What is a legitimate reason for being fired from a job?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What is a legitimate reason for being fired from a job?

My husband while grabbing a grease gun from his truck to take care of his machine decided to start up his vehicle and get the air running (it was 100 degrees out that day) about 15 minutes before he was off the clock and the foreman decided to fire him on the spot. This was his second day of work, for a union company. Is this legal?

Asked on July 21, 2011 Minnesota

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

You say it was a union company. Then the key issues are:

1) Was your husband a member of the union and/or covered by a union agreement, given his position and number of days on the job?

2) If so, what does the union agreement say about termination and discipline?

The reason that this is important is that in the absence of an employment contract or a union agreement, employees are employees are will: they may be fired at any time, for any reason. So unless there is an employment contract or union agreement to the contrary, your husband may, unfortunately, be fired as you describe. If there is a contract or union agreement, then its terms in regards to grounds and procedures for termination must be followed. Your husband should speak with a union representative, so see what the contract says and how it applies to him.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption