Got fired without a (real) reason - Sorry, long...

[disneyquestions]

Long story short, I started out at a law firm 2 years ago as the collator (sp?) for the marketing paperwork that is sent out to accident victims. From there I became the data entry person, then the receptionist (with a lot more responsibilities), then the office manager, and finally the litigation team.

Today, the HR manager came in from the head office (about 1 hour away) and fired me. She said the reason was because the other 4 people (co-workers that I manage) have complained about me, and said that I'm making the office "uncomfortable" for everyone. I asked for specific incidents, and she said she didn't know of any.... Two of these people only work one day a week - One of which is the owners son. The other two were just brought on about 2 weeks ago, and trained by yours truly. So I've been training two new people, while learning my new position.

About 30 minutes after I left, the one I trained for my position (the one I've become closest with) txted me, and said that they had only just asked her if I had ever been nasty to her, and she told them no. So, they fired me because supposedly all my co-workers had complained about me, yet this girls says that she had never spoken with anyone about me, until AFTER I was fired. She talked to the other girl in the office, and she said the same thing.

My boss had been rather.... picky.... with me since last week. Getting upset about me accidentally leaving my coffee mug in the sink one night, and about the garbage - something that was never my responsibility before, though now that I was the sole manager there, I will take responsibility for it and take care of it - which I did. I've been killing myself day in and day our for this new position - even as the "paper girl" in the office, I was always early - and now that I have a higher up position, I'm the first one in, last one out every day, going above and beyond for my job. I'm just floored by this, as is everyone else in the office.

The owners were not the office when I was fired - they had been there just before, but high tailed it out of there when the deed was done. I've called both of them, and neither will answer their cell phones. I just want a true answer as to why I was let go. One reason could be that I had gotten a H-U-G-E promotion, but they hadn't given me any raise yet - nothin. My new boss (the head litigation lawyer) said that he was going to get me a raise... the day he talked to them, there was a huge fight.... I can't be certain that it was about ME, but I have my suspicions....

So I'm just wondering - is there anything I can do? I mean, I KNOW they are lying to me about why they are firing me - its just not fair! I really loved my job - I was looking SO forward to learing my new position. Its in a great location, I liked the people I worked with - there had never been any problems. I mean, if there truely was an issue, don't you think they would have had at least had a meeting with me before just throwing me out the door?


I'm sorry, I'm just so upset about this, and what they have done is not right. And the scary part is, they are lawyers, so I'm sure they will cover their tracks to safe themselves.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If it is a right to work state, likely nothing you can do unless you could some how determine and PROVE that it was discrimination. "Right to Work" allows you to quit whenever or for them to fire you whenever.

I am sorry about your job loss.

And I would stop trying to contact the owners. They probably won't answer and they may see continued attempts at contact to be a bother and certainly will not change their minds.

And if they were willing to be that unkind regarding your termination, I probably wouldn't want to keep working for them anyway.

 

[okeydokey]

I think in a private company they don't have to have cause to fire anybody. I would at least write to your old bosses (since they are not answering your calls) and see if they will write a positive reference for you. So sorry about your news.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Not sure they is anything you can do.

 

[dzorn]

Long story short, I started out at a law firm 2 years ago as the collator (sp?) for the marketing paperwork that is sent out to accident victims. From there I became the data entry person, then the receptionist (with a lot more responsibilities), then the office manager, and finally the litigation team.

Today, the HR manager came in from the head office (about 1 hour away) and fired me. She said the reason was because the other 4 people (co-workers that I manage) have complained about me, and said that I'm making the office "uncomfortable" for everyone. I asked for specific incidents, and she said she didn't know of any.... Two of these people only work one day a week - One of which is the owners son. The other two were just brought on about 2 weeks ago, and trained by yours truly. So I've been training two new people, while learning my new position.

About 30 minutes after I left, the one I trained for my position (the one I've become closest with) txted me, and said that they had only just asked her if I had ever been nasty to her, and she told them no. So, they fired me because supposedly all my co-workers had complained about me, yet this girls says that she had never spoken with anyone about me, until AFTER I was fired. She talked to the other girl in the office, and she said the same thing.

My boss had been rather.... picky.... with me since last week. Getting upset about me accidentally leaving my coffee mug in the sink one night, and about the garbage - something that was never my responsibility before, though now that I was the sole manager there, I will take responsibility for it and take care of it - which I did. I've been killing myself day in and day our for this new position - even as the "paper girl" in the office, I was always early - and now that I have a higher up position, I'm the first one in, last one out every day, going above and beyond for my job. I'm just floored by this, as is everyone else in the office.

The owners were not the office when I was fired - they had been there just before, but high tailed it out of there when the deed was done. I've called both of them, and neither will answer their cell phones. I just want a true answer as to why I was let go. One reason could be that I had gotten a H-U-G-E promotion, but they hadn't given me any raise yet - nothin. My new boss (the head litigation lawyer) said that he was going to get me a raise... the day he talked to them, there was a huge fight.... I can't be certain that it was about ME, but I have my suspicions....

So I'm just wondering - is there anything I can do? I mean, I KNOW they are lying to me about why they are firing me - its just not fair! I really loved my job - I was looking SO forward to learing my new position. Its in a great location, I liked the people I worked with - there had never been any problems. I mean, if there truely was an issue, don't you think they would have had at least had a meeting with me before just throwing me out the door?


I'm sorry, I'm just so upset about this, and what they have done is not right. And the scary part is, they are lawyers, so I'm sure they will cover their tracks to safe themselves.

I doubt if there is anything you can do but I would suspect it has something to do with this person.

Denise in MI

 

[Mary•Poppins]

I am SO sorry to hear about this!

Do you think they fired you to give the boss' son your job? Just wondering

 

[disneyquestions]

I doubt if there is anything you can do but I would suspect it has something to do with this person.

Denise in MI

The sons owner is a kid - only 18, in college, and only comes in 1-2 days a week, and mostly is his moms errand-boy. Hes not really involved with what I do (did ), so I truely don't think he even knew anything about it - the office manager on the other side had no clue till I was gone. Its one of the owners (the female - not the lawyer). I don't think she liked the fact that I had been promoted "away" from her - she made that pretty clear with the way she treated me last week. I just feel like someone has punched me in the gut. And the worst part - I've already called 90% of the law firms in this area, and they all said that they are not hiring right now.

 

[Magic Mom]

Regardless of whether they had to have a reeson, it still hurts. I'm sorry this happened to you. Hopefully you can get some answers.

 

[WDSearcher]

I would start calling back those law firms and find someone who specializes in employment law and ask for a consultation. Document everything you can prior to that -- run-ins with the boss, phone conversations, etc -- along with your job history, various promotions, job changes, etc.

Talk it through with someone who specializes in things like this and find out if you have a case. Right-to-work doesn't mean that you have to roll over and play dead. Another lawyer may tell you that it's a case of "he-said / she-said", but then again ... they may tell you that you have a valid case. It's worth an ask, anyway. The worst that can happen is that they tell you that you've got nothing.

 

[NaLisa]

Sorry about your job loss.

I have a friend who was recently fired for no apparent reason. She found out later from another co-worker that friend's boss saw the not-so-nice remarks friend made on Facebook about the boss and the company. My friend felt like she was just venting to her friends, but it was out there for friends-of-friends to see.

Not saying that's the case in your situation, but couldn't help wondering if it's a possibility.

Keep your head up.

 

[mamacatnv]

If it is a right to work state, likely nothing you can do unless you could some how determine and PROVE that it was discrimination. "Right to Work" allows you to quit whenever or for them to fire you whenever.I am sorry about your job loss.

And I would stop trying to contact the owners. They probably won't answer and they may see continued attempts at contact to be a bother and certainly will not change their minds.

And if they were willing to be that unkind regarding your termination, I probably wouldn't want to keep working for them anyway.

Right to Work has nothing to do with the ability to hire/fire. Right to Work has to do with Unions. What you are referring to here is Employment at Will

OP, I'm so sorry this happened to you. Office politics suck. I am actually surprised that a law firm gave you any reason at all. I live in an Employment at Will State and we never ever give a reason. Services no longer needed, anything else opens us up to litigation.

 

[disneyquestions]

Sorry about your job loss.

I have a friend who was recently fired for no apparent reason. She found out later from another co-worker that friend's boss saw the not-so-nice remarks friend made on Facebook about the boss and the company. My friend felt like she was just venting to her friends, but it was out there for friends-of-friends to see.

Not saying that's the case in your situation, but couldn't help wondering if it's a possibility.

Keep your head up.

Nope, I keep everything work-related off FB - untill my last post just now.... All I said is that I feel like i've been punched in the gut, and wish I could know the truth.... so it says nothing about my job, just how I feel right now.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I would start calling back those law firms and find someone who specializes in employment law and ask for a consultation. Document everything you can prior to that -- run-ins with the boss, phone conversations, etc -- along with your job history, various promotions, job changes, etc.

Talk it through with someone who specializes in things like this and find out if you have a case. Right-to-work doesn't mean that you have to roll over and play dead. Another lawyer may tell you that it's a case of "he-said / she-said", but then again ... they may tell you that you have a valid case. It's worth an ask, anyway. The worst that can happen is that they tell you that you've got nothing.

I agree with this. While the law may technically give a company the right to let you go for no reason, there is substantial case law that if they do so arbitrarily and capriciously without regard to prior patterns of layoffs you may be entitled to compensation for wrongful termination (in other words, if they fire you "because of personality conflicts" but other people get warnings when that happens, it's a change in behavior that my be litigable).

As somebody frequently on the other side of the table (I manage a large team and unfortunately do have to let people go on occasion), the HR office at my company is very firm about documenting the causes for termination, despite the fact that we are in an at-will employment state with very employer-friendly labor laws, because we have been sued and have lost against employees who felt they were terminated without cause (not by me).

I'm not saying that you will win, but if you contact a good plaintiff's attorney who can at least do a bit of due diligence, it may be worth it.

Regardless, I'm sorry for you and for the loss of your job.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Right to Work has nothing to do with the ability to hire/fire. Right to Work has to do with Unions. What you are referring to here is Employment at Will

OP, I'm so sorry this happened to you. Office politics suck. I am actually surprised that a law firm gave you any reason at all. I live in an Employment at Will State and we never ever give a reason. Services no longer needed, anything else opens us up to litigation.

My apologies. It doesn't change the intent of my post and we have always referred to FL as a right to work state. (we as in employees, I was not in HR)

It doesn't change the fact that it is unlikely the OP as a case.

 

[a1tinkfans]

sorry OP.
In the long run, sounds like they ultimately did you a favor, it does not sound like a place that respects their employees, firing you and running high tail out of the office like that, pathetic. You should not have to work in that type pf place.
Don't call them, don't write them, they will not give you a reference...they could not even give you an example of your alleged "inability to get along or compromise the office"

Right now, you need to protect yourself by trying to find work, signing up for unemployment, etc, and reaching out for whatever support you can get.

So sorry you were let go. I hope that an even Better Job is Right Around the Corner for you, You deserve that! Good Luck!

 

[princesshannahsmom]

Sounds just like a darn lawyer. My ex boss (lawyer) NEVER fired an employee the entire time I was there. We (myself and the other paralegal) did the firing for him, and he LEFT the office right BEFORE it was to happen.

We always used the go to "we no longer need your services", as it was the safe alternative for his "reasons" for wanting to terminate an employee.

BTW, I am in Florida and I have always heard it referred to as an "at will" state, meaning you can leave or be fired for any or no reason.

As others have said, even if you are in an "at will" state, it certainly can't hurt to find a good PLAINTIFF's employment/labor attorney. The very worse he/she can do is tell you that there is NO issue.

I am sorry about your job loss, this is a tough time to be looking for work. It may take some time, but you can find something, I have no doubt about that.

 

[mamacatnv]

My apologies. It doesn't change the intent of my post and we have always referred to FL as a right to work state. (we as in employees, I was not in HR)

It doesn't change the fact that it is unlikely the OP as a case.

I habitually correct the definition. I work for small companies and my employees are always whining about right to work and I am always correcting them with their Employment at Will status
That also means they don't have to give us notice and in theory we are also supposed to smile and wave when they leave us in a lurch.

 

[disneyquestions]

I habitually correct the definition. I work for small companies and my employees are always whining about right to work and I am always correcting them with their Employment at Will status
That also means they don't have to give us notice and in theory we are also supposed to smile and wave when they leave us in a lurch.

Well I didn't leave anyone in a lurch. Infact I came in last week sick as a dog, to train the new girls, and to learn my new position. And this is what I got for it.

 

[Hillbeans]

I'm sorry this happened to you, I can imagine it must have been very upsetting, especially since there was no verbal or written warning that your job was in trouble.

At the very least you can collect unemployment while you're job hunting. Hang in there.

 

[mamacatnv]

Well I didn't leave anyone in a lurch. Infact I came in last week sick as a dog, to train the new girls, and to learn my new position. And this is what I got for it.

I did not mean to infer that you did, I'm sorry if my post read that way

I meant that while employers can do whatever they please employees still have the unspoken "obligation" to not burn a bridge and to give notice when in an Employment at Will state, neither party is obligated.

OP is it possible that the firm needed to downsize and they for some reason don't want you on their unemployment rolls? Thus the "firing"
BTW file for Unemployment, there is nothing in what they said to you that should have any affect on your ability to collect.