Please Help, URGENT: Worked for 22 months, fired with 0 Reprimands and no reason...

[SirMack]

Here is my short story:

I live here in FLorida, and have worked at the same place for 22 months. I have been asking for a 'pay increase' for about a year. I was finally approved for one, to take effect November 1, 2001. This was told to me last week.

I have worked in the computer department of a multi-million dollar corporation for 22 months. I was basically the hub of the technical support division and most of the company, since I ran the networking and computers for 90 store locations nation-wide. I was always praised for my work and I did what I was told and taught.

I have NEVER been reprimanded, and have never signed anything at my company except for 2 memos which did not specifically talk about me, but only issues covered at a meeting. I was called into the office today and they told me that I had a terrible work ethic and had to let me go. They did not even give me a reason, even after I asked. The boss finally said "Well, you were browsing the net on work hours, that is just inappropriate..." and she didn't say much else. I asked if I could speak to her alone and she said "No, and anything else you have to say to me you must put in writing." I was then escorted to my office to clean everything out. A couple senior employees had to inspect everything I was taking to make sure I wasn't 'stealing' anything (and that isn't even what I was accused of, to my knowledge).

I was a hard worker, did everything they asked, and put in a lot of over-time to make sure the job always got done. There was no reason for my termination and they didn't even tell me why or give me a chance to explain myself.

A) I was fired without reason or ever having a reprimand.
B) I worked there for 22 months, and the first 12 months I worked 36/hours week, and they had my classified as PART-TIME in order to avoid paying me benefits. But Florida law states that anything over 32 hours is full time.
C) They said I was not allowed back on the premises ever, nor was I allowed to contact any of the employees, and if I did that they would take action.
D) I accidentally caught my co-worker having an affair with another employee, and a week later (Today) i am fired based off of 'web monitoring' reports that he gave to the boss, apparently.
E) A rumor had been started about me admiring terrorists (which is incredibly slanderous and untrue) and I was called in about it and the boss said, a week before I was terminated, "Gee, I don't want to work with any weirdos, if this was true I was going to terminate you..." and she basically questioned my character based on rumor.
F) I am Asian, and my co-workers and boss have made discriminating comments to me on several occasions on various races and their inferiority, which offended me. I have no idea if thats why I was let go, or if its a part of it, but its something that I feel concerned about.
G) Most of the individuals that work in this company are related (which breaks the rules in their own handbook, about hiring family). This I feel is another reason I was treated with little respect, since I was not related to most of the management.

Now my question is this. Did they do anything illegal? Is there anything I can do? Would this be worth pursuing?

I've given almost 2 years of my life to this company, only to be treated with no respect and tossed out onto the street with no reason. I am thinking of seeing a lawyer tomarrow, but I want to make sure if this is worth pursuing.

Thanks in advance! I'm so sorry this is long, but I am incredibly upset over this.

 

[Pryan]

First thing that needs to be asked...is Florida a "right to work state"? If it is, the employer can fire anyone for any or no reason..UNLESS it is a violation of your rights such as employment discrimination or you can prove disparate treatment. I don't know Florida law but the benefits situation should also be addressed when speaking with your attorney, especially if they paid other employees benefits that worked over 32 hrs. There are just too many issues here to question. My opinion..talk to an employment law attorney.

 

[JETX]

After reading Pryan's enlightened "I don't know" reply, I just had to offer the following:

Q1) "Did they do anything illegal?"
A1) No. As long as you were not working under a contract or bargaining agreement, and the employer did not violated any of the 'protected' discrimination areas (race, age, disability, etc.), the employer can terminate your employment 'at will' (without any reason).

Q2) "Is there anything I can do?"
A2) Yes. File for unemployment compensation and look for another job.

Q3) "Would this be worth pursuing?"
A3) No.

 

[SirMack]

Thank you guys so much for the reply. I have been making a list of various employment attorneys to call. I also spoke with the Florida Department of Labor and they said that it sounds as though I have a discrimination case. Due to the unusual nature of the events that occured. Considered I am the only non-white employee at my job, and I was treated harshly, without respect, and embarassed in front of other employees constantly during my duty there.

The other thing they have told me is to see if I can get a copy of the employee handbook (which they forbid me to take) and see what rights I have, or what avenues of legal counsel I can take via their handbook. To exhaust those sources, and eventually to take them to court or get an 'out of court' settlement if necessary.

I just don't know, I was working hard, hoping to turn my this career job into a long-term stay. Only to have me terminated for no reason, nor have I been privelaged with a reason for my termination.

I really need some help with this, guys. There has to be something I can do!? I don't have a lot of money, so I don't know how to go about this.

Also, in regards to discrimination. The company I worked for had over 75 offices nationwide. And they avoided hiring 'non-white' employees intentionally, and also they would provoke non-white employees to the point of insubordination. Not to mention the management at the corporate office would constantly joke about the non-white employees, etc. Another thing is that there are litereally 100s of employees, non-white, that have passed through our company door's in the past several years. All of which were discriminated against.

Also, the department of labor said that florida, was indeed, a "right to work" state. Which is a bad thing I suppose. Why doesn't it get any better?

 

[SirMack]

Just wanted to update you guys.

I recieved my "Final" Paycheck from the company yesterday. It turns out they paid me a flat 40 hours/week (80 hours total), but in reality I worked almost 90 hours in the 2 weeks. So they basically are not counting 10 hours worth of overtime.

Not to mention they refuse to compensate me for any Vacation Time that I have earned (approximately 40 hours worth). I had been trying to take a vacation for about 3 months, and they wouldn't allow it. Now I'm fired but I earned that vacation time.

Also, I've noticed this forum is extremely inactive. Is there somwhere else I can go to obtain more advice?

Thanks again! I filed for unemployment last Thursday, and am currently looking for another job. The sad thing is there are no jobs in this area, I am so afraid, as I don't know what to do.

Seems I work hard, go above and beyond, and I still am unable to come out on top.

Help?