Frazier v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review

**What Happened** Frazier worked at Jefferson Hills Manor and was fired after being convicted of criminal charges. He then applied for unemployment benefits, believing he was entitled to them since he lost his job. The Unemployment Compensation Board of Review denied his claim, and Frazier challenged this decision in court. **What the Court Decided** The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court sided with the unemployment board and upheld the denial of benefits. The court ruled that Frazier's termination was due to "willful misconduct" because it resulted from his criminal convictions. Under Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law, workers who are fired for willful misconduct are not eligible for unemployment benefits. **What This Means for Workers** This ruling shows that workers fired due to criminal convictions will likely be denied unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania. The court treats criminal behavior that leads to termination as willful misconduct, which disqualifies someone from receiving unemployment compensation. Workers should understand that certain types of misconduct - particularly criminal activity - can not only cost them their job but also their eligibility for unemployment benefits while they search for new work.