Former animal shelter worker denied jobless benefits

A state administrative law judge has sided with the board of directors at the Cedar Valley Humane Society against a former employee who was seeking jobless benefits.

The employee, Anne Gentner, was among employees who lost jobs at the Humane Society's animal shelter in September after a disagreement between some employees, including the shelter's two co-directors, and volunteers and the Humane Society's board of directors.

In his recent ruling, Judge Steve Wise noted that Gentner and others were discharged by the board of directors for violating the employer's confidentiality policies that prohibit employees from contacting the media without board approval.

In siding with the board against Gentner, Wise said Gentner and the others “never gave the board a reasonable opportunity to meet with them before going to the media” with their concerns about the shelter operations.

“No one on the board had indicated that the board would not meet with employees,” Wise states.

In addition, the judge notes that the letter released to the media “contained derogatory language about the board damaging its image.” The letter demanded that the board hire a mediator and suggested that the demand was the only thing that would satisfy Gentner and the other disgruntled employees.

“The claimant's violation of the employer's media contact policy was a willful and material breach of the duties and obligations to the employer and a substantial disregard of the standards of behavior the employer had the right to expect of the claimant,” the judge states.

Gentner had worked as a front-desk employee at the shelter from October 2007 until her dismissal on Sept. 3, 2009.

Susan Manson, one of the former co-directors at the shelter who no longer is there, participated in hearings on Nov. 9 and Nov. 13 along with Gentner. Bernie Lettington, president of the Humane Society board, also participated.

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