fired

[jojo666]

What is the name of your state? California

I am a Union Baker for a very large company. I was sent home and taken off the schedule without any notice or asked my side of an incident that occured in our break room one day. There was an article on tv about gangs and getting tougher on gangs. A employee was claiming that this was discriminatory for law enforcement to target gangs and he then asked "what is a gang" I replied now days three black guys on a street corner can be a gang (by the way this employee is black) I also said three Mexicans could be considered a gang I was then going to say three whites could be considered a gang but by then he was ranting that I couldn't say that. long story short my employer without ever speaking with me conducted an investigation and took me off the schedule without ever giving me any opportunity to tell them my side of the incident and that what was alleged was taken out of context. I've have been with this company for twenty years and I have never had charges of discrimination or harrasment brought against me. My Union representative informs me that I can be fired over this. I feel this is wrong to cost me even one day of pay before I have been given the opportunity to tell my side.

 

[Beth3]

There are instances where it's appropriate to send an employee home immediately, pending an outcome of an investigation - which should include talking to the accused employee before any decisions are made. I can't say whether your employer acted inappropriately or not but I can tell you that sending you home is not illegal.

Why don't you call your employer, ask about the status of the investigation, and ask for an opportunity to meet with them to share your side of the story. Be calm, be pleasant, be polite. I realize you're upset but the more professional and courteous you are in a stressful situation like this, the more it's likely your employer will conclude you didn't intend to offend anyone or make a racist comment; rather, that it was simply a misunderstanding between co-workers when a sensitive subject arose.