OAR 471-030-0038: Work Separations, Job Referrals and Job Refusals

(1)(a) As used in ORS 657.176(2)(a), (b) and (c) and sections (1) through (5) of this rule the term "work" means the continuing relationship between an employer and an employee. An employment relationship exists even in circumstances where the work performed is not subject employment as set forth in ORS Chapter 657. This section does not apply where no employment relationship exists because the worker is an independent contractor or operating an independently established business. With the exception of the provisions of ORS 657.221(2)(a), the date an individual is separated from work is the date the employer-employee relationship is severed. In the case of individuals working for temporary agencies, employee leasing companies, or under a governmental program where a state agency serves as the employer of record for individuals performing home care services, the employment relationship shall be deemed severed at the time that a work assignment ends. (b) In the case of absence due to labor dispute, the employee is separated from work on the date there is a complete dissociation from all participation in the labor dispute and no re-employment rights are claimed. (c) As used in this rule, "wantonly negligent" means indifference to the consequences of an act or series of actions, or a failure to act or a series of failures to act, where the individual acting or failing to act is conscious of his or her conduct and knew or should have known that his or her conduct would probably result in a violation of the standards of behavior which an employer has the right to expect of an employee. (d) As used in this rule, the following standards apply to determine whether an "isolated instance of poor judgment" occurred: (A) The act must be isolated. The exercise of poor judgment must be a single or infrequent occurrence rather than a repeated act or pattern of other willful or wantonly negligent behavior. (B) The act must involve judgment. A judgment is an evaluation resulting from discernment and comparison. Every conscious decision to take an action (to act or not to act) in the context of an employment relationship is a judgment for purposes of OAR 471-030-0038(3). (C) The act must involve poor judgment. A decision to willfully violate an employer's reasonable standard of behavior is poor judgment. A conscious decision to take action that results in a wantonly negligent violation of an employer's reasonable standard of behavior is poor judgment. A conscious decision not to comply with an unreasonable employer policy is not misconduct. (D) Acts that violate the law, acts that are tantamount to unlawful conduct, acts that create irreparable breaches of trust in the employment relationship or otherwise make a continued employment relationship impossible exceed mere poor judgment and do not fall within the exculpatory provisions of OAR 471-030-0038(3). (e) For purposes of this rule, “compelling family reasons” means: (A) Domestic violence, as defined in OAR 471-030-0150, which causes the individual reasonably to believe that the individual’s continued employment would jeopardize the safety of the individual or a member of the individual’s immediate family; or (B) The illness or disability of a member of the individual’s immediate family necessitates care by another and the individual’s employer does not accommodate the employee’s request for time off; or (C) The need to accompany the individual’s spouse or domestic partner; (i) To a place from which it is impractical for such individual to commute; and (ii) Due to a change in location of the spouse’s or domestic partner’s employment. (f) As used in OAR 471-030-0150 and this rule, "a member of the individual’s immediate family” includes spouses, domestic partners, parents, and minor children under the age of 18, including a foster child, stepchild or adopted child. (2) The distinction between voluntary leaving and discharge is: (a) If the employee could have continued to work for the same employer for an additional period of time the separation is a voluntary leaving of work; (b) If the employee is willing to continue to work for the same employer for an additional period of time but is not allowed to do so by the employer the separation is a discharge. (3)(a) As used in ORS 657.176(2)(a) and (b) a willful or wantonly negligent violation of the standards of behavior which an employer has the right to expect of an employee is misconduct. An act or series of actions that amount to a willful or wantonly negligent disregard of an employer's interest is misconduct. (b) Isolated instances of poor judgment, good faith errors, unavoidable accidents, absences due to illness or other physical or mental disabilities, or mere inefficiency resulting from lack of job skills or experience are not misconduct. (c) The willful or wantonly negligent failure to maintain a license, certification or other similar authority necessary to the performance of the occupation involved is misconduct, so long as such failure is reasonably attributable to the individual. (d) Discharge for “compelling family reasons,” when the individual has made the attempt to maintain the employer-employee relationship, is not misconduct. (4) Good cause for voluntarily leaving work under ORS 657.176(2)(c) is such that a reasonable and prudent person of normal sensitivity, exercising ordinary common sense, would leave work. For an individual with a permanent or long-term "physical or mental impairment" (as defined at 29 CFR §1630.2(h)) good cause for voluntarily leaving work is such that a reasonable and prudent person with the characteristics and qualities of such individual, would leave work. Except as provided in OAR 471-030-0038(5)(g), for all individuals, the reason must be of such gravity that the individual has no reasonable alternative but to leave work. (5) In applying section (4) of this rule: (a) If an individual leaves work to accept an offer of other work good cause exists only if the offer is definite and the work is to begin in the shortest length of time as can be deemed reasonable under the individual circumstances. Furthermore, the offered work must reasonably be expected to continue, and must pay: (A) An amount equal to or in excess of the weekly benefit amount; or (B) An amount greater than the work left. (b) Leaving work without good cause includes, but is not limited to: (A) Leaving suitable work to seek other work; (B) Leaving work rather than paying union membership dues; (C) Refusing to join a bona fide labor organization when membership therein was a condition of employment; (D) Leaving to attend school, unless required by law; (E) Willful or wantonly negligent failure to maintain a license, certification or other similar authority necessary to the performance of the occupation involved, so long as such failure is reasonably attributable to the individual; (F) Resignation to avoid what would otherwise be a discharge for misconduct or potential discharge for misconduct; (G) Leaving work for self employment. (c) Good cause for voluntarily leaving work while on layoff status shall be determined solely under the provisions of section (4) of this rule without regard to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section; (d) Reduction in rate of pay: If an individual leaves work due to a reduction in the rate of pay, the individual has left work without good cause unless the newly reduced rate of pay is ten percent or more below the median rate of pay for similar work in the individual's normal labor market area. The median rate of pay in the individual's labor market shall be determined by employees of the Employment Department adjudicating office using available research data compiled by the department. (A) This section applies only when the employer reduces the rate of pay for the position the individual holds. It does not apply when an employee's earnings are reduced as a result of transfer, demotion or reassignment. (B) An employer does not reduce the rate of pay for an employee by changing or eliminating guaranteed minimum earnings, by reducing the percentage paid on commission, or by altering the calculation method of the commission. (C) An employer does not reduce the rate of pay by loss or reduction of fringe benefits. (D) If the Employment Department cannot determine the median rate of pay, the provisions of OAR 471-030-0038(4) apply. (e) Reduction in hours: If an individual leaves work due to a reduction in hours, the individual has left work without good cause unless continuing to work substantially interferes with return to full time work or unless the cost of working exceeds the amount of remuneration received; (f) Where the gravity of the situation experienced by the individual results from his or her own deliberate actions, to determine whether good cause exists, the actions of the individual in creating the grave situation must be examined in accordance with the provisions of section (4) of this rule. (g) Leaving work with good cause includes, but is not limited to, leaving work due to compelling family reasons. (6) As used in ORS 657.176(2)(d) and (e), the term "work" means the performance of services for which remuneration, compensation or wages is intended to be received or earned. Good cause as used in ORS 657.176(2)(d) and (e) is such that a reasonable and prudent person, exercising ordinary common sense, would refuse to apply for available suitable work when referred by the employment office or accept suitable work when offered by the employer. For an individual with a permanent or long-term "physical or mental impairment" (as defined at 29 CFR Sec. 1630.2(h)) good cause is such that a reasonable and prudent person with the characteristics and qualities of such individual, would refuse to apply for available suitable work when referred by the employment office or accept suitable work when offered by the employer. In determining disqualification under this section, consideration shall be given to suitable work factors and exceptions as set forth in ORS 657.190 and 657.195.