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jordankreationz · **What would you do? -** 04-25-2007, 12:45 PM

If you had a job that you really liked and were planning to stay there for 20 years and retire...then your boss has a complete mental breakdown at work on a day that only you and she are there...next day you get called into the office and fired for no justifiable reason except her anger over the spat yesterday (there's not a single writeup or warning for anything ever in your personnel file- all she ever said about you was how great you were until she got mad)...then you file a grievance and the grievance committee takes your side and says you were wronged...but you hear through the grapevine that the big boss probably is not going to hire you back because the little boss is threatening to quit if you get your job back and she's done some really good things in her position and they haven't really seen that she's crazy because when she's crazy she stays in her office and doesn't go near anyone else (we shared that office so I saw the crazy all the time). So meanwhile you are off with pay for the past 3 weeks (which is nice because you are helping take care of your new granddaughter but stressful because you hate getting back in the job market especially after you had found a job you really really liked that had no stress and great benefits and that's rare)...wondering what is going to happen with your future and your finances.
What would you do?? Start looking for a lawyer? Just wait and see what happens?
I'm very confused and downhearted at this point. And just a wee bit pissed off.
Oh and factor in that my husband works for the same company and is in a department head position so a lawsuit would probably turn them against him even though he's done great things at his job and been there for 16 years.

Just want to get the general consensus from a cross section of folks to see what you would do in my situation.

Thanks.

DJ

JamesB · 04-25-2007, 12:52 PM

sorry to hear this happened.

if it was me, I would make sure I got my un-employment benefits and then find a job elsewhere. its not worth it to file a law suit unless the job paid you a bizzilion dollars a year.

James

scott1120 · 04-25-2007, 01:03 PM

If your husband didn't work there I would say find an attorney.

snidow · 04-25-2007, 01:06 PM

I would at least talk to a lawyer, they may be able to help provide you with some options.

jordankreationz · 04-25-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesB

sorry to hear this happened.

if it was me, I would make sure I got my un-employment benefits and then find a job elsewhere. its not worth it to file a law suit unless the job paid you a bizzilion dollars a year.

James

well right now they are still paying me. their lawyer said they had to. so i haven't filed unemployment yet. technically i don't even know if i'm employed or not.
it really sux. and i had good insurance which i was going to use to have a surgery i've been needing for a long time but have been unable to have because of my lack of insurance.
i just feel like they robbed me. and as for the lawsuit, they didn't pay me a billion a year but they are a governmental entity so i could conceivably get a large amount of money (or so says a few of my friends)
I just don't know what to do.

Thanks for your input...I appreciate all the advice you guys can give me. Given who my employer was I cannot talk too much about it to anyone I know.

DJ

jeffkohn · 04-25-2007, 01:43 PM

Texas is a right-to-work state and employers can terminate workers for pretty much any reason that isn't legally defined as discimination, so I'm not sure what you would get out of a lawsuit. My suggestion would be to negotiate a nice severance package (maybe including continuing health coverage for a certain period of time) and then find another job. Even if you do get re-hired (or not fired or however they want to describe it), if the other person is still there your life is going to be miserable. And even if you're not working with that person anymore, other employees who maybe don't know the full inside story might look at you differently which could affect your work relationships and ability to be effective in your job.

Ropinamoment · 04-25-2007, 01:44 PM

Hang tight and see what they offer. Honestly, for your husband's sake, I wouldn't sue, and it sounds like you won't have too. I hope it's all resolved soon, I'm sorry your having to deal with this.

René · 04-25-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

Texas is a right-to-work state and employers can terminate workers for pretty much any reason that isn't legally defined as discimination, so I'm not sure what you would get out of a lawsuit. My suggestion would be to negotiate a nice severance package (maybe including continuing health coverage for a certain period of time) and then find another job. Even if you do get re-hired (or not fired or however they want to describe it), if the other person is still there your life is going to be miserable. And even if you're not working with that person anymore, other employees who maybe don't know the full inside story might look at you differently which could affect your work relationships and ability to be effective in your job.

I was about to say the same things Jeff. A similar situation happened to my sister and she filled a grievance with the Texas Employment Commission (I think that's the name of it). She was denied her claim, however she did receive unemployment until she found a new job.

Sorry this happened to you DJ, hope everything works out for you!

jordankreationz · 04-25-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

Texas is a right-to-work state and employers can terminate workers for pretty much any reason that isn't legally defined as discimination, so I'm not sure what you would get out of a lawsuit. My suggestion would be to negotiate a nice severance package (maybe including continuing health coverage for a certain period of time) and then find another job. Even if you do get re-hired (or not fired or however they want to describe it), if the other person is still there your life is going to be miserable. And even if you're not working with that person anymore, other employees who maybe don't know the full inside story might look at you differently which could affect your work relationships and ability to be effective in your job.

Define "nice" severance package. I thought about settling for something if they don't want to give my job back and don't want a law suit but I don't know what to request. I hate the whole idea of lawsuits and stuff but I was completely right in this matter. I was so shocked that she fired me over absolutely nothing.

Steelsun · 04-25-2007, 02:50 PM

Sounds like a wrongful termination case, especially since you have a grievance committee report backing you up. Even with Texas being "right to work", there are still implied contracts, and being with a government entity even more so. With your bosses history and hysteronics, you might even be able to show a harassing work environment.

Also, you are able to keep your health insurance for a long period after termination, I think it's six months, but you often have to pay for it yourself. Plan your surgery now while you are still on the company dime!

Spend $100-200 to consult with a labor attorney - it'll be worth it.

jordankreationz · 04-30-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelsun

Sounds like a wrongful termination case, especially since you have a grievance committee report backing you up. Even with Texas being "right to work", there are still implied contracts, and being with a government entity even more so. With your bosses history and hysteronics, you might even be able to show a harassing work environment.

Also, you are able to keep your health insurance for a long period after termination, I think it's six months, but you often have to pay for it yourself. Plan your surgery now while you are still on the company dime!

Spend $100-200 to consult with a labor attorney - it'll be worth it.

They've not told me I get to keep my insurance. Do I? They haven't told me s**t!. My husband got called into the bosses office today to see if we had gotten my letter. We hadn't. So he got to read it. Basically it's one paragraph of the Kiss my A$$, sorry it didn't work out variety. I'm so angry and frustrated. Now I'm trying to find a good reputable lawyer in my area. DFW or Wichita Falls area. So if anyone knows of one...please PM me or let me know.

It's just so wrong. Any other time in the world when I've left a job I usually had some fault in it. But this time [I]because[I] my husband works there I had made up my mind to kiss butt, work hard, be friendly and make him proud. And I was! And then she, for whatever crazy reason woke up on the wrong side of the bed that day and BOOM! I'm fired. And the city manager won't do anything except say he's losing sleep. Well aren't we all?? From what I understand my free days are over now. I hadn't filed unemployment because it was all up in the air but I can't live on unemployment. I'm sooooooo upset. So now I'll file and the sob's will turn that down too even with my letter that states I was "unjustly terminated". It's a crock. ARGGGGGGGGGGG!

Thanks for listening to me rant.

DJ

Steelsun · 04-30-2007, 01:08 PM

Here's an attorney we used to work alot with when he was in Houston. He's now in Flower Mound. He does alot of business legal and contracts, I don't know if he does employment law, but he may be able to refer you to someone that does:
http://www.lawyers.com/Texas/Flower-...3626874-f.html

(He should remember me as Brian from Paladin, the old PI company I worked for)

bondarnes · 04-30-2007, 01:28 PM

Since you said City Manager, I assume this is a job with the city. Newpapers love these sort of things which should give you some bargaining leverage. I would talk to an attorney and be prepared to go to court. If they come back on your husband in any way I believe that would be grounds for him to join your suit. I smell a decent settlement.

Ropinamoment · 04-30-2007, 02:09 PM

I worked in city government once upon a time and getting out of the internal politics was the best thing I've ever done career wise. I loved the job, absolutely loved it. I did turn them over to the authorities when I left but I didn't file any suits. Course, I left cause I didn't want in the middle of shady doings, and the newspapers did have a hayday.

I'd be concerned about them letting your husband read your letter! (Another thing to mention to a lawyer if you were to talk to one.) What if something were up with you and your husband, they let personal information go to someone other than you personally. Doesn't sound like they are very smart. Regretfully, If you make any kind of legal bid to keep your job, it will reflect on your husband I'm afraid,since they are so willing included him in on this.

My heart goes out to you.

Charles Putnam · 04-30-2007, 02:58 PM

Usually, with municipalities, there's a long process that's involved in firing someone. Documentation requirements and such. [my brother works for the city of L.A. and it takes on average 3 years to get someone fired for cause]

If the grievence committee agrees that you were wronged, you should be reinstated - period. Talking to legal counsel, especially since this involves a municipality, is in good order. Even though Texas is a RTW state, government usually has different requirements.