Section 29(1)(a)
VOLUNTARY LEAVING, Shift change
CITE AS: Kerrison v Flint Memorial Park Assoc, Genesee Circuit Court No. 94-33568-AE (August 18, 1997)
Appeal pending: No
Claimant: Christine Kerrison
Employer: Flint Memorial Park Association
Docket No. B93-15828-RM9-137646W
CIRCUIT COURT HOLDING: An employer's "refusal to change an employee's shift does not as a matter of law constitute good cause for quitting."
FACTS: The claimant simultaneously held two separate positions with the employer. During the day she worked as an office supervisor at 40 hours per week alternating between working from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. During the evening the claimant worked as a cleaning person twenty hours per week. The claimant went on a maternity leave. Before going on leave, the claimant requested to return to work on a part-time basis. On returning to work, the claimant worked the office job from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. She requested additional hours, which the employer granted. The claimant also requested to return to the shift she worked before taking a maternity leave. The employer denied the request because that position was not available. The claimant then gave two weeks notice she was quitting the office position. Afterwards, the claimant was terminated from the cleaning position.
DECISION: The claimant is disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits.
RATIONALE: The claimant initially chose to limit her hours since she requested to return part-time after her maternity leave ended. When she requested more hours, the employer attempted to accommodate her. The claimant then insisted on returning to a position that was no longer available as the result of her choice to limit her hours. The claimant's leaving is not with good cause attributable to the employer.
7/99
24, 16, d22: N/A