fired from a hospital for having two pieces of company letterhead at my house, and denied ui

by tina

(connecticut)

I was fired from my job of 3 1/2 years for in their words, violated a hospital policy. My 20 year old daughter was receiving food stamps while living with me because in ct anyone under 22 can not get them on their own while living with a parent. The dss office called my job to verify my hours, which my daughter mis reported, and HR called me into the office questioning me about a hospital letterhead that the dss had with my hours on it. I told themI had no such knowledge of any of this. They suspended me for two days, and then called me to ask some more questions. They asked me how she got the letterhead and I told them I have 2 pieces at my house, because I have letters of reccomendation from the doctors for future employment when I move out of state. They said that was violating their policy and I was fired. I emailed the HR woman asking her to give me in legal terms why I was fired and she said for violating a hospital policy. Now UI denied my benefits saying I commited willful misconduct. I have appealed the decision and am waiting for my hearing. I have no witness because my daughter is now in the navy and can not come. I never thought having two pieces of paper in my house was breaking any rule. My coworkers take home everything. I don’t think its fair, and I’m worried I will loose my hearing without any witnesses I know the hospital will have their attorney come. What should I do, and how can I prepare myself when I have nothing but the email from HR and the letters of recommendations.

Comments for fired from a hospital for having two pieces of company letterhead at my house, and denied ui

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Okay.

by: Chris

Then I guess the only thing left that might be important here is whether the hospital had a rule about taking home letterhead .. and if not, finding a way to prove it wasn’t you who lied about your hours hours .. but your daughter, and therefore, the employer fired you for something other than misconduct connected to the work.

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by: Tina

My daughter was never in the navy when she was receiving food stamps. And there is no fraud investigation going on, and no fraud was commited according to dss, my income falls in the guidlines for a family of 4. The only thing done wrong was she lied about my hours, which she should not have done. And its not even that, that is the issue. Dss did not disclose what was written on the letterhead to HR. The hospital was mad that I had 2 pieces of blank letterhead at my house. That to them is removing hospital property from the hospital, and that is what my termination was based on. My letter of denial did not state a reason, just in general that I was terminated for wilfull miscinduct.

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Which hospital policy?

by: Chris

Does the hospital have a policy that forbids letterhead being taken home?

My guess is, it’s not the letterhead that got you fired, but the belief you used hospital letterhead to commit welfare fraud, by misreporting your hours. What does your denial determination state as the misconduct?

Maybe you’re daughter who is now in the navy will write a statement admitting this foodstamp fraud attempt, was all her doing and have it notarized so the written statement becomes an affidavit.

You might also consider being represented by someone who might see the weaknesses in the employer’s burden .. because according to you, they do not have a direct witness to prove much .. except that you had hospital letterhead at home .. which you say had a letter of recommendation on it.

Any chance you still have, or can get, the original altered document made by your daughter and sent in without your “knowledge” to get food stamps?

She would of had to of made a copy of your letter blanking out the letter of recommendation.

I’m just worried you are not telling the whole story .. but in any case, you do realize it is your daughter who, if willing to help you at all, will have to admit to welfare fraud.

How do you think the Navy will look upon that .. considering she must be a new recruit .. or was on leave when all this went down.