What are my rights ifI was suspended without pay?
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What are my rights ifI was suspended without pay?
Several nurses including myself were talking about a “frequenting” patient who comes into the office a lot to see our male doctor. She comes in for pregnancy tests, STD testing, etc. One nurse always says, “Oh my gosh, again?” or “Can’t she keep her legs closed?”, or “Doesn’t she use birth control” – things like that. So we were all laughing and making remarks as usual when we saw her name on the schedule, however, this time I got written up by my colleagues. And the head doctor that has been itching to get me out anyway, got sent to HR. I was suspended without pay and no notice.
Asked on October 5, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, Connecticut
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
The fact is that unless you are protected by a company policy or employment/union contract prohibiting such action, your employer has violated no laws. In an "at will" employment relationship an employer has a great deal of discretion in setting the terms of employment - it can hire/fire, promote/demote, increase/decrease salary/hours, and generally impose whatever other terms it sees fit; this includes suspending an employee without pay and with or without notice.
So unless there was some form of actionable discrimination was a factor in your treatment (and the limited facts presented do not suggest that to be the case), you have no claim here against your employer.
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