What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?North Carolina
In early July, I was hired by a local restaurant corporation as a manager for their local outlet. I traveled to Tennessee for my initial training period of 5 weeks. I was subsequently assigned to the local outlet to begin managing for this company. 45 days later, in early September, my area supervisor approched me and asked that I join him and the General Manager of the location for a meeting. At the outset of the meeting I was informed that I was being terminated for violation of a cash management policy. I was told that a third party (Computer Management Company) had informed my company that on 2 of my shifts certain transactions had been performed that should have resulted in a cash overage. My company looked at the deposits made on these dates and comparing them to the sales reports for the same dates, they showed no overage deposits made. The company therefore concluded that I "must" have pocketed the overage of cash. At the outset of this statement I informed my supervisor that at no time of my employment had I performed any such function on the computer much less pocketed money. I attempted to assure the company that I would never steal from anyone, nor would I perform illegal functions on the computer. I also asked the supervisor to provide me with documentation of the supposed transactions and the correlating paperwork for those days so that we could review the information together. I was flat out denied access to these documents, and was also subsequently told that the company that had initially told my company of these transactions had been instructed to have no contact with me. (After I couldnt get my company to give me these documents, I attempted to retrieve them from the computer maintenance company). Obviously I filed for unemployment benefits which were initially denied due to the response from the employer. However, after an appeal in which the employer failed to provide substantiating proof of allegations, the initial decision to deny unemployment was overturned and I received benefits (2 months later). During the conversation with my employer on the date of my termination, my supervisor offered me a "choice". I was told that I had the option to quit and walk away with no hard feelings, or I could be terminated and prosecuted for theft. I obviously told him that I would not quit, because to me, quitting would be an admittance of guilt. In my line of work as a restaurant manager, cash management is a major part of the job. Since my termination, I have come extremely close to being evicted from my home, and I have had to rely on assistance from such sources as food stamps, and family assistance programs just to survive and provide for my family. I have a young daughter and a wife. Recently, In a conversation with people who work nearby to my previous place of employment I was notified that one of my co-workers had told a relative (that works at the other place that I went) of what had happened to me, and from there news traveled about why I had lost my job. In my search to find employment I have been denied several good paying jobs because other companies dont want to risk hiring someone who was terminated for allegedly committing a form of embezzlement, not to mention that my length of employment with that company was so short that another company doesnt want to invest time and money into training me with their company for fear that I may not maintain my employment based solely on the time I was employed with this company. I am not guilty of any crime against this company, nor do I believe that evidence exists to the contrary. (How can proof of a crime exist, when one was not committed??) What are my options in reference to compensation for being wrongfully terminated?? Who can be held responsible for the results of a mishandled investigation?? Should I hold my previous employer AND the computer management company responsible, or just my employer?? What is resonable request for compensation for the termination, and defamation of my character??? Thank you for your help to anyone who may be able to do so.....
In early July, I was hired by a local restaurant corporation as a manager for their local outlet. I traveled to Tennessee for my initial training period of 5 weeks. I was subsequently assigned to the local outlet to begin managing for this company. 45 days later, in early September, my area supervisor approched me and asked that I join him and the General Manager of the location for a meeting. At the outset of the meeting I was informed that I was being terminated for violation of a cash management policy. I was told that a third party (Computer Management Company) had informed my company that on 2 of my shifts certain transactions had been performed that should have resulted in a cash overage. My company looked at the deposits made on these dates and comparing them to the sales reports for the same dates, they showed no overage deposits made. The company therefore concluded that I "must" have pocketed the overage of cash. At the outset of this statement I informed my supervisor that at no time of my employment had I performed any such function on the computer much less pocketed money. I attempted to assure the company that I would never steal from anyone, nor would I perform illegal functions on the computer. I also asked the supervisor to provide me with documentation of the supposed transactions and the correlating paperwork for those days so that we could review the information together. I was flat out denied access to these documents, and was also subsequently told that the company that had initially told my company of these transactions had been instructed to have no contact with me. (After I couldnt get my company to give me these documents, I attempted to retrieve them from the computer maintenance company). Obviously I filed for unemployment benefits which were initially denied due to the response from the employer. However, after an appeal in which the employer failed to provide substantiating proof of allegations, the initial decision to deny unemployment was overturned and I received benefits (2 months later). During the conversation with my employer on the date of my termination, my supervisor offered me a "choice". I was told that I had the option to quit and walk away with no hard feelings, or I could be terminated and prosecuted for theft. I obviously told him that I would not quit, because to me, quitting would be an admittance of guilt. In my line of work as a restaurant manager, cash management is a major part of the job. Since my termination, I have come extremely close to being evicted from my home, and I have had to rely on assistance from such sources as food stamps, and family assistance programs just to survive and provide for my family. I have a young daughter and a wife. Recently, In a conversation with people who work nearby to my previous place of employment I was notified that one of my co-workers had told a relative (that works at the other place that I went) of what had happened to me, and from there news traveled about why I had lost my job. In my search to find employment I have been denied several good paying jobs because other companies dont want to risk hiring someone who was terminated for allegedly committing a form of embezzlement, not to mention that my length of employment with that company was so short that another company doesnt want to invest time and money into training me with their company for fear that I may not maintain my employment based solely on the time I was employed with this company. I am not guilty of any crime against this company, nor do I believe that evidence exists to the contrary. (How can proof of a crime exist, when one was not committed??) What are my options in reference to compensation for being wrongfully terminated?? Who can be held responsible for the results of a mishandled investigation?? Should I hold my previous employer AND the computer management company responsible, or just my employer?? What is resonable request for compensation for the termination, and defamation of my character??? Thank you for your help to anyone who may be able to do so.....