Got fired while I was hooked up to an IV in a hospital bed.

[Lucky]

I was a flight attendant for a major US air carrier. I was admitted into the hospital for treatment of a life threatening condition. My supervisor phoned me at the hospital and fired me over the telephone while I was lying in a hospital bed! I had unused sick time accumulated, however, my supervisor said since I was out sick I was an undependable employee. She commented that I had been out sick 4 months prior for four days, and that I was injured on the job which resulted in me missing a few days of work per the company medical department. Can an employee be considered undependable if they miss work but have verification of a legitimate illness or injury, and be fired on those grounds? Can an employee be reprimanded or fired for having an on the job injury that has been proven to be legitimate and not due to any negligence on the employee's part? Please let me know.
Sincerely,
Disgruntled Sky Goddess

 

[Attorney_Replogle]

Disgruntled Sky Goddess, it is unclear whether you were out ill for a work-related injury at the time of your termination. If so, then that would be a claim under the state Workers' Compensation act for that physical injury. Moreover, it would be unlawful for the employer to terminate you at that time.

The employer can certainly terminate those whom it deems to be undependable, even if such an act occurred months ago. The bottom line is that I think you should speak with an attorney that handles Workers' Compensation claims. You can find one near you at attorneypages.com.

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Mark B. Replogle