Executive Driver Terminated

[TFBELL]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?CALIFORNIA
AFTER BEING PLACED ON PAID LEAVE FOR EIGHT DAYS I WAS CALLED TO CORPORATE HEADQUATERS WHERE I HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH THE HEAD OF SECURITY AND ONE OF HIS OFFICERS. AT THE END OF THAT INTERVIEW I WAS ESCORTED BY THE OFFICER TO THE MANAGER OF FACILITES OFFICE THE DEPARTMENT I AM ASSIGNED TO WORK UNDER. THERE I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO TERMINATE ME FOR A SERIOUS SECURITY BREACH. WITH AN HR REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT I WAS HANDED A LETTER AGREEMENT TO BE TERMINATED. IF I SIGN THIS LETTER IN 21 DAYS I WILL BE GIVEN 6 MONTHS WAGES AND BE TERMINATED.
I WAS HIRED ELEVEN YEARS AGO AS A EXECUTIVE DRIVER FOR A 15 BILLION A YEAR CORPORATION AS PART OF MY WORK I TAKE THE COMPANY CAR HOME. I PARK THE VEHICEL IN MY DRIVEWAY. I MOVED THE CAR AND LEFT THE KEY IN IT. AN ARMED FELON JUST OUT OF JAIL STOLE THE VEHICAL. IT WAS RECOVERED 9 DAYS LATER WITH NO DAMAGE. BUT AS I DRIVE THE CEO (OWNER) OF THE CORPORATION AND HIS FAMILY THEY WERE PUT AT RISK. I WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THAT TASK ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND WAS REPLACED BY AN ARMED RETIRED POLICE OFFICER. AFTER ABOUT 4 MONTHS I WAS ONCE AGAIN DRIVING THE CEO AND FAMILY. I WAS NEVER ADVISE OF ANY RISK TO HIM. I HAVE MADE NO OTHER MISTAKES AND HAVE HAD ABOVE AVERAGE REVIEWS. I AM NOW A DEVASTED 61 YEAR OLD MAN NOW LOOKING FOR WORK WITH A TERMINATION ON HIS RESUME

 

[pattytx]

Please do not type in all caps on the Internet. It is considered shouting, makes your posts very hard to read, and some people may not even bother.

If the company considers what you did a security risk, then they have every right to fire you. Even if it was not a security risk, leaving the keys in a company car for which you have responsbility was negligent.

In any case, I do not see that you have any legal recourse based on what you described in your post. Plus, 6 months pay for an 11-year employee is very generous; most companies do not provide anything if you are fired.

Good Luck.

 

[Beth3]

What is your question? Whether the company acted lawfully in terminating you? If so, the answer is yes. You did engage in a serious security breech by leaving the keys in the car - which became obvious when it was stolen.

The company has no obligation to provide you with any severance but apparently they're willing to do so in exchange for you signing a waiver agreeing not to bring any claims or suits against the company. Their offering to provide severance in exchange for a waiver does not mean they engaged in any wrongdoing by terminating you. For many companies, especially larger ones that are often targets of meritless claims and suits, this is just standard operating procedure.