Can I be fired for this??

[piphay]

I already have a new job, but I am thinking of pursuing this. I was fired because I declined my company's insurance program. They wanted to know who I have my present insurance with and I refused to tell them. This is solely the reason I was fired.

Can they fire me for that??

 

[browneyes]

I've always thought it was your choice if you wanted to get your company's insurance or not. I didn't think they could force you to get it.

 

[4greatboys]

Cheryl I dont know that much about GA but Texas is a right to work state and you can be fired for anything or quit as well. No reason needed. If GA is a right to work state as well then you wont have any recourse.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by 4greatboys
Cheryl I dont know that much about GA but Texas is a right to work state and you can be fired for anything or quit as well. No reason needed. If GA is a right to work state as well then you wont have any recourse.

Same thing for TN. It seems weird that they would fire you for this but what kind of insurance was it? If it was health/life or something similar, it is weird. If it is coverage for any kind of liability, then they may require that you carry it.

Peggy

 

[LJC1861]

What is a " Right to Work" state? to me it seems extreme that they can fire you for ANY reason.

Linda

 

[peg2001]

"Right to Work" simply means that you can quit for any reason at any time and they can let you go for any reason at any time. It doesn't even have to be a reason.

Peggy

 

[ByTheSea]

often called "At will" employment

Just as an employee can quit a job "at will" (to take another job for example) and employer can terminated "at will" for any or no reason, as long as it's not for an illegal reason that is protected by law, such as terminating someone who becomes disabled, etc.

 

[Princess'Mom2]

I know insurance companies are being very careful these days. If anyone declines insurance with our group policy at work they ask for the name of the company this employee is insured under. When we questioned this, we were told the insurance company wants the employee to acknowledge who they are insured under so in the future they can never come back and state they were never given the opportunity to get insurance or didn't have insurance (when they said they did). I guess some people will try to not pay (part of) the monthly premium and then try to enter a claim or something.

For our company, we just ask employees who decline to sign a statement indicating they were offered the insurance and then declined to be enrolled in the group coverage. It covers us as the employer as well as the insurance company. No reason to terminate someone over it.

 

[Poohnatic]

I've been a manager in three right to work states, and I've never been allowed to fire somebody without cause...for a trivial reason like that, the employer would be forced to pay unemployment. Even in a right to work state.

I refused insurance with my current employer when I started, as my husband's insurance was free and better. No one asked if I had other insurance, and if I recall correctly, it may be illegal to require this information.

Look into this with your local unemployment office. If it is illegal, they'll get you in touch with the labor board.

Suzanne

 

[Robmom]

For years I didn't use my company's insurance because I was covered under my husband's which was a better plan at the time. No one ever asked anything about it. Every December you can either opt in or opt out of the company's insurance. But this is NY, maybe other states have different rules.

 

[CarolA]

Yes you can probably be fired. I would imagine this was very early in your employment so you are in the probation period. What type of industry was it.

My old company would not allow me to opt out of insurance unless I PROVE to them I have insurance with someone else. It is not illegal to require proof of insurance. (That is not covered under the Healthcare Privacy act!) The same at my current employer. Employers are tired of dealing with your creditors if you don't pay your bills this is one way to assit in that.

 

[Lewski709]

They can fire anyone for anything. As far as being fired, did they say that was the reason? Especially for a probationary period, anything goes. Call the Labor Division in your area if they told you that was the reason and find out if they can do that, but I think the answer is YES.

 

[Bob NC]

Was it really worth getting fired to keep your insurance company a *secret*?

 

[padams]

Georgia is an employment at will state. You can be fired for any reason.

I think there is may another reason that you were fired and you may not have been told the whole truth. I can't imagine an employer firing someone just for refusing insurance.

 

[myjulybabes]

It was obnoxious, for sure, but probably legal. As long as it doesn't fall into the category of discrimination, they pretty much CAN fire you for any reason or no reason.

 

[piphay]

I was out of my probationary period and this allowed me to elligible for insurance. Yes they did tell me directly that it was because I would not disclose my health insurance information. I would not think of pursuing this but they beat me out of several hundreds of dollars of bonus.

I am thinking of approaching the ACLU. This might atleast scare them a little. I sent them a certified letter but they are now claiming that I verbally quit. This is absolutely not the case. They even acknowledged that I was a good employee.

 

[Lanshark]

GA is an "at will" state. I don't believe they need any reason to fire anyone.

 

[Lewski709]

Doesn't sound right, BUT you do already have another job. That would be enough satisfaction for me, I think.

If the case was that you could not find other employment equal to or greater than the wages you had, you may have something. Indiana is a "right to work and at will" employer too, but there are lawsuits filed and won still. If you want to pursue it, it won't hurt anything.

 

[mickeyfan1]

If a company provides health care coverage, and one of the requirements they have for employees is to either be covered by that benefit or show proof of other covereage, and you refused to do so, then yes, they can fire you for failing to comply with a company requirement. It is usually a condition of employment that you follow the rules set forth by the company, like being on time, following the dress code, following safety procedures, etc. I don't see the ACLU as wanting to look into this, as there is no violation of free speech, or any other constitutional issue.

It seems to me that you were not fired for refusing to provide the insurance company name, you were fired for refusing to follow company policy.

 

[piphay]

I see your point mickeyfan1, however I feel that my insurance information should be protected. In this case, I am covered by my domestic partner's insurance. While I could afford not to work and was planning to leave any way, it was the principal of privacy that bothered me. I am out so their knowing was not an issue, but what about all those that may not want their business known. That is why I was considering ACLU.