Mercer v. Employment Division

This is an unemployment compensation case. Petitioner, a registered nurse who was employed by respondent Good Samaritan Hospital (the employer) as a staff development specialist, was advised that, due to budget cuts, she would be required to devote a portion of her time to doing clinical work and direct patient care. She resigned, claiming that she is so allergic to the sterile and non-sterile gloves worn in staff nursing that she cannot do clinical work. Her subsequent claim for unemployment compensation benefits was approved by both an administrative decision and, after a hearing, a…