In re the Claim of Morse

Appeal from a decision of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, filed April 21, 1997, which ruled that claimant was disqualified from receiving unemployment insurance benefits because his employment was terminated due to misconduct.

Claimant was discharged from his employment as a part-time X-ray technician after he failed to return from his vacation or call the employer to explain his absence. Unbeknownst to the employer, claimant, who had an alcohol abuse problem, entered a two-week residential alcohol rehabilitation program during his scheduled vacation. After a week of participating in…