What are my rights if I have been treated poorly by 2 supervisors for approximately 9 months?
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What are my rights if I have been treated poorly by 2 supervisors for approximately 9 months?
I have everything documented and/ or witnessed. Last Monday, after drinking at a company outing, my supervisor called and told me I was a “shit show”. I had enough, we have no HR dept and I went to a supervisor from another region and he, in turn, went to the Director or Operations. On Friday I was confronted by the offending supervisor in an aggressive manner, yelled at, told I was a liar and suspended until Monday. I was told not to speak with anyone from within my company. I feel I am going to be fired on Monday if I don’t defend myself. Am I allowed to reach out to others within the company?
Asked on October 26, 2014 under Employment Labor Law, Massachusetts
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
There is NO law against employers treating employees unfairly or horribly, UNLESS they are doing so for one of a handful of statutorily defined discriminatory reasons (e.g. based on an employee's race, sex, religion, age over 40, or disability). Quite simply, employers (which includes their managers, supervisors, and even co-workers) Also, unless you have an employment contract protecting your employment or giving you certain procedural or process (e.g. "grievance") rights, you are an "employee at will" and may be fired (or demoted, pay reduced, suspended, job changed, etc.) at any time, for any reason. Therefore, you unfortunately do not have any rights against such bad treatment, or any right to not be fired, unless, as stated, this was illegal discrimination or done in violation of an employment contract.
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