What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? IL
First off, I had a couple of questions already answered and I wanted to say thanks to those that offered good advice.
I was terminated about a week ago for no good reason. The claimed I was spending too much time on the work computer emailing my wife, my sister and visiting some websites. My boss monitored me for 90 days with all kind of computer software that recorded keystrokes, allowed him to watch my computer while I was on it, phone messages, etc..
I had my annual review smack in the middle of this "monitoring", and they said I was doing great and there were no issues whatsoever. I got nothing but positve remarks. That was what was so misleading. I know IL is at will so it doesn't matter anyway.
However, when I filed for Unemployment they asked what led to my firing. I explained it was emails or whatever. It then asked if I was aware of any workplace policy and I said I think there might have been something in the handbook, but I didn't know the specifics. Probably about porn or worse stuff. Anyway, the next question was whether or not I was previously warned in any form about this issue. My answer was NO. Then it asked who and when the warning took place, etc.. I explained there was never any concern or verbal, written warning. Nothing.
Now when you are discharged you have to explain the situaion to a judicator and then they call your boss and here that story. Can this lame reason be reason for denial of my benefits? Especially since there was never any warning or expressed concern over my emails and/or work performance? Heck, I just had a annual work performance review and it was perfect. I don't have a single disciplinary record in my personnel file. Clean as a whistle.
Now I know they can fire me for whatever, but would Unemployment deny benefits over something like this? I can understand violence, theft or drug use, but this is very lame reason to be terminated and obviously an excuse to get rid of my salary during slow times.
What are your thoughts and has anyone had a similar situation? Losing my benefits would be devastating since it's around $500/wk and I have a family to support. My old boss told me that he got a letter stating that I filed and he tried to point out that I was not entitled to these benefits due to "misconduct", but info on the Dept of Labor suggests that that term is defined by someone who repeatedly does something against policies even AFTER a warning of some kind, or maybe something more serious. If they deny my benefits, I'd like to know what they WILL cover you for after a discharge. My time here or there on the computer didn't hurt my work performance at all. I always did my work and we were just slow. All they had to do is say "Hey, this is ridiculous. Stop wasting time or you're fired" That would have let me know it was a serious issue to them. If they really wantd to keep me, they would have given me one warning and a chance to correct this "concern" of theirs. I increased their account base by 20% in 12 months. I think they were more like "Thanks for all the new accounts, but we can't afford to pay you anymore now". They chose the chicken way out.
First off, I had a couple of questions already answered and I wanted to say thanks to those that offered good advice.
I was terminated about a week ago for no good reason. The claimed I was spending too much time on the work computer emailing my wife, my sister and visiting some websites. My boss monitored me for 90 days with all kind of computer software that recorded keystrokes, allowed him to watch my computer while I was on it, phone messages, etc..
I had my annual review smack in the middle of this "monitoring", and they said I was doing great and there were no issues whatsoever. I got nothing but positve remarks. That was what was so misleading. I know IL is at will so it doesn't matter anyway.
However, when I filed for Unemployment they asked what led to my firing. I explained it was emails or whatever. It then asked if I was aware of any workplace policy and I said I think there might have been something in the handbook, but I didn't know the specifics. Probably about porn or worse stuff. Anyway, the next question was whether or not I was previously warned in any form about this issue. My answer was NO. Then it asked who and when the warning took place, etc.. I explained there was never any concern or verbal, written warning. Nothing.
Now when you are discharged you have to explain the situaion to a judicator and then they call your boss and here that story. Can this lame reason be reason for denial of my benefits? Especially since there was never any warning or expressed concern over my emails and/or work performance? Heck, I just had a annual work performance review and it was perfect. I don't have a single disciplinary record in my personnel file. Clean as a whistle.
Now I know they can fire me for whatever, but would Unemployment deny benefits over something like this? I can understand violence, theft or drug use, but this is very lame reason to be terminated and obviously an excuse to get rid of my salary during slow times.
What are your thoughts and has anyone had a similar situation? Losing my benefits would be devastating since it's around $500/wk and I have a family to support. My old boss told me that he got a letter stating that I filed and he tried to point out that I was not entitled to these benefits due to "misconduct", but info on the Dept of Labor suggests that that term is defined by someone who repeatedly does something against policies even AFTER a warning of some kind, or maybe something more serious. If they deny my benefits, I'd like to know what they WILL cover you for after a discharge. My time here or there on the computer didn't hurt my work performance at all. I always did my work and we were just slow. All they had to do is say "Hey, this is ridiculous. Stop wasting time or you're fired" That would have let me know it was a serious issue to them. If they really wantd to keep me, they would have given me one warning and a chance to correct this "concern" of theirs. I increased their account base by 20% in 12 months. I think they were more like "Thanks for all the new accounts, but we can't afford to pay you anymore now". They chose the chicken way out.
