I APPEAL PART C -De cision unde r Appeal The decisi o n under a p pea l is the Mini stry of Social Development and Social Innovation (the "minis try") reconsideratio n de c ision da t ed J u n e 23, 2014 which held that the appellant was denied i n come ass istance for two calendar months due to dis missal from employment for just cause pursuant to section 13 ( 1 )( a ) (iii) of the Employ m en t and Assi stance Act (the "EAA") an d s e ct ion 2 9(3)(a) of the Empl oyment and As sistance Re g ul a tion ( t he " EAR"). PAR T D -R elev an t L egisla tion The Mi nist ry relied on t h e follo win g l egi slati on in ma k ing their de t er m i nat i on: E mploymen t and Ass is t ance R e g ul ation (th e "EAR"), s ection 29 E mploymen t and Assi sta nc e Act (t he " EAA"), s ection 13 EAAT003(10/06/0I)
P A R T E S u m m a r y o f F a c t s T h e e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e R e q u e s t f o r R e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h e r e a s o n f o r h i s a p p e a l w i n d i c a t e d . T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t h e l e f t a i n d i c a t e d t h a t h e w a s p a s s i n g b y h e r w i t h a " b e h i n d y o u w i t h a t r a y " a n d s h e t o l d t h e a p " b a d c o m m u n i c a t i o n " w h i c h m a d e t h e a p p e l a p p e l l a n t i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e m a n a g e r w a s n o w e l l . T h e m a n a g e r a l s o s t a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e t h e a p p e l l a n t f e e l u n c o m f o r t a b l e . T h e R e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n D e c i s i o n h a d t h e 1 . L e t t e r f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t d a t e d J u n e 5 , 2 0 1 4 h e w a s b e i n g v e r b a l l y h a r a s s e d a t w o r k b y t a p p e l l a n t w a s g u a r a n t e e d f u l l t i m e e m p l o y m t h e a p p e l l a n t i s o n t h e B C t r a n s i t s o i t i s n o t s h i f t s . 2 . R e c o r d o f E m p l o y m e n t ( R O E ) i s s u e d f r o m t h d a y o f w o r k M a y 9 , 2 0 1 4 a n d t h e l a s t d a y M a t h e R O E a s d i s m i s s a l . T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s N o t i c e o f A p p e a l d a t e d J u n e 2 4 , 2 0 m i n i s t r y ' s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n a s h e w a s n o t l e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d h e q u i t b e c a u s e h e w a s b e i n g v e r b e m p l o y e e . T h e a p p e l l a n t e x p l a i n e d t h a t h e w a s p a v o i c e s a i d t o a n e m p l o y e e " p a s s i n g b e h i n d y o u w i t h o t h e r e m p l o y e e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d " b a d c o m m h i m u n f a i r l y t h e r e s t o f t h e d a y w h i c h m a d e i t u n c o m t h a t t h e m a n a g e r y e l l e d a t t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d t o l d h i a p p e l l a n t w a s t i n g f o o d . T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t m s e r v e d t o t h e p u b l i c . T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o s t a t e d h e w s h i f t s p e r w e e k w h i c h w a s n o t s u i t a b l e f o r h i m a s h e o f h i s b i l l s o r b u s f a r e w i t h s o l i t t l e h o u r s . T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m o t h e r a t t e n d e d t h e h e a r i n g a n d g a d i s c o n t e n t a b o u t h i s c u r r e n t w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n a n d t A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t p r o v i d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g 1 . T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t t h e h e a d m a n a g e r g r i n d e r a n d m e a t f e l l o n t h e g r o u n d . T h e a p p T h e m a n a g e r w a s v e r y u n h a p p y a n d w e i g h e w a s t i n q t h e c o m o a n v ' s m o n e v . H e c l a i m e d t E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E � n i n c l u d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g d o c u m e n t s : c o n s i d e r a t i o n d a t e d J u n e 5 , 2 0 1 4 i n w h i c h t h e a s t h a t h e w a s n o t l e t g o f o r j u s t c a u s e a s s h e w a s v e r b a l l y h a r a s s e d b y a n e m p l o y e e . H e m e a t t r a y a n d c l e a r l y c o m m u n i c a t e d b y s a y i n g p e l l a n t a n d o t h e r e m p l o y e e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d l a n t f e e l v e r y u n c o m f o rt a b l e a t w o r k . T h e t g i v i n g h i m f u l l t i m e h o u r s a s w a s a g r e e d u p o n a s l l a n t w a s d o i n g t o m a n y " n o n o s " w h i c h a l s o m a d e f o l l o w i n g a t t a c h e d d o c u m e n t s : s t a t i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t l e f t h i s e m p l o y m e n t a s h e m a n a g e r a n d o n e o t h e r e m p l o y e e ; t h a t t h e e n t b u t w a s o n l y g i v e n t w o s h i f t s a w e e k ; a n d t h a t w o rt h h i s w h i l e f o r h i m t o t r a v e l f o r a c o u p l e o f e a p p e l l a n t ' s f o r m e r e m p l o y e r s h o w i n g t h e f i r s t y 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 a n d s h o w i n g t h e r e a s o n f o r i s s u i n g 1 4 s t a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d i s a g r e e s w i t h t h e t g o f r o m h i s p o s i t i o n f o r j u s t c a u s e . T h e a l l y h a r a s s e d f r o m a m a n a g e r a n d o n e o t h e r s s i n g w i t h a m e a t t r a y a n d i n a p o l i t e b u t f i r m a m e a t t r a y , e x c u s e m e . " T h e e m p l o y e e t o l d u n i c a t i o n " a n d t h e y a l l i g n o r e d h i m a n d t r e a t e d f o r t a b l e t o w o r k . T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o s u b m i t t e d m t h a t h e d i d n ' t l i k e t o g e t m a d a t w o r k f o r t h e e a t h a d f a l l e n o n t h e g r o u n d a n d c o u l d n o t b e a s g u a r a n t e e d f u l l t i m e h o u r s b u t o n l y g i v e n t w o t o o k B C t r a n s i t a n d h e c o u l d n ' t c o v e r t h e c o s t s v e t e s t i m o n y t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t e x p r e s s e d h i s h e p r o b l e m s h e w a s h a v i n g a t t h e s t o r e . a d d i t i o n a l o r a l e v i d e n c e : y e l l e d a t h i m . H e s a i d h e w a s c l e a n i n g t h e m e a t e l l a n t p i c k e d i t u p a n d p u t i t i n t o t h e t r a s h c a n . d i t a n d t h e n t o l d t h e a p p e l l a n t t h a t h e w a s h a t t h e h e a d m a n a a e r t o l d h i m t o o u t i t o n a t r a v
I APPEA' and he refused so the manager was not happy with him. 2. The appellant stated he did not miss any shifts and that he spoke to someone at the store and informed them he would not be attending his scheduled shift because he was uncomfortable and that it was not worth it as his bus pass was $120.00. The appellant said he was told he still had to come in. The appellant said he was scheduled to work two more shifts but he quit prior to the shift so he did not technically miss any shifts. 3. The appellant did notice when he retrieved his ROE that the noted reason for the ROE was "dismissal" but he did not question or ask the employer to change it to "quit." The appellant stated that he couldn't be bothered to argue with him. 4. The appellant had no dependants. The Ministry did not submit additional evidence on appeal. The panel finds that the additional evidence provided by the Appellant clarified his situation and was admissible under section 22(4) of the Employment and Assistance Act as it was in support of the records before the Ministry at reconsideration. EM T003(10/06/01)
I APPEA PART F -Reasons for Panel Decision The issue at appeal is whether the Ministry's decision to deny the Appellant income assistance for two calendar months on account of being dismissed with just cause is a reasonable application of the legislation in the circumstances of the Appellant or is a reasonably supported by the evidence. The ministry relied on section 13(1)(a)(ii) and 13(2)(b) of the EAA and section 29(3)(a) and 29((4) to find the Appellant was not eligible for income assistance for two calendar months. The relevant sections have been reproduced below: Consequences of not meeting employment-related obligations 13 (1) Subject to the conditions of an employment plan, the family unit of an applicant or a recipient is subject to the consequence described in subsection (2) for a family unit matching the applicant's or recipient's family unit if (a) at any time while a recipient in the family unit is receiving income assistance or hardship assistance or within 60 days before an applicant in the family unit applies for income assistance, the applicant or recipient has (i) failed to accept suitable employment, (ii) voluntarily left employment without just cause, or (iii) been dismissed from employment for just cause, or (b) at any time while a recipient in the family unit is receiving income assistance or hardship assistance, the recipient fails to demonstrate reasonable efforts to search for employment. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1) , (a) if a family unit includes dependent children, the income assistance or hardship assistance provided to or for the family unit must be reduced by the prescribed amount for the prescribed period, and (b) if a family unit does not include dependent children, the family unit is not eligible for income assistance for the prescribed period. (A) Consequences of failing to meet employment-related obligations 29 (1) For the purposes of section 13 (2) (a) [consequences of not meeting employment related obligations] of the Act, (a) for a default referred to in section 13 (1) (a) of the Act, the income assistance or hardship assistance provided to or for the familv unit must be reduced bv $100 EMT 003(10/06/01)
f o r e a c h o f 2 c a l e n d a r m o n t h s ( i ) t h e d a t e o f t h e a p p l i c a s s i s t a n c e ( p a r t 2 ) f o r m ( i i ) t h e d a t e t h e d e f a u l t ( b ) f o r a d e f a u l t r e f e r r e d t o i n s o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e p r o v i d e f o r e a c h c a l e n d a r m o n t h u n t i l t ( i ) t h e i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c u n i t h a s b e e n r e d u c e d f ( i i ) t h e m i n i s t e r i s s a t i s f i t h e d e f a u l t i s d e m o n s t r a e m p l o y m e n t . ( B . C . R e g . ( 2 ) T h e r e d u c t i o n u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 1 ) a p p l i f a m i l y u n i t w h o d o e s a n y t h i n g p r o h i b i t e d u n d e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d o b l i g a t i o n s ] o f t h e A c t . ( 3 ) F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f s e c t i o n 1 3 ( 2 ) ( b ) [ c o o b li g a t i o n s ] o f t h e A c t , t h e p e r i o d o f i n e l i g i b i l ( a ) f o r a d e f a u l t r e f e r r e d i n t o m o n t h s h a v e e l a p s e d f r o m t h ( i ) t h e d a t e o f t h e a p p l i c a s s i s t a n c e ( p a r t 2 ) f o r m ( i i ) t h e d a t e t h e d e f a u l t o ( b ) f o r t h e d e f a u l t r e f e r r e d t o i n f o l l o w i n g h a s o c c u r r e d : ( i ) t h e f a m i l y u n i t h a s b e c a l e n d a r m o n t h ; ( i i ) t h e m i n i s t e r i s s a t i s f i e t h e d e f a u l t i s d e m o n s t r a ( B . C . R e g . 2 6 3 / 2 0 0 2 ) ( 4 ) S e c t i o n 1 3 [ c o n s e q u e n c e s o f n o t m e e t i n g n o t a p p l y t o a f a m i l y u n i t o f a n a p p l i c a n t o r r e ( a ) R e p e a l e d ( B . C . R e g 1 1 6 / 2 0 ( b ) s o l e a p p l i c a n t s o r s o l e r e c i p E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A s t a r t i n g f r o m t h e l a t e r o f t h e f o l l o w i n g d a t e s : a n t ' s s u b m i s s i o n o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n f o r i n c o m e u n d e r t h i s r e g u l a t i o n ; ( B . C . R e g . 3 0 4 / 2 0 0 5 ) o c c u r r e d , a n d ( B . C . R e g . 2 6 3 / 2 0 0 2 ) e c t i o n 1 3 ( 1 ) ( b ) o f t h e A c t , t h e i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e d t o o r f o r t h e f a m i l y u n i t m u s t b e r e d u c e d b y $ 1 0 0 h e l a t e r o f t h e f o l l o w i n g o c c u r s : e o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e p r o v i d e d t o t h e f a m i l y o r o n e c a l e n d a r m o n t h ; e d t h a t t h e a p p l i c a n t o r r e c i p i e n t w h o c o m m i t t e d t i n g r e a s o n a b l e e f f o r t s t o s e a r c h f o r 2 6 3 / 2 0 0 2 ) e s i n r e s p e c t o f e a c h a p p l i c a n t o r r e c i p i e n t i n a e r s e c t i o n 1 3 ( 1 ) [ c o n s e q u e n c e s o f n o t m e e t i n g n s e q u e n c e s o f n o t m e e t i n g e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d i t y f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e l a s t s s e c t i o n 1 3 ( 1 ) ( a ) o f t h e A c t , u n t i l 2 c a l e n d a r e l a t e r o f t h e f o l l o w i n g d a t e s : a n t ' s s u b m i s s i o n o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n f o r i n c o m e u n d e r t h i s r e g u l a t i o n ; ( B . C . R e g . 3 0 4 / 2 0 0 2 ) c c u r r e d , a n d ( B . C . R e g . 2 6 3 / 2 0 0 2 ) s e c t i o n 1 3 ( 1 ) ( b ) o f t h e A c t , u n t i l t h e l a t e r o f t h e e n i n e l i g i b l e f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e f o r o n e d t h a t t h e a p p l i c a n t o r r e c i p i e n t w h o c o m m i t t e d t i n g r e a s o n a b l e e f f o rt s t o s e a r c h f o r e m p l o y m e n t . e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d o b l i g a t i o n s ] o f t h e A c t d o e s c i p i e n t w h o i s i n a n y o f t h e f o l l o w i n g c a t e g o r i e s : 0 3 ) ; i e n t s w h o h a v e a t l e a s t o n e d e p e n d e n t c h i l d w h o
I APPEAL (i) has not reached 3 years of age, or (ii) has a physical or mental condition that, in the minister's opinion, precludes the sole applicant or recipient from leaving home for the purposes of employment; (c) Repealed (B.C. Reg. 48/2010); (d) sole applicants or sole recipients who have a foster child who (i) has not reached 3 years of age, or (ii) has a physical or mental condition that, in the minister's opinion, precludes the sole applicant or recipient from leaving home for the purposes of employment; (e) persons who receive accommodation and care in a special care facility or private hospital; (f) applicants or recipients admitted to hospital because they require extended care; (g) persons who reside with and care for a spouse who has a physical or mental condition that, in the minister's opinion, precludes the person from leaving home for the purposes of employment; (h) applicants or recipients in a family unit that includes only applicants or recipients who are (i) Repealed. (B.C. Reg, 160/2004) (ii) persons who are participating in a treatment or rehabilitation program approved by the minister, if their participation in that program, in the minister's opinion, interferes with their ability to search for, accept or continue in employment, (iii) persons who have separated from an abusive spouse or relative within the previous 6 months, if, in the minister's opinion, the abuse or the separation interferes with their ability to search for, accept or continue in employment, (iv) persons not described in section 7 (2) [citizenship requirements], or (v) persons who have persistent multiple barriers to employment; (vi) persons who have reached 65 years of age; (B.C.Reg. 116/2003) (i) Repealed (B.C. Reg, 48/2010); (j) sole applicants or sole recipients who are providing care under an agreement referred to in section 8 faqreements with child's kin and others] of the Child, Family and EAAT 003(10/06/01)
APPEAL I Community Service Act for a child who (i) has not reached 3 years of age, or (ii) has a physical or mental condition that, in the minister's opinion, precludes the sole applicant or recipient from leaving home for the purposes of employment; (8.C. Reg. 331/2003) (k) sole applicants or sole recipients who are providing care under an agreement referred to in section 93 (1) (g) (ii) [other powers and duties of directors] of the Child, Family and Community Service Act for a child who (i) has not reached 3 years of age, or (ii) has a physical or mental condition that, in the minister's opinion, precludes the sole applicant or recipient from leaving home for the purposes of employment. (8.C. Reg. 331/2003) Ministry Argument In determining the appellant was not eligible for income assistance for two calendar months the ministry stated the following in the Reconsideration Decision: The minister finds that it was within reasonable ground for dismissal based on the circumstances of your case. You did not show up for a scheduled shift -then again missed 2 more shift after being given a second chance, as reported by your employer. The minister notes that you are relied upon when committing to work for a company. Although you state that you didn't receive full time hours and taking public transit isn't worth it for a couple of shifts per week; these are not reasonable excuses. You could have discussed your concerns with the employer and formally reported if you were feeling uncomfortable with any situation; simply not showing up for shift is not an appropriate way to deal with these issues. Therefore, the minister finds reasonable grounds to dismiss you; thus, as you are not a person described under Section 29(4), you are subject to the consequences and are not eligible for income assistance for two calendar months. The ministry argued that the appellant was dismissed from his job with just cause having found that the appellant failed to show up for a total of three shifts and it was therefore reasonable for his employer to dismiss him with cause. The ministry acknowledged that the appellant was not happy with the number of shifts he was being scheduled but concluded that these were not reasonable excuses. The ministry also stated that missing his shifts was not the way to deal with work place issues and that the appellant should have discussed his concerns with his employer and formerly reported the situation. The ministry argued that ROE is sufficient confirmation that the appellant was "dismissed" as this was noted as the reason on his ROE and the appellant did not dispute it at the time he received the ROE from his employer. EAAT 003(10/06/01)
T h e m i n i s t r y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t a s t h e a p p e l l a n t t h e a a p e r s o n d e s c r i b e d i n s e c t i o n 2 9 ( 4 ) , h e w a s t h e r e f t w o c a l e n d a r m o n t h s . A p p e l l a n t A r g u m e n t T h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t h e q u i t h i s e m p l o y m e n t a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t h e w a s t h e s u b j e c t o f h a r a s s m m a n a g e r . T h e a p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d t h a t h e w a s n o n o t t h e m a i n r e a s o n h e q u i t h i s j o b . T h e a p p e l l a n t h a r a s s m e n t t h a t m a d e w o r k i n g i n t h e s t o r e u n c o m f s c h e d u l e d t o w o r k w a s t h e s e c o n d a r y r e a s o n f o r h T h e a p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d t h a t t h e r e w e r e t w o i n c i d e t h e a p p e l l a n t c l a i m s v e r b a l l y h a r a s s e d h i m a n d a s a n d t o l d h i m t h e a p p e l l a n t h e w a s d o i n g t o o m a n y T h e f i r s t i n c i d e n t w a s w i t h a n e m p l o y e e a n d t o o k p e m p l o y e e w i t h a m e a t t r a y . T h e a p p e l l a n t c l a i m e d v o i c e " p a s s i n g b y w i t h a m e a t t r a y " a n d t h i s w a s r e o t h e r e m p l o y e e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d " b a d c o m m e m p l o y e e t h e n p r o c e e d e d t o r o l l h e r e y e s a t t h e a p T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o s u b m i t t e d t h a t h e w a s a l s o n o t c b e t w e e n h i m s e l f a n d h i s e m p l o y e r w h i c h a p p e a r s t o n t h e j o b o r t o o m a n y " n o n o s . " T h e a p p e l l a n t g a v e e v i d e n c e t h a t h e w a s y e l l e d a t a p p e l l a n t c l a i m e d h e w a s c l e a n i n g t h e m e a t g r i n d e i t i n t h e g a r b a g e c a n . T h i s m a d e h i s e m p l o y e r u n h h e w a s w a s t i n g c o m p a n y m o n e y a n d s a i d t h a t t h e , I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t w o i n c i d e n t s a t t h e w o r k p l a c e , t h e h a p p y w i t h t h e n u m b e r o f s h i f t s h e h a d b e e n g i v e n . b u t o n l y g i v e n p a r t t i m e h o u r s a n d t h a t i t w a s n o t w c o s t $ 1 2 0 . A s a r e s u l t o f t h e t w o i n c i d e n t s a t t h e w o r k p l a c e a n n o t i f i e d h i s e m p l o y e r p r i o r t o t h e s t a r t o f h i s s h i f t t h a u n c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h t h e i n c i d e n t t h a t t o o k p l a c e w i t h w i t h t h e e m p l o y e r ) , a s w e l l a s t h e i n s u f f i c i e n t n u m b h e w a s s t i l l w a s r e q u i r e d t o c o m e i n . T h e a p p e l l a n t P a n e l D e c i s i o n T h e p a n e l n o t e s s e c t i o n s 1 3 ( 1 ) ( a ) ( i i ) ( i i i ) a n d ( 2 ) ( b ) o m e e t i n g e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d o b l i g a t i o n s a n d s t a t e s e m p l o y m e n t w i t h o u t j u s t c a u s e o r h a s b e e n d i s m i s s t h a t d o e s n o t i n c l u d e d e p e n d e n t c h i l d r e n i s n o t e l i a i E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A L p p e l l a n t w a s d i s m i s s e d f o r j u s t c a u s e a n d w a s n o t o r e i n e l i g i b l e f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e f o r a t o t a l o f a n d w a s n o t d i s m i s s e d f o r j u s t c a u s e . T h e e n t b y o n e o f t h e s t o r e s e m p l o y e e s a n d t h e t g e t t i n g t h e s h i f t s h e w a s g u a r a n t e e d , b u t t h i s w a s c l a i m e d h e q u i t p r i m a r i l y b e c a u s e o f t h e v e r b a l o r t a b l e . T h e i n a d e q u a t e n u m b e r o f s h i f t s h e w a s i s d e p a r t u r e . n t s a t t h e w o r k p l a c e : o n e w i t h a n e m p l o y e e w h o e c o n d i n c i d e n t w i t h t h e e m p l o y e r t h a t w h o y e l l e d " n o n o s . " l a c e a s t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s p a s s i n g t h e o t h e r t h a t h e s a i d t o a n e m p l o y e e i n a p o l i t e b u t f i r m c e i v e d p o o r l y b y t h e e m p l o y e e w h o i n t u r n t o l d u n i c a t i o n . " A c c o r d i n g t o t h e a p p e l l a n t t h e p e l l a n t a n d t r e a t h i m u n f a i r l y t h e r e s t o f t h e d a y . o m f o r t a b l e w i t h a n e x c h a n g e t h a t t o o k p l a c e o b e t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e a p p e l l a n t m a k i n g e r r o r s b y h i s e m p l o y e r w h e n m e a t f e l l t o t h e g r o u n d . T h e r a n d h e h a d d r o p p e d m e a t o n t h e g r o u n d a n d p u t a p p y a n d t h e e m p l o y e r i n f o r m e d t h e a p p e l l a n t t h a t a p p e l l a n t h a d b e e n m a k i n g t o o m a n y " n o n o s . " a p p e l l a n t a l s o i n d i c a t e d t h a t h e w a s a l s o n o t H e c l a i m e d t h a t h e w a s o f f e r e d f u l l t i m e s h i f t s o r t h i t f i n a n c i a l l y t o g o t o w o r k a s h i s b u s p a s s d i n s u f f i c i e n t s h i f t s , t h e a p p e l l a n t c l a i m e d h e t h e w a s n o t g o i n g t o b e t h e r e b e c a u s e h e w a s t h e e m p l o y e e ( h e d i d n o t m e n t i o n t h e i n c i d e n t e r o f s h i f t s . T h e e m p l o y e r i n f o r m e d t h e a p p e l l a n t c l a i m e d h e c h o s e n o t t o g o i n a n d t h e n h e q u i t . f t h e E A A o u t l i n e s t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f n o t t h a t i f a n a p p l i c a n t h a s e i t h e r v o l u n t a r i l y l e f t e d f r o m e m p l o y m e n t f o r j u s t c a u s e t h e f a m i l y u n i t b l e f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e f o r a P r e s c r i b e d p e r i o d .
I APPEAL Sections 29(3}(a) of the EAR provides the period of ineligibility for income assistance for defaults referred to in sections 13(1 )(a) of the EAA are two calendar months from the later of the date of the applicant's submission of the application for income assistance or the date the default occurred. The panel accepts that the appellant had two incidents with an employee and the employer and that he was dissatisfied with the number of shifts he had been scheduled for the week. It is likely that as a result of the incidents the appellant may have felt uncomfortable which would have made it challenging for him to go work. The panel accepts that the appellant expressed his discontent to his employer only after he called to notify his employer that he would not be making his scheduled shift and that the appellant informed the employer that he was uncomfortable with the incident that took place between himself and the employee. There is no evidence to indicate that the appellant was told he did not need to attend his shift. While the appellant was clearly having problems with an employee and felt uncomfortable at the workplace, the proper course of action would have been to address the incident with his employer. The appellant had the opportunity to bring up the exchange that took place between himself and the employee prior to missing his shifts but he elected to forego his scheduled shifts. Whether or not the appellant quit or was dismissed, if the appellant was not comfortable with his treatment in the workplace or the number of shifts he received in the week he had a responsibility to discuss this with his employer. The appellant made no efforts to discuss the problem and possibly remedy the situation in order to create an environment that he would not feel uncomfortable in. This is particularly true in light of the actual number of days the appellant worked at the store. The panel notes that the ROE shows that the appellant had worked at the store for eight days in total. It would appear that the appellant left the employer with no options in view of his insubordination other than to dismiss him for just cause. The appellant refused to work his scheduled shift on account of feeling uncomfortable and being dissatisfied with the number of shifts he received and this all took place shortly after starting his employment. The panel therefore finds it is more likely that the appellant was dismissed by his employer when the appellant refused to go into work as instructed to by his employer. Failing to make a scheduled shift on account of feeling uncomfortable or on account of insufficient shifts is not acceptable workplace conduct. This is particularly important in light of the fact that he had only worked at the store for a total of eight days. The Panel therefore finds the Ministry's determination that the appellant was not eligible for income assistance for two calendar months having been dismissed for just cause was a reasonable application of the applicable enactment in the circumstances of the Appellant and was reasonably supported by the evidence and confirms the decision. EAAT 003(10/06/01)
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