by Bill
(Clearwater, Florida)
I was told by my manager that they needed to get a pallet shipped and it was 4PM. I was still fixing another order. The pallet had to wait to be shipped by special carrier the next day, but they wanted to invoice the $22,000 worth of products. I told her we would not have time so she came back and actually did some work for a change.
The next morning at a meeting she told her boss I was uncooperative and not doing my job correctly. I lost it and yelled a bit at her. I did not cuss at her, which I had been written up once, months ago, for calling one of the front office girls a bitch.
I am ashamed to say, two hours later I got a check and a goodbye.
I just received a nice raise two months ago and feel they would not have done that if they were not happy with my work.
Hi Bill,
First, thanks for being so honest, it helps for me to get a clearer idea of what went on and helps me to give a better opinion about your possibilities of collecting unemployment for “misappropriate conduct in the workplace” and make no mistake Bill, this is what you were fired for, not poor job performance.
Most employers nowadays have a zero tolerance policy for any type of harassment, and if they don’t they need to get one. It is one of those policies that usually have a little blurb that explains to you, the employee, that any violation of this policy is grounds for immediate termination.
Sounds to me, Bill, like you have a little trouble respecting women, and problems with accepting their authority when you are a subordinate of theirs.
There are many, many managers out there with your attitude. These types of managers are one of the reasons people ask “can I quit and get unemployment”. It’s not because they don’t want to work, it’s because some disrepectful bully in the workplace is making them miserable.
Exactly how much crap should a person have to put up with to earn a living? Do we need to tolerate our manager’s or coworker’s lack of self control? Should we be expected to accept intimidation or disrespect due to who we are, or what we are?
NO! The employer took the appropriate action to protect themselves from you and the possible ramification of what could happen if the issue was not addressed. Inaction on their part could have led to actions brought against them by the woman you called a bitch, the manager you obviously had no respect for (“she came back and actually did some work for a change”??).
Workplace bullies are a huge pain in the ass, for employers and employees alike.
Nothing is preventing you from filing for unemployment. It’s more than likely if you initially get benefits, you’ll end up at a hearing and if the employer has a policy in place and first hand witnesses to testify, they will reverse the determination to allow benefits and then you’ll have an overpayment problem.
Most people in your situation should find an employment attorney to help them out at the hearing. If for no other reason than to coach you on what appropriate conduct at an unemployment hearing is.
Chris