Mark Fjeld, et al., Appellants, vs. Richard F. Olsen, Respondent.

Annotate this Case
This opinion will be unpublished and

may not be cited except as provided by

Minn. Stat. § 480 A. 08, subd. 3 (1998).

 STATE OF MINNESOTA

 IN COURT OF APPEALS

 C6-98-2077

Michael L. Johansen,

Relator,

vs.

Central Trading & Recycling, Inc.,

Respondent,

Commissioner of Economic Security,

Respondent.

 Filed May 11, 1999

 Affirmed

 Kalitowski, Judge

Department of Economic Security

File No. 6077UC98

Michael L. Johansen, P.O. Box 515, Albert Lea, MN 56007 (pro se relator)

Kent E. Todd, 390 North Robert Street, St. Paul, MN 55101 (for respondent Commissioner of Economic Security)

Central Trading & Recycling, Inc., P.O. Box 218, New Richland, MN 56072 (respondent)

Considered and decided by Klaphake, Presiding Judge, Kalitowski, Judge, and Short, Judge.

 U N P U B L I S H E D   O P I N I O N

 KALITOWSKI, Judge

Michael L. Johansen challenges the decision of the commissioner's representative that he is not entitled to reemployment insurance benefits because he failed to establish he quit his employment for good cause attributable to his employer. We affirm.

 D E C I S I O N

The question of whether an employee quit due to "good cause attributable to the employer" is a question of law and this court need not defer to the commissioner's representative. Zepp v. Arthur Treacher Fish & Chips, Inc., 272 N.W.2d 262, 263 (Minn. 1978). An individual who voluntarily quits his job is disqualified from reemployment insurance benefits unless the individual quit for good reason caused by the employer. Minn. Stat. § 268.095, subd. 1(1) (1998). A good reason caused by the employer has been described as a reason which is "compelling, real and not imaginary, substantial and not trifling, reasonable and not whimsical and capricious." Kratochwill v. Los Primos, 353 N.W.2d 205, 207 (Minn. App. 1984).

Johansen argues that because he quit his employment due to the owner's rudeness both to Johansen and customers he quit for good cause. We disagree. Good cause does not encompass personality conflicts or situations where an employee experiences irreconcilable differences with others at work. Trego v. Hennepin County Family Day Care Ass'n, 409 N.W.2d 23, 26 (Minn. App. 1987). We conclude the commissioner's representative did not err by concluding Johansen's dissatisfaction with his working conditions did not constitute good cause to quit his employment.

 Affirmed.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.