By Myzyri - 08/06/2010 07:11 - United States
Myzyri tells us more.
I am the original poster. Several people (not from this website) suggested I sue. For $250, I got a lawyer to write a threatening letter to my previous employer. By the way, I worked in the accounting department for a beer distributor with about 80 locations in the midwest. The lawyer kept it vague since my employment was "at will," but did mention the Civil Rights Act hoping it might scare them a little since Civil Rights violations are bad for business reputations. Basically, I'd heard my old boss telling jokes about blacks, Hispanics, Polish people, etc. With me being Polish (half-Polish, but with a "ski" name), my attorney said it was the only possibility we had so long as we could get other people to say they'd heard him tell these jokes. It would show that he was prejudiced by nationality (national origin). I knew several of my co-workers had heard his jokes before and thought they were distasteful, but I wasn't sure they'd come forward since they were still employed there. We knew it was a long-shot, but for $250, I figured we'd try anyway and maybe they'd settle quickly and easily just to make me go away. I doubted that would happen, but I was thinking it was worth it if I could at least get a little money out of them to help my family make it through if I couldn't get another job for awhile. Anyway, the VP (the owner's son) actually called me to get details on what happened. I basically told him that my boss was always snotty with me and based on his jokes, it might be because I'm a "Pollack." Apparently, when my old boss filled out the paperwork for my termination, he wrote down that he fired me because of excessive tardiness (I have NEVER been late and, in fact, I was ALWAYS 30-45 minutes early even though I was salaried). I explained the situation from my perspective and the VP said he'd get back to me. Three days later, he called me and said that he personally looked into it. The electronic access cards we use to get into the building have a database that records when people come and go. It proved I had been EARLY and hadn't missed a day of work in the last 6 months (that's as far back as the records went). He said he also talked to my co-workers about my "level of character" and my old boss. Based on everything he found out, he fired my old boss for falsifying company documents (my termination papers). In the end, since I met all the qualifications for my boss's job, the VP offered it to me. It comes with a five year contract instead of "at will" employment and even better, it's a 20% pay increase. Finally, to seal the deal, they gave me an $8,000 signing bonus. I've decided not to sue and I start again on Monday! FML Rescinded.
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i would have squatted down on his desk and take a shit then say thats why you fired me
For getting fired? He has to be able to prove it was unlawful. Otherwise he's wasting money he doesn't have on court costs and lawyer fees. Oh, and by the way, if he loses he pays the winners court costs and lawyer fees, too. That's exactly what somone who just lost their job SHOULDN'T do. Especially when he goes looking for a job and potential employers do a public record search and see that he sued his last employer for getting fired and lost. That'll just make his job search all the more impossible.
Employees have the right to quit and walk out whenever they want... companies have the right to fire employees whenever they want for no reason. But this guy was not smart or polite about it. He should really fear/respect people a bit more.
companies do not have the right to fire for just any reason it has to be for an actually significant reason dumbass.
You're 100% wrong. They DO have that right. Illinois is an employment-at-will state. Look it up. Dumbass.
Agreed. My dad got fired over an email. When he called up the company to see what the reason was, the customer service rep said that there was no reason listed.
Your boss is my idol.
I'm, yet again, really surprised people want to live in USA... Have you ever heard of job security laws? when i see the Americans comments on FML, I really understand how infinitely stupid a country (as in it's general population, and perhaps not ALL individuals) must be to be against socialism...
For future reference, note that it might not be in the best taste to call America (or the general population of) stupid, because that *might* offend people.
wow your boss is an ass
I am the original poster. Several people (not from this website) suggested I sue. For $250, I got a lawyer to write a threatening letter to my previous employer. By the way, I worked in the accounting department for a beer distributor with about 80 locations in the midwest. The lawyer kept it vague since my employment was "at will," but did mention the Civil Rights Act hoping it might scare them a little since Civil Rights violations are bad for business reputations. Basically, I'd heard my old boss telling jokes about blacks, Hispanics, Polish people, etc. With me being Polish (half-Polish, but with a "ski" name), my attorney said it was the only possibility we had so long as we could get other people to say they'd heard him tell these jokes. It would show that he was prejudiced by nationality (national origin). I knew several of my co-workers had heard his jokes before and thought they were distasteful, but I wasn't sure they'd come forward since they were still employed there. We knew it was a long-shot, but for $250, I figured we'd try anyway and maybe they'd settle quickly and easily just to make me go away. I doubted that would happen, but I was thinking it was worth it if I could at least get a little money out of them to help my family make it through if I couldn't get another job for awhile. Anyway, the VP (the owner's son) actually called me to get details on what happened. I basically told him that my boss was always snotty with me and based on his jokes, it might be because I'm a "Pollack." Apparently, when my old boss filled out the paperwork for my termination, he wrote down that he fired me because of excessive tardiness (I have NEVER been late and, in fact, I was ALWAYS 30-45 minutes early even though I was salaried). I explained the situation from my perspective and the VP said he'd get back to me. Three days later, he called me and said that he personally looked into it. The electronic access cards we use to get into the building have a database that records when people come and go. It proved I had been EARLY and hadn't missed a day of work in the last 6 months (that's as far back as the records went). He said he also talked to my co-workers about my "level of character" and my old boss. Based on everything he found out, he fired my old boss for falsifying company documents (my termination papers). In the end, since I met all the qualifications for my boss's job, the VP offered it to me. It comes with a five year contract instead of "at will" employment and even better, it's a 20% pay increase. Finally, to seal the deal, they gave me an $8,000 signing bonus. I've decided not to sue and I start again on Monday! FML Rescinded.
Dude, if you're for real... Then that was a win of epic proportions. Congrats on the promotion and showing that douche what happens when you mess with the wrong model employee.
@ Myzyri Congrats on the special investigation! =D I'm Proud of you. You stood up for all who wanted this corruption to end and you stopped it dead on it's tracks! If only my mom can do the same thing. *daydream* :3
Awesome, everything happened for the best. Congrats :)
Normally, I hate people complaining about "racism" that isn't serious, but in this case, I'd say you did the right thing
Sounds like you had a happy ending, congrats op.
Matt, learn how to spell "COLLEGE"
Keywords
you can sue. they cant just fire you for no reason.
Dude, if you're for real... Then that was a win of epic proportions. Congrats on the promotion and showing that douche what happens when you mess with the wrong model employee.