In the recently-decided case
of Czerniawski v. Corma
Inc., Mr. Czerniawski's employment was terminated without
notice after 19 years of service because of alleged misconduct. The
court had to address the question of whether or not the misconduct
justified such an extreme measure.
Mr. Czerniawski was an assembler in a company that manufactured
products in the corrugated plastic pipe industry. During his 19
years with the company, he was a good worker, and there had been no
issues with his job performance. The only performance review he had
ever received concluded that he was a solid, steady worker who was
competent, dependable, and hard-working.
Unfortunately, Mr. Czerniawski had an angry exchange with a
co-worker concerning items missing from his work station. There was
evidence before the court that in the course of the encounter Mr.
Czerniawski was screaming, pointing, and waving his arms. Both
Mr. Czerniawski and the co-worker were angry, and voices
