Do I have any Rights?

[War Princess]

I worked for my employer for almost 12 yrs.About 3 to 4 wks from Inventory which I was a key party too,my son which is Asthmatic became Ill and had one illness that sparked off others to follow.I got very behind in my work and I was the only one doing my job when there should have been 2 of us.Needless to say i quit for personal reasons mainly because the pressure was overpowering and rumors were going around they were gonna replace me after inventory.Well I have almost a perfect record as far as audits and evals go.After I left they replaced me with 3 ppl.This happened to another lady there.Also a 12yr associate that begged for help and was ignored she quit they replaced her with 2 ppl.I recently requested a copy of my termination papers to submit to a college for a pell grant to get my AS in Computer Programming.I was told I don't think we can give you a copy.Also friends there have said rumors are going around that they are harrassing old time associates to push them out as they did me and this other lady.Is this grounds for a Law Suit and Am I entitled to a copy of my termination papers?
And the ppl they put in our places are paid about 1/2 what we made.Not to mention the loss of Benefits we had.My son is Asthmatic
and now I may never be able to get good ins on him again.This is the largest retailer in the world and it is not the company it used to be.

[This message has been edited by War Princess (edited June 28, 2000).]

 

[Attorney_Replogle]

First of all, concerning the senior employees, there is no law in California stating that an employer can't terminate them. What is a protected category though is all employees who are 40 years of age or older. So they can not be terminated due to their age.

Next, you do have a right to get a copy of all papers in your personnel file that you signed. For all those documents that you did not sign and are in the folder, you have a right to inspect them at a reasonable time and place as set by your employer.

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Mark B. Replogle

 

[War Princess]

Thanks So much for the reply=).I also have a deadline on this grant to get the papers so at least now I know I have a chance.As for the associates such as myself,we reside in
Florida and these associates vary in age.I myself am 36.The other is in her 50's.The
problem I am questioning is because of the
possible pushing out of 12 yr associates,I
am assuming is because of our pay rate,since we all begged for help and never got any, and as soon as we quit as a result of the
stressful working conditions,we are replaced
with 3 ppl in my office at 1/2 the pay and 2 in her area at 1/2 the pay.Is this grounds for any type of suit?I have many friends there that are now experiencing the same type of harrassment and it is wrong.We all have families and the benefit loss as well as the stress put on us is wrong as well.I
have as stated before an asthmatic son which gets sick often and this is what sparked all of this for me because I had to be out with
him for 3 wks.And the loss of insurance on his part is gonna be devastating for me.Is there
anything I can do where this is concerned?
Thanks in Advance.

 

[Attorney_Replogle]

Sorry, other than what I previously wrote you, I don't think there is anything to be done for the employees at that employer.

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Mark B. Replogle