1 reply to this topic

[augdawg772]

4/22/12
I was delivering for ****** in Fort Pierce Florida, up until my master cylinder in my truck broke down. I have been literally pushed at work and told to move faster in order to reduce delivery time. I admit it did help me become better at what I did no matter how insignificant my job may seem. I have also been choked and punched in the stomach where I have had major surgery for intestinal strangulation. This was by a manager and they may have been playing but I repeatedly told them not to touch me in my abdomen. I used to take the manager's son home from work, until recently when they found out he was adding more tips to credit cards and cashing it out in my name on the computer. I was told that I must pay five hundred dollars, or they will get the police involved. They were trying to threaten me because I am already on probation. Fearing jailtime I paid one hundred dollars and talked to the manager's son who promised they would pay me back in full if I help him pay off his debt. Then my hours were cut because they did not want me and the manager's son working together so I stopped paying. I used to have 33-45 hours a week, and it has been dwindling ever since this incident. The manager says that I should have known something was wrong because his son was giving me too much gas money for rides, and buying me energy drinks and multiple items. They asked the son who he spent the money with and he said me. In the past couple months I have only been on the schedule for a couple days a week. Now my master cylinder is broken and I cannot work, so they fired me. I told them I will get it fixed, I have the money, but it is the weekend and I cannot find a mechanic. I learned I was fired today, when I went to pick up my check, so that I can pay rent and get more money to help pay for repairs. I feel like I am being punished for not paying back the manager's son's debt and that they have been looking for a reason to fire me. The owner repeatedly tells other managers that I look like a pill head and that he does not like me. I feel entrapped into paying one hundred dollars for no reason, and worried that I will not be able to pay my bills. I want my job back until I can find a new one and get away from jobs that hire and fire people religiously. I believe I was wrongfully fired because my truck has problems due to the fact that I drive all the time for them.




[This post has been
edited to remove personal or identifying information. -Moderator]

[Tax_Counsel]

augdawg772 said...

I feel like I am being punished for not paying back the manager's son's debt and that they have been looking for a reason to fire me. The owner repeatedly tells other managers that I look like a pill head and that he does not like me. I feel entrapped into paying one hundred dollars for no reason, and worried that I will not be able to pay my bills. I want my job back until I can find a new one and get away from jobs that hire and fire people religiously. I believe I was wrongfully fired because my truck has problems due to the fact that I drive all the time for them.

Sorry, it may have been poor management for the employer to fire you over something you couldn't control like a truck problem, but it wasn't wrongful termination as that term is used in the law. When the employer is not a government agency, then the employer may legally fire you for any reason (or no reason at all) except for a few reasons prohibited by law. The prohibited reasons include firing you because:
    •    of your race, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic test information under federal law (some states/localities add a few more categories like sexual orientation);
    •    you make certain kinds of reports about the employer to the government (known as whistle-blower protection laws);
    •    you participate in union organizing activities;
    •    you use a right or benefit the law guarantees you (e.g. using leave under FMLA);
    •    you filed a bankruptcy petition;
    •    your pay was garnished by a single creditor or by the IRS; and
    •    you took time off work to attend jury duty (in most states).

You can ask the employer to rehire you, but the employer is not obligated to do so. I suggest you apply for unemployment compensation and start looking for a new job. Good luck.