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Post by questioning on Jun 14, 2024 16:19:25 GMT
An acquaintance's husband was fired, after 20 years with the company. It's a large well-known business, does a lot of national and international sport-related sponsorships. It's so large I assumed it was public, however it is privately owned.
He travelled and was out of town for weeks at a time. There were a few times when she repeated things he said that lit cheating spouse triggers in my head. Mostly due to situations shared on here...
He returned from a trip in the spring and was fired, via text and then voice mail. No discussion, and according to her no chance to learn why. No HR paperwork explaining it, no insight from bosses or coworkers. She is certain he has been wronged and is angry his long time coworkers ghost him. This week he was denied state unemployment benefits. It's not my place, but if I was her I'd suspect my husband wasn't be forthcoming. His wife adores him, and is a naive in her belief her family does no wrong.
I haven't talked about it with anyone other than my husband. He says it can take two years for him to fire someone where he works, unless it's due to misconduct. I'm a self employed consultant, the only one I could fire or layoff is myself. We only know about our industry, flame me if you will for asking this, it's morphed into a general corporate question now. This was definitely You're Fired, not a layoff.
Is it easy to fire someone? Is it normal to withhold the reason?
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 8,565
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Jun 14, 2024 16:24:20 GMT
That whole thing is fishy... No HR paperwork? Unemployment benefits denied after being there for 20 years? Co-workers ghosting him?
My immediate thought is that he knows exactly why he was fired and he's certainly not going to explain the sordid thing to his wife. I could absolutely be wrong though and hope I am, for her sake.
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Post by christine58 on Jun 14, 2024 16:24:27 GMT
An acquaintance's husband was fired, after 20 years with the company. It's a large well-known business, does a lot of national and international sport-related sponsorships. It's so large I assumed it was public, however it is privately owned. He travelled and was out of town for weeks at a time. There were a few times when she repeated things he said that lit cheating spouse triggers in my head. Mostly due to situations shared on here... He returned from a trip in the spring and was fired, via text and then voice mail. No discussion, and according to her no chance to learn why. No HR paperwork explaining it, no insight from bosses or coworkers. She is certain he has been wronged and is angry his long time coworkers ghost him. This week he was denied state unemployment benefits. It's not my place, but if I was her I'd suspect my husband wasn't be forthcoming. His wife adores him, and is a naive in her belief her family does no wrong. I haven't talked about it with anyone other than my husband. He says it can take two years for him to fire someone where he works, unless it's due to misconduct. I'm a self employed consultant, the only one I could fire or layoff is myself. We only know about our industry, flame me if you will for asking this, it's morphed into a general corporate question now. This was definitely You're Fired, not a layoff. Is it easy to fire someone? Is it normal to withhold the reason? I think he’s lying to her. Something doesn’t smell right |
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,097
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Jun 14, 2024 16:28:56 GMT
Most employers can do what they want unless there are union, contract, or protected class issues, especially in an at-will state.
My instinct is that the swiftness coupled with the inability to get unemployment means this was BIG and BAD. Hopefully not something she can get tangled up in.
And while I am normally a “not my business kind or person,” I understand your need to understand because it is so weird.
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,239 
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Post by pilcas on Jun 14, 2024 16:29:59 GMT
It would have to be pretty bad. Fraud, maybe but that may or may not make his ex colleagues ghost him. Sexual assault on a co worker?
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Post by gar on Jun 14, 2024 16:30:09 GMT
No it isn’t easy to fire someone who has worked for a company for 20 years without a very strong reason. He is keeping something from her it would seem.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 27, 2024 19:42:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2024 16:34:04 GMT
If the person was hired “at will” the employer can terminate their employment at any time without just cause.
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Post by questioning on Jun 14, 2024 16:42:39 GMT
And while I am normally a “not my business kind or person,” I understand your need to understand because it is so weird. Thank you. I've tried to make it make sense, the unemployment was the last straw for my curiosity. Safer to ask you guys than mention it without names to local friends. |
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Post by librarylady on Jun 14, 2024 16:42:54 GMT
If the person was hired “at will” the employer can terminate their employment at any time without just cause. I think some states are not "at will" states. I say this because from time to time it will be stated, "Texas is an at will state so..." |
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Post by katlaw on Jun 14, 2024 16:54:41 GMT
In my own opinion he knows why he was fired and it was for something incontestable. He is lying to his wife.
I had a co-worker who was drinking a lot and was confronted by the employer. She did not loose her job because she told them she is an addict and wants help. She was put on the disability plan. She went to meetings, saw a therapist and followed a treatment plan. She was still getting a paycheque because she was on disability which covered her salary. She left the house to go to work every shift and spent her time away at a holiday trailer they owned on a lake lot that her husband never used. He had no idea she was not going to work. She lied to him for months.
If someone really wants to hide something and someone else really wants to believe them it can happen.
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Post by Merge on Jun 14, 2024 17:03:44 GMT
Yes, if he's in an "at will" state he could be fired for any reason or no reason at all. But he would still qualify for unemployment benefits unless he was fired for cause. So I vote that something is fishy.
It's likely that nothing good will come of trying to convince his wife of that, though.
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Post by lisae on Jun 14, 2024 17:07:48 GMT
The not qualifying for unemployment benefits is the red flag. He either quit and is lying to her or he has done something really bad and is lying to her. I'm not sure what all keeps you from getting unemployment benefits.
However, it is their marriage and their mess. Be a supportive but not a nosy friend.
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,300
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Post by pantsonfire on Jun 14, 2024 17:21:40 GMT
I would advise the wife to get a lawyer on hold just in case something pops up. And I wonder if said lawyer would be able to find out why to protect her and any assets.
Something not small happened and she should keep both eyes open
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Post by manomo on Jun 14, 2024 17:29:19 GMT
I live in an at-will state and DH supervised people who were eventually fired. Not only did he not have to give a reason for the firing, but he was also taught not to give a reason. If I remember correctly, it was because the person would have no justification for a wrongful termination claim. At-will employees cannot be terminated for a reason prohibited by law.
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RosieKat
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PeaJect #12
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Post by RosieKat on Jun 14, 2024 17:41:05 GMT
Yes, if he's in an "at will" state he could be fired for any reason or no reason at all. But he would still qualify for unemployment benefits unless he was fired for cause. So I vote that something is fishy. You'd also have something in writing from HR, even if it didn't say why, etc. There would be termination papers of some sort. Definitely something is afoot. I suspect it was something bad, and termination papers indicate that - hence "Oh, no papers!" A major company does not just terminate you via text and voice mail.  |
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Post by katlady on Jun 14, 2024 17:46:27 GMT
If he doesn't qualify for unemployment then he was probably fired for misconduct of some sort. And I don't believe that there was no reason or paper work available. He is not telling his wife everything.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 27, 2024 19:42:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2024 17:57:04 GMT
If the person was hired “at will” the employer can terminate their employment at any time without just cause. I think some states are not "at will" states. I say this because from time to time it will be stated, "Texas is an at will state so..." I believe Montana is the only state that isn’t an at will employment state. |
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Post by Scrapper100 on Jun 14, 2024 18:04:46 GMT
Google says misconduct or quitting. The other reasons wouldn’t matter as he had been there for 20 years so he obviously had enough quarters into the system.
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Post by cmpeter on Jun 14, 2024 18:38:07 GMT
The only time I have been instructed not to speak to a fired employee after the fact, was when they were fired for cause (falsifying business records).
I agree it’s fishy. I’m sure he know why. And…unemployment could be denied for cause or he’s not being truthful about that and keeping those funds to himself.
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Post by compeateropeator on Jun 14, 2024 18:56:29 GMT
I think there is more to the story but I really don’t know. I do know that the two places I have worked banking and healthcare it is not easy to fire someone quickly unless it is for misconduct, violations of ethic policies, etc. it has/had to very bad to be immediate or was something that was ongoing for awhile and just came to fruition now. Just my 2 cents and again only from a two medium size public companies view.
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 14, 2024 20:08:41 GMT
I would say he is feeding her a line of BS.
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Post by Zee on Jun 14, 2024 20:20:30 GMT
That whole thing is fishy... No HR paperwork? Unemployment benefits denied after being there for 20 years? Co-workers ghosting him? My immediate thought is that he knows exactly why he was fired and he's certainly not going to explain the sordid thing to his wife. I could absolutely be wrong though and hope I am, for her sake. I agree. I'm not saying it's impossible, but any actual company is going to want to be sure to have a very strong case to prevent a lawsuit, even in an at-will state. There is definitely going to be a paper trail, a meeting, an escort out by HR or his boss, and he knows exactly why he was fired and ghosted. |
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SabrinaP
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Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,421
Location: Dallas Texas
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Post by SabrinaP on Jun 14, 2024 20:20:44 GMT
Sounds fishy to me. Even if he is at will he should be able to get Unemployment unless he was fired with cause.
Did your friend say he was going to fight the denial?
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Post by disneypal on Jun 14, 2024 21:29:29 GMT
Depending on the state, you can fire someone with no reason at all. However, even in those states, usually HR wants everything well documented so they won’t be sued.
I’m with you, I suspect her husband knows the reason but isn’t telling her.
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
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Post by CeeScraps on Jun 14, 2024 21:35:08 GMT
Sounds like cheeeettttinnnnng along with other stuff!
She should probably talk to someone as in an attorney. If he had any benefits for retirement he may not get those. She won't want to hear it. You may want to say that after you talk to her, but she needs to hear it and NOT talk to hubby about talking to someone.
So sad......
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Post by littlemama on Jun 14, 2024 22:53:20 GMT
If the person was hired “at will” the employer can terminate their employment at any time without just cause. Yes, they can, but in my state at least, there is a burden of proof on the employer as far as receiving UI. The State tends to side with the employee, not the employer. Even if the employer fires someone with cause, they have to prove that there was progressive discipline and that the employee wasnt intentionally damaging the employer. |
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snyder
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Posts: 4,350
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Post by snyder on Jun 14, 2024 23:35:15 GMT
If the person was hired “at will” the employer can terminate their employment at any time without just cause. Yes, they can, but in my state at least, there is a burden of proof on the employer as far as receiving UI. The State tends to side with the employee, not the employer. Even if the employer fires someone with cause, they have to prove that there was progressive discipline and that the employee wasnt intentionally damaging the employer. Of all the people that I have known in my lifetime that have been fired and applied for UI, every single one of them were denied the first time, but won on an appeal. I think 2 of those were like penalized a few weeks, but like after those few weeks, they were able to draw. UI. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 27, 2024 19:42:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2024 23:55:33 GMT
If the person was hired “at will” the employer can terminate their employment at any time without just cause. Yes, they can, but in my state at least, there is a burden of proof on the employer as far as receiving UI. The State tends to side with the employee, not the employer. Even if the employer fires someone with cause, they have to prove that there was progressive discipline and that the employee wasnt intentionally damaging the employer. Absolutely. This is where the statement of determination from the state unemployment office is helpful as it usually provides a reason for denial of unemployment. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Jun 14, 2024 23:56:40 GMT
NJ. If you are fired there is a six week penalty. That of course, is if you are just fired.. thinking NOT with major issues.
Major issues is another situation.
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Post by ChicagoKTS on Jun 14, 2024 23:59:02 GMT
I‘ve seen this happen twice at a place I worked. Both times it was for lying on an expense report. Both times it was minimal amounts that they assumed no one would ever catch. One guy who traveled extensively, expensed his lunch at $24.99 every single day since receipts were only required on amounts over $25. What a dummy. It took a few years for someone to catch it but it eventually came to light. The other guy lied about not being reimbursed for a lunch that he paid for but several other people at the lunch paid their share to him in cash or check.
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