for quitting. . . . The claimant also indicated in
       his statement to the Department that he did not take steps to resolve the
       alleged problem prior to quitting. As such, the claimant did not take
       appropriate steps to address his concerns prior to leaving his employment.

Voss appealed.

       We review the Board’s findings in the light most favorable to the prevailing party

and affirm the Board’s decision if it is supported by substantial evidence. Rodriguez v. Dir.,

2013 Ark. App. 361. Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence that a reasonable

mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Id. Even when there is evidence

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upon which the Board might have reached a different decision, the scope of our review is

limited to a determination of whether the Board reasonably could have reached the

decision that it did based upon the evidence before it. Id. Issues of credibility of witnesses

and weight to be afforded their testimony are matters for the Board to determine. Ballard

v. Dir., 2012 Ark. App. 371.

       Arkansas Code Annotated section 11-10-513 (Repl. 2012) provides that an

individual shall be disqualified for unemployment benefits if he “voluntarily and without

good cause connected with the work left his or her last work.” “Good cause” is defined

as “a cause that would reasonably impel the average able-bodied, qualified worker to give

up his or her employment.” Wilson v. Dir., 2013 Ark. App. 276, at 2. An employee is

required to make reasonable efforts to preserve her job rights in order to receive

unemployment benefits. Id.

       Voss argues that the Board’s finding that he left work without good cause is not

supported by substantial evidence. He claims that the evidence showed “unequivocally”

that his employer “took pervasive discriminatory and retaliatory action” against him “that

persisted until his termination.” He cites to his “improper” suspension, his “demotion”

upon returning to work, and the “unreasonable” demand that Voss provide confirmation

from his doctor about his prescription medication as proof of a hostile work environment

and discrimination. He also asserts that this hostile work environment was “executed by

the highest levels of executive management” and “ratified by the board of directors,” so it

was apparent that taking measures to resolve the problems would be a “futile gesture.”

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       We disagree. The record shows that Voss was suspended for a time after a positive

drug test but ultimately returned to work with full compensation for the time he was

suspended. His employer made the very reasonable request for a doctor’s verification that

Voss’s prescription medication would not interfere with his job duties, and until that

verification was received, Voss was asked not to perform certain work duties, such as

driving a company vehicle.        Four days after his return, Voss terminated his own

employment without voicing any complaints or concerns to Wyse or any other person in

management. Substantial evidence supports the Board’s decision that Voss voluntarily left

work without good cause connected to the work and that he failed to take appropriate

steps to address his concerns prior to leaving work.

       Affirmed.

       ABRAMSON and BROWN, JJ., agree.

       Sprinkle Firm, by: Maximillan R. X. Sprinkle, Esq., for appellant.

       Phyllis A. Edwards, for appellee.

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