In consolidated appeals, the administrative referees found that three former employees of a global healthcare and pharmaceutical company were ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits because they engaged in misconduct when they were terminated for filing false logs regarding their work. The claimants then appealed through the administrative law system where the Illinois Department of Employment Security affirmed the referee’s decision, but the circuit court reversed, finding that the company pressured the employees to falsely certify that they had cleaned their work areas in order to maximize pharmaceutical production time. The board and defendants appealed to the appellate court which agreed with the circuit court, finding that the claimants did not engage in willful misconduct. The appellate court also urged executive and legislative review of the board’s decision-making process. (HYMAN and GAMRATH, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Administrative Review Law