If I was written up at work for something that I addressed and offered to fix, is there anything I can do?
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If I was written up at work for something that I addressed and offered to fix, is there anything I can do?
I work in a cold storage warehouse. I was audited for leaving a pallet dumped in a location and another in bad condition in front of the location and then clocking out for the day. It was right before the end of my shift and I didn’t think I was allowed overtime as I was filling in at another plant to help them and to make up hours that missed because my plant hasn’t been busy enough to get 40 a week. I went through the proper channels and reported the pallets to one of the inventory personnel. When I asked if they wanted me to stay to fix it, they said no. That same person was the one who wrote the audit and lied about it when I gave my side of the story to my supervisor. He claims that he asked me if I was going to fix it and I said no and left. I’m being told that even though it’s my word versus his, my supervisor can’t go against him and I’ll be responsible for a severe write-up. If I don’t sign it I’ll also receive a disciplinary point. What recourse do I have?
Asked on October 10, 2018 under Employment Labor Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
Unless your the circumstances surrounding your write-up violates the terms of any applicable employment or union agreement, you have no claim here. The fact is that most work relationships are "at will". This means that a company can set the conditions of employment much as it sees fit (absent some forn of legally actionable discrimnation). Accordingly, you can be disciplined (up to and including suspension or even termination) for any reason or no reason at all, with or without notice.
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