Court Opinion

ID: 9648088
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 14:01:47.66184+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:11:56.065231
License: Public Domain

KELLEY, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
*384In determining whether, in the context of corporate downsizing, an employee who accepted an incentive package to terminate her employment voluntarily did so for necessitous and compelling cause, this court has repeatedly emphasized that “uncertainty and speculation about the future existence of a job does not create necessitous and compelling cause.” Department of the Navy v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 168 Pa.Cmwlth. 356, 650 A.2d 1138 (Pa. Cmwlth.1994). See Peoples First National Bank v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 159 Pa.Cmwlth. 134, 632 A.2d 1014 (Pa.Cmwlth.1993); Flannery v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, 125 Pa.Cmwlth. 64, 557 A.2d 52 (Pa. Cmwlth.1989). An employee must show a likelihood that his fears about job security will otherwise materialize. Staub. An employee’s belief that his or her job might be threatened, falls short of this standard. See Peoples First (benefits denied where claimant had been told by his employer that a layoff was possible, but not likely, and the employer had introduced unrefuted evidence that continuing work was available to him).
While an employer’s attempt to induce employees to leave is itself a powerful, relevant consideration, this court has held that there must also be some additional existing circumstances such as “a lack of suitable continuing work, either currently or at a discernible point in time, together with statements or actions of the employer showing a likelihood of imminent layoff.” Staub, 673 A.2d at 437. “[W]here at the time of retirement suitable continuing work is available, the employer states that a layoff is possible but not likely, and no other factors are found by the Board that remove an employee’s beliefs from the realm of speculation, a claim for unemployment benefits fails despite the offer to leave.” Id.
Here, the board found that “claimant speculated that if a reduction in force were to occur there was a possibility that her position might be eliminated.” (UCBR’s Findings of Fact, No. 11 (emphasis added)). The board further found that claimant’s job was not in jeopardy at the time she retired and that her job has not been abolished by employer. (UCBR’s Findings of Fact, No. 16). Additionally, the board found that continuing work was available to claimant when she retired. (UCBR’s Findings of Fact, No. 17). These findings, supported by substantial evidence in the record, necessarily negate a conclusion that claimant’s termination was for cause of a necessitous and compelling nature.
Claimant voluntarily chose to retire in order to take advantage of an extremely generous offer of retirement. Claimant is now attempting to obtain a twofold recovery which is contrary to the intent of the Law. As such, I believe that claimant is ineligible for benefits under section 402(b) of the Law.