Kiehl v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review

**What Happened** A postal worker was placed on unpaid leave by the U.S. Postal Service after being criminally charged for shooting a pellet gun at a coworker's car during off-duty time. When he applied for unemployment benefits, Pennsylvania denied his claim. He challenged this denial, arguing he should receive benefits since the incident happened outside of work. **What the Court Decided** The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court upheld the state's decision to deny unemployment benefits. The court agreed that even though the criminal behavior occurred off-duty, it was serious enough to reflect poorly on the worker's ability to do his job properly. The court found that firing a pellet gun at a coworker's vehicle violated acceptable standards of behavior that employers can reasonably expect from their employees. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling shows that workers can be denied unemployment benefits for off-duty criminal conduct that relates to their work relationships or reflects on their job performance. Even actions taken outside work hours may affect your eligibility for unemployment compensation if they involve coworkers or demonstrate behavior that undermines your ability to perform your duties effectively.