Givens v. FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT APPEALS COMMISSION

# Givens v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission ## What Happened A worker at Duct Shop Inc. was fired after refusing to operate a forklift when his supervisor told him to do so. After losing his job, the worker applied for unemployment benefits to help support himself while seeking new employment. ## What the Court Decided The court sided with the employer and upheld the decision to deny unemployment benefits. The judge found that the worker was fired for legitimate reasons—specifically, for stubbornly refusing a direct work instruction from his supervisor. ## Why This Matters for Workers This ruling shows that refusing to follow reasonable job duties can result in losing both your job and unemployment benefits. When an employer fires someone for disobedience or misconduct, that person may not qualify for unemployment compensation. Workers should understand that following supervisor instructions is generally considered a job requirement. However, this doesn't mean workers must follow unsafe or illegal orders—those situations may have different legal protections.