Absence from work

(a) Application. The Administrator shall apply this section to determine eligibility in all cases in which the individual was discharged or suspended due to absence from work. (b) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) "Good cause for absence from work" means any compelling personal circumstance which would normally be recognized by the individual's employer as a proper excuse for absence, or which would prevent a reasonable person under the same conditions from reporting for work. Examples of such good cause shall include, but not be limited to: personal illness or injury which prevented the individual from reporting to work; a serious isolated transportation problem over which the individual had no control; or a sudden event which required the individual to address a compelling personal responsibility or family emergency. (2) "Notice" means notification to the employer of absence from work through any reasonable method and within any reasonable timeframe prescribed by the employer. (3) "Separate instance" means "separate instance" as defined in section 31-236(a)(16) of the Connecticut General Statutes. (c) Elements of wilful misconduct – Absence from work. In order to establish that an individual was discharged or suspended for absence from work which constituted wilful misconduct in the course of employment under section 31-236-26 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the Administrator shall find that all of the following elements have been met: (1) the individual had three separate instances of absence from work; (2) with respect to each instance of absence, the individual either – (A) did not have good cause for absence from work, or (B) did not provide notice of such absence to the employer which could have been reasonably provided under the circumstances; and (3) the three separate instances of absence occurred within a twelve-month period. (d) Failure to give notice. Even if the Administrator determines that the individual had good cause for absence from work, such absence shall be counted as a separate instance under this section if the individual failed to give notice of such absence when such notice could have been reasonably provided under the circumstances. (e) Compelling personal circumstances. The Administrator shall not find that an individual could have reasonably provided notice if the individual's failure to provide notice was due to compelling personal circumstances which would have prevented a reasonable person in the same circumstances from providing notice. (f) Consecutive days – Separate Instances. Where an absence without good cause for absence from work or without notice continued for two or more consecutive days, the Administrator shall rely upon the following table to determine the number of separate instances of absence under this section. Consecutive Days Instance(s) of Absence 2 1 3 2 4 2 5 3 6 3 (g) Exclusions. (1) Tardiness. An occasion of tardiness is not a separate instance of absence under this section. The Administrator shall determine the eligibility of any individual who was discharged or suspended for tardiness under the provisions of section 31-236-28 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. (2) Unauthorized leaving of work. An individual's unauthorized leaving of his work site during scheduled working hours after the individual has reported to work is not a separate instance of absence under this section. The Administrator shall determine the eligibility of any individual who was discharged or suspended for such unauthorized leaving under either section 31-236-26a or section 31-236-26b of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.