Got sent home for the night

[Tunneler]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

My supervisor held a 5min meeting with us about a overtime meeting at 5:45am with the main floor manager. She told us that she has no idea or clue what's going on with the overtime for next week but this is what I heard so she told us what she heard from other people. I asked her what happens if we are out of state for Thanksgiving and she said she didn't know this is why I'm giving you guys a heads up. This got everyone upset and talking over each other. So I just got up and walked out of the meeting to go to my line to start working. I know I shouldn't have walked out but a lot of people has done this in the past and nothing was done nor said to them. Does this fall under her singling me out? Does she have the right to send me home? She does this all the time with people for being on their cell phones. Some get sent home and others don't. She picks and chooses when to follow the work policies.

 

[Zigner]

Sorry, this forum is for US law only. You failed to indicated the name of your US state (as prompted), so I must assume you are not from the US.

 

[Tunneler]

I'm in Ohio. Sorry thought I typed that in

 

[Zigner]

Thanks for providing your state name. Nothing illegal occurred in your situation, or in the others'. It's perfectly legal to apply different disciplinary actions to different people, so long as the person isn't being treated differently based on a protected characteristic (race, gender, etc.).

 

[Tunneler]

But if the work policy states that we can't be on are cell phones then how can she send one person home for being on it but walk pass another one on theirs in the same night and nothing is done? Won't that fall under discrimination? Just like with me walking out of the meeting when others do it all the time and nothing is done about it. So why am I the first to be sent home for walking out of a meeting? Sorry but this is just confusing me right now

 

[Zigner]

But if the work policy states that we can't be on are cell phones then how can she send one person home for being on it but walk pass another one on theirs in the same night and nothing is done? Won't that fall under discrimination? Just like with me walking out of the meeting when others do it all the time and nothing is done about it. So why am I the first to be sent home for walking out of a meeting? Sorry but this is just confusing me right now

Work policy is not law. As to the question about "discrimination", see my prior answer. So long as it's not based on a protected characteristic, then it's not illegal.

 

[Tunneler]

So in other words my place of employment can pick and choose when to put the work policy into effect? That's kinda on the bs side of things. Thank you for taking ur time and helping

 

[cbg]

Yes, your company can pick and choose when to put the work policy into effect, as long as they do not violate Title VII and related laws when they do so. Nothing you have posted suggests that this is the case; therefore it is legal to "pick and choose" or "single you out".

I hope that this is now clear to you.

Next question, please.

 

[commentator]

Most people labor under the delusion that they have a lot more rights and protections under the labor laws of this country than they do. Yes, if she so chooses, she can "send you home" for the night. Or if they decide to, in your "at will" state, they could fire you for walking out of the meeting, or for being on your cell phone, or for doing anything including wearing green socks to work that particular shift. You have very few rights because there are no labor laws that protects you from being treated unfairly or being harassed, or for them not following their own company rules or policies, with certain exceptions like EEOC violations. If you have a union, you can take work problems up with them, otherwise you're on your own. The only recourse you have if treated badly is that if you are fired, or suspended without pay for any significant length of time, you can file for unemployment, and if they cannot show they had a valid misconduct reason to fire you, you may be approved to draw unemployment benefits while looking for another job. By the way, getting up and walking out of a meeting called by your supervisor might very well be considered insubordination and might be considered a valid reason to fire you without unemployment approval.