Stephens v. Employment Security Department

Kenneth Stephens appeals from a decision affirming the denial of unemployment benefits based on disqualifying misconduct. He claims that the statute excluding alcoholism as a defense to an employer’s misconduct justification violates the equal protection clause. He also claims that substantial evidence does not support the decision. We affirm.

Facts

Stephens began working for the Boeing Company on January 16, 1989. He took two leaves of absence for alcohol treatment (one in November 1990 and another in January-February 1991) and thus had to participate in Boeing’s employee assistance program.…