OT: Fired on my birthday...?

[ILoveMPower]

Alright, well today is February 14th, which happens to be my 20th birthday. Awesome, right? Not exactly.

Saturday night into sunday we had, well, a blizzard on the northeast. I was supposed to work sunday night. Well after struggling to move out of my driveway with the blizzaks, to no avail, I decided I better stay safe and take the night off.

What I was going for was emergency PTO (paid-time off), which involves me calling the security monitor room (I work security at a casino) at least 2 hours prior to shift start, as well as calling back just before shift start (12-8am) and talking to my shift manager.

I called the monitor room at about 5:30-6pm on sunday, let them know that I couldn't get out of my driveway, schools had already been cancelled for the next day, etc etc. He told me I had to call back and talk to my shift manager, which I was already aware of.

So, about 9:30pm rolls around, when I hear a loud slam, and out with the lights. Somebody slid off the road and macked into the telephone pole that connects to my house. Needless to say, I have no power and no phoneline.

After not being able to find any of the numbers I need, I find a mohegan sun pen with an 800 number on it. I walk to my neighbors, about 200 yards, and ask to use their phone (you cannot get cell phone reception in my area). I call the number, only to reach an answering machine that does no help to me. Unfortunately, all I can do at this point is sit in the pitch black and hope for the best.

Well, when I went to work last night, I arrived like usual. Suddenly, my supervisor approaches me and says that they had me for a no-call, no-show. I told him it's impossible, I had 4 people right next to me when I did the initial call, and also informed him of my situation. He goes up to the managers office to figure out what's up.

Basically, the manager told him that it's too late, the paperwork is already in, and to take my work badge. He tried to explain my situation, but obviously that was not relevent, in my shift manager's eyes.

WHAT THE F*** CAN I DO!?! I'm broke, I'm young, and I lost my job and my seniority for powers outside of me...

Comments, questions... answers..?

Broke as hell,
- Jeremy King

[DaCan23]

Wow that sucks, sorry to hear that. What jerks at Da Sun, I always liked Da Woods better anyways.... go over there and explain what Da Sun did to ya and maybe they'll give you a job on sympathy.

[Alexlind123]

Arent there laws against that?

[dacoyote]

That sucks.... silly question... I though you had to be 21 to work in a casino... at least in Nevada....

[1995 525i]

Arent there laws against that?

Not sure about where he is, but here in NC you can be fired at anytime and without reason. They can walk up to you and ask you to leave without any explanation. On the other hand this means you can walk out in the same manner, without working a notice. Of course it won't look to good to a jury if you take the company to court.

Sorry to hear you got your walking papers on your birthday..That is a huge bowl of suck! You might be able to pursue a wrongful termination (car hit the pole which should be documented by the Police and the phone company probably has documentation on the loss of the phone line as they had to send someone out to fix it. Power went out and that, I'm sure, was documented as well) claim against them. I would. Of course I'm not an attorney so you would need to investigate this a bit farther.



Then again, if you do file a complaint and get your job back, do your really want it? They sound like asswipes over there.

You will find another job that pays the same if not better.

Good luck!

Michael

[ILoveMPower]

Anyone have any idea what I can do to get unemployment? Obviously I'm looking for another job but for the time being I do have bills that need to be payed...

[Dash01]

Document all the facts that you relayed here, including from the power and phone companies that the pole got hit, when the power went off, what areas of service were disrupted, etc.. Get a written statement from the neighbor whose phone you used, with the date and time of call specified. Get a copy of the employer's policy manual, which tells employees about the no call/no show rules. Talk to the state employment bureaucrats, and learn what your rights, if any, are: In some states, one can be terminated for good reason, bad reason, or no reason whatever. That's called "employment at will"--they can fire you anytime, just as you can quit anytime, without explanation or reason. OTOH, some states have laws to the contrary, which may help you. Write a nice polite letter to the CEO of the company that fired you, explaining the facts and including the documents you got from the phone/power companies, neighbor, etc.. Ask politely for their forbearance and to be reinstated without prejudice or ill will. Wait patiently for a response. If they still won't take you back, and esp. if the local law favors your rights, get a lawyer to write his own letter to the employer. Meanwhile, don't hold out too much hope for full reconcilation, as even if they do take you back, the guy who fired you will be miffed that you went around him and he got over-ruled by the suits upstairs. That's life.

[ILoveMPower]

I think I'm better off working somewhere else...

[HDhandyman]

I think I'm better off working somewhere else...

Just some advice, but as a twenty year old just taking off in the world, you really shouldn't just walk away from this or resign yourself to be fired. It's all good and well to get another job and move on, but doing the documentation work listed up two threads will be an excellent experience for you to gain a sense of empowerment in adulthood. After all, it's nothing more than documentation and writing, making a few copies, etc.. In the end you'll have more than a packet about loosing your job, you'll have a packet that says you're not gonna let people stick it in your ass in life!

Just my $0.02

[ILoveMPower]

I see where you're coming from with that, but I just feel that if I did go through the trouble of really trying to get my job back, I wouldn't last much longer before my manager found a way to fire me again.

He already never liked me, but if I went beyond him and came back I'm sure I would never see the end of it. He really is a horrible human being.