advice please. it is just wrong

[lucio]

What is the name of your state? WA
HI i been working the same job for 9 plus years. 6 at a previous employer
3 at my last one, same job different place. now this company has been solded to a new one last december, the new owners keept/rehired all the employees, we all signed that 90 days probation paper, the usual.
everything has been great, busines picked up, everybody very happy about the transation, costumers happy that the new company keept all the employees. is been just great. so last night after 10 hour shift, was about to leave and go home, got called in the office and presented with layoff paper.
the manager did not give me any reason she just sayd she has not been given any but just a list of people to be terminate. and according to her i could not be even considered for rehire with this company.
since the new owners appropiate the business we have never been issued a employee handbook or any guideline. never given a training class never been told how they whanted us to conduct busines according to they r standards. for everybody has been business as usual. same job over and over the way all have been doing for years. all we recived was a piece of uniform and a badge.
in 90 days i have not been called in office once, not recived a prerformance review, not a word no any advice on whatever issue anyone could have had about me. i do not know maybe i was not groomed well enough to meet theyr standards someone should have adviced me to better thake care or i could not keep the job. nothing
9 years in the field, 2 employers never called sick once, awarded record of attendency from both, most of the current cooworkers moved with me from the previous employer. i have been just devoted to this job. not that an explanation would make me feel any better but really i not belive they followed any proper proceeding not even in fire me. yeah not even some advance notice and who knows what they could tell to any prospective new employer that may enquire about me.
they trowed me in the street and messed up my lifeat point blank.
in few words, they treated me like crap
can employers really do that " at-will " ?? may i have been wrongfully terminated ??
thank you so much for reading and sorry for venting, will appreciate any words of advice

regards

Lucio

 

[Katy W.]

Lucio, I am truly sorry this happened to you, and it shouldn't have. Any employee who goes 9 years without calling in sick is worth his weight in gold. Who knows what their criteria was, it could have been anything.

But unless you have a contract what they did wasn't illegal.

Good luck with your next job.

 

[cbg]

It may be "wrong" in the sense that it is unfair, but on the basis of what you have posted no laws were broken and you do not have any legal recourse.

You are free to apply for unemployment.

 

[lucio]

advice please. it is just wrong Reply to Thread

Right no laws where broken. apparently.
but, one month before the new owners finalazed the purchase of the old company they sended thyr general manager over to meet all the employers.
one by one we where called so he can meet us personally and he asked me what my intention where going to be. You going to stay or going to leave? he asked, and bragged about all the improovment they where going to make. of course i told him i would stay. then he shook my hand and dismissed me and i whent back to work. well that is no a contract i guess, does not mean anything.
anyway they laid me off becouse of my dreadlocks, i have grown my hairs
in the last 2 years. was ok for the old company maybe the new one does not feel my appearence reflect theyr immage. 90 days pretty of time to let me know that and at least i whould made a choice to keep my hairs or the job.
anyway thank u so much for thaking the time. going to get ready to go out ther looking for work, let findout how many more employers put my look before my qualifications.

Thank you Thank you

Lucio

 

[Katy W.]

Again, good luck. Maybe this will end up being a blessing in disguise.

 

[lucio]

sure thanks
but wait a min. now i not mean to sound childish.
can they use prejudice in theyr hiring/firing procedure?
the fact itself than i have been never adviced or reviewed does not say they had theyr mind set? i mean 90 days c' mon.
gonna have to turn down a house deal becouse theyr prejudice
and could have had nother job lined up if they had given me some notice.
what kind of medievale way of doing business is this?
u not think they have been malicius ?

thanks

lucio

 

[pattytx]

How do you know it was because of your dreadlocks? Did they say so? Could your hair style have posed a safety threat (such as if you worked with machinery) or did you meet customers such that your hair style would (whether justified or not) make them feel uncomfortable?

Not that it makes a difference, but you didn't mention this in any of your earlier posts.

 

[lucio]

hazardous no but yes i work with costumers hundreds of them, but i worked there more then 3 years before they bought the business.
allright i am a card dealer, as i sayd been in this business for 9 years i know all about dressing code beside gamblers always move from casino to another
some of my costumers have known me for years. that is generally a good thing couse make them come back. most casinos advertise they have the friendlyest dealer in the world. people come back becouse of us. our knowledge our courtesy.
an emplyees handbook would have illustrated theyr standard of appearence and theyr dressing code. and why not say so if they though would be an safety issue or about appearence.
my direct supervisor the one that presented me the notice. she been working with me all along thys years, she witness my hair grown for god sake.
so it come down from above her.
ho yeah they not need a reason, they just get rid of an outstanding employee just for the heck of it.
forgive me, not mean to argue.
you can see it does not make any sense at all.

 

[Katy W.]

I thought about this actually, but the fact is, it is not illegal to discriminate on the basis of a hairstyle. It IS illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, but both black and white people wear dreads.

You really don't know that is what they objected to, anyway. Maybe they are paying you more, since you have been there a long time? They could have gotten rid of everyone who makes over a certain amount.