Horton v. Department of Employment Security

**What Happened** Kenneth Horton worked for Avis Rent-A-Car when his driver's license was suspended. Since driving was essential to his job, he could no longer perform his work duties. Horton left his job but failed to notify Avis about his license suspension as required by his union contract. He then applied for unemployment benefits, which were initially denied. A lower court later ruled in his favor, but the state appealed the decision. **The Court's Decision** The appeals court reversed the lower court's ruling and sided with the state employment department. The court found that Horton voluntarily quit his job without "good cause" related to his employer's actions. The key factor was that Horton didn't follow the proper notification procedures outlined in his collective bargaining agreement, which might have allowed Avis to find him alternative work that didn't require driving. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that employees must follow workplace procedures, especially those in union contracts, even when facing personal crises. Workers who can't perform their job duties due to license suspensions or similar issues should immediately notify their employers and explore possible accommodations before quitting, as this could affect their eligibility for unemployment benefits.