Maskerines v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review

**What Happened** An employee named Maskerines was fired from Draka Cableteq USA after being found with marijuana off company property. The employee had previously signed a "last chance agreement" - essentially a final warning that any future rule violations would result in termination. When Maskerines was denied unemployment benefits, he challenged the decision, arguing that his off-site marijuana possession didn't affect his work performance. **What the Court Decided** The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court sided with the employer and upheld the denial of unemployment benefits. The court ruled that the company didn't need to prove the marijuana possession directly impacted workplace performance. Instead, it was enough that Maskerines violated a clear company rule and broke the terms of his last chance agreement. **What This Means for Workers** This ruling shows that employees can lose unemployment benefits for conduct that happens outside work if it violates company policies. Workers should carefully read any disciplinary agreements they sign, especially "last chance" agreements, as these create very strict standards. Even if off-duty behavior doesn't directly affect job performance, violating explicit workplace rules can still justify termination and denial of unemployment compensation.