Terminated Volunteer

[GreenSapling]

What is the name of your state? Texas

I was a volunteer at [a hospital] until I was terminated for what I believe were unfair reasons. Back in August, I had given a note to a nurse with my phone number indicating an interest in her. When she expressed that she was not interested, I respected her response and ceased to volunteer for about a month. It was only when I returned in October that I was told I would be terminated despite my utmost professional conduct when I returned. I was escorted out of the hospital via security right after being handed a copy of hospital policies. I reviewed the policies and can confirm that I had NOT violated anything. Essentially, the volunteer office blatantly lied to me about their policies. When I e-mailed Human Resources of the hospital about it, they only said they wanted to speak with me over the phone. I don’t trust them so am thus seeking legal consultation before making any further actions. I’ve been searching for employment lawyers for more than a month now, but no one seems to be interested since I was “never paid”. I have however lost my vested interest in the form of a Letter of Recommendation that was earned via more than 100 hours of volunteering over a period of two years. What other types of lawyers can I search for to help me in this matter?

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state? Texas

I was a volunteer at [a hospital] until I was terminated for what I believe were unfair reasons. Back in August, I had given a note to a nurse with my phone number indicating an interest in her. When she expressed that she was not interested, I respected her response and ceased to volunteer for about a month. It was only when I returned in October that I was told I would be terminated despite my utmost professional conduct when I returned. I was escorted out of the hospital via security right after being handed a copy of hospital policies. I reviewed the policies and can confirm that I had NOT violated anything. Essentially, the volunteer office blatantly lied to me about their policies. When I e-mailed Human Resources of the hospital about it, they only said they wanted to speak with me over the phone. I don’t trust them so am thus seeking legal consultation before making any further actions. I’ve been searching for employment lawyers for more than a month now, but no one seems to be interested since I was “never paid”. I have however lost my vested interest in the form of a Letter of Recommendation that was earned via more than 100 hours of volunteering over a period of two years. What other types of lawyers can I search for to help me in this matter?

What matter? You can't force them to allow you to volunteer and you can't force them to give you a letter of recommendation.

 

[adjusterjack]

How many more sites are you going to post on where you get the same answer. This makes two.

You don't have a case.

 

[eerelations]

There are no laws that would require the hospital to allow you to return to your volunteer work. There are also no laws that would require the hospital to give you a letter of recommendation. This is why lawyers aren't interested in your case - because there's absolutely nothing any lawyer can do for you.

 

[not2cleverRed]

I find it odd that your reaction to rejection was to "cease to volunteer" for a month. That sounds just as creepy as you asking her out in the first place.

But be that as it may... You have no inherent right to volunteer. If you are making an employee uncomfortable, then you can be asked to leave. And clearly you made the nurse uncomfortable.

I do not know the full dynamics of the situation, but I do know that if the nurse felt your note was just cute but misguided, your expression of interest would not have been reported. Something about what you did was not as discrete and respectful as you believe.

If the "Letter of Recommendation" you wanted was for proof of community service, say for National Honor Society, or for college applications, or some such thing, then I'm sorry, but you goofed up. Nobody owes you. Be glad that you learned this before taking a paying position.

 

[GreenSapling]

I'm not making a case and have no interest in paying a lawyer for a lawsuit of any sort.
The Volunteer office offered to talk with me over the matter, but I want to be prepared before doing so.
The note wasn't reported until 2 months later. The office said they were told about it in October and were surprised when I corrected them saying it was given in August.

I mean sure, they have absolutely no obligation to take me back but at the same time I know I haven't done anything "illegal".
My ideal situation is to just get my volunteer position back (obviously at a different location than before within the hospital since it has many positions available). I'd just prefer legal counseling before meeting/talking with them. I don't want there to be any more misunderstandings that may be twisted.

PS: The LOR is a moot point now for obvious reasons . I'm just trying to restore everything back to how it was as best as possible.

 

[not2cleverRed]

I'm not making a case and have no interest in paying a lawyer for a lawsuit of any sort.
The Volunteer office offered to talk with me over the matter, but I want to be prepared before doing so.
The note wasn't reported until 2 months later. The office said they were told about it in October and were surprised when I corrected them saying it was given in August.

I mean sure, they have absolutely no obligation to take me back but at the same time I know I haven't done anything "illegal".
My ideal situation is to just get my volunteer position back (obviously at a different location than before within the hospital since it has many positions available). I'd just prefer legal counseling before meeting/talking with them. I don't want there to be any more misunderstandings that may be twisted.

PS: The LOR is a moot point now for obvious reasons . I'm just trying to restore everything back to how it was as best as possible.

That's because the nurse wasn't concerned until you returned.

I don't know if the nurse was overreacting or if your note was really creepy, but clearly the nurse was disquieted by your return.

The hospital has no reason to think that you wouldn't give other employees similar notes. The hospital would rather not take the chance. The hospital would rather protect itself from a potential lawsuit; you, as a volunteer, are a liability.

 

[eerelations]

The reason lawyers aren't responding to you is that there aren't any laws they can invoke to help you get your volunteer position back. As a result, there is absolutely nothing any lawyer can say or do for you, including providing you with counseling. It would perhaps behoove you to stop wasting your time in a pointless quest to find a non-existent lawyer and use that time practicing what you will say at the meeting.

 

[Just Blue]

I'm not making a case and have no interest in paying a lawyer for a lawsuit of any sort.
The Volunteer office offered to talk with me over the matter, but I want to be prepared before doing so.
The note wasn't reported until 2 months later. The office said they were told about it in October and were surprised when I corrected them saying it was given in August.

I mean sure, they have absolutely no obligation to take me back but at the same time I know I haven't done anything "illegal".
My ideal situation is to just get my volunteer position back (obviously at a different location than before within the hospital since it has many positions available). I'd just prefer legal counseling before meeting/talking with them. I don't want there to be any more misunderstandings that may be twisted.

PS: The LOR is a moot point now for obvious reasons . I'm just trying to restore everything back to how it was as best as possible.

Life advice : People go to work to work. It's not a bar where you expect random wo/men to slip you their #.

 

[GreenSapling]

There were clear signs on "interest" in August but she changed her mind after receiving the note.

I am however open to the possibility of having "misread" signals. But that was all at the beginning and I honestly thought she would forget everything 2 months later.

I did everything I could to mitigate my actions after handing the note over.
Although I had written that I "ceased to volunteer", I requested to transfer to a different unit.
However, after a month, I moved back to the previous unit to see my original mentor.
However, I intentionally requested to change from Fridays to Sundays to avoid the nurse (she worked on Fridays).
My check-in records confirm all of this.

In any case, I believe the best course of action is to indeed contact the volunteer office and try to reach a clear and coherent understanding.

The lesson learned here is to screen people properly and weigh any potential consequences of actions whether short or long term!

 

[Just Blue]

There were clear signs on "interest" in August but she changed her mind after receiving the note.

I am however open to the possibility of having "misread" signals. But that was all at the beginning and I honestly thought she would forget everything 2 months later.

I did everything I could to mitigate my actions after handing the note over.
Although I had written that I "ceased to volunteer", I requested to transfer to a different unit.
However, after a month, I moved back to the previous unit to see my original mentor.
However, I intentionally requested to change from Fridays to Sundays to avoid the nurse (she worked on Fridays).
My check-in records confirm all of this.

In any case, I believe the best course of action is to indeed contact the volunteer office and try to reach a clear and coherent understanding.

The lesson learned here is to screen people properly and weigh any potential consequences of actions whether short or long term!

I'm curious...How do you define "clear signs of interest"?

 

[FlyingRon]

You're faulting the hospital for not screening you out as a letch before allowing you to volunteer.
Not illegal doesn't mean APPROPRIATE in a work/volunteer environment.
As you've been told, they don't even need a reason (but they have plenty) to boot you out.

 

[GreenSapling]

She kept mentioning all her social media accounts, talked about the bad date she was recently on, wore pink scrubs and purposely sat next to me stealing side-glances. Interestingly, the last ones can be shown via security footage if any were recorded.

Of course, at the same time, I know all of these can be misconstrued. B/c like I said, I'm open to the fact that I could have misread everything.
I now understand that perhaps I should have waited for more "clear signs" or actually try to develop things more slowly as opposed to handing over a note.

But all of that has waaaay past. And I haven't even had time to look back into this matter until very recently.

I was just surprised that it took them 2 months to react to the note given. Even though I conducted myself in the most absolute professional
manner on my last day working alongside her, I probably should have walked right out of there instead!

But like the volunteer manager said when I asked her hypothetically if the note was given 1 year ago instead, they could still terminate for it.

However, as it stands, it has been made clear that the hospital has absolutely no legal obligation to take me back and this is indeed a life lesson
in developing relationships.

 

[Just Blue]

She kept mentioning all her social media accounts, talked about the bad date she was recently on, wore pink scrubs and purposely sat next to me stealing side-glances. Interestingly, the last ones can be shown via security footage if any were recorded.

.

Ahhh... The flirtatious pink scrubs signal!

 

[Ohiogal]

She kept mentioning all her social media accounts, talked about the bad date she was recently on, wore pink scrubs and purposely sat next to me stealing side-glances. Interestingly, the last ones can be shown via security footage if any were recorded.

Of course, at the same time, I know all of these can be misconstrued. B/c like I said, I'm open to the fact that I could have misread everything.
I now understand that perhaps I should have waited for more "clear signs" or actually try to develop things more slowly as opposed to handing over a note.

But all of that has waaaay past. And I haven't even had time to look back into this matter until very recently.

I was just surprised that it took them 2 months to react to the note given. Even though I conducted myself in the most absolute professional
manner on my last day working alongside her, I probably should have walked right out of there instead!

But like the volunteer manager said when I asked her hypothetically if the note was given 1 year ago instead, they could still terminate for it.

However, as it stands, it has been made clear that the hospital has absolutely no legal obligation to take me back and this is indeed a life lesson
in developing relationships.

You are sounding more and more like an incel. she wore pink scrubs and looked at you and you thought that meant she wanted you to hit on her?