I asked for a raise and uncovered theft then I got fired for insubordination

[shel0712]

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

Last month, I emailed my director 2 weeks prior to being terminated. I asked for a raise to my hourly wage. I also asked for a copy of my final sales report for the previous month. My director completed the details and submitted for bonus due to time restrictions the owner had prior to taking a vacation. The next day I emailed the owner to inquire about the theft of a rewards gift cards a supplier offered as incentive for selling their product. I received a reply indicating I should not have emailed him on his vacation. He copied the management on this reply. In my initial email I revealed personal information about having to apply for food assistance. The next week I was sent home by my director after discussing the matter of theft by another employee. I had an accident in my home Sunday night that resulted in a broken rib and finger. I was late to work on Monday and left early without notifying my manager of my injury. I was fired the next day. Do I have recourse?

 

[Zigner]

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

Last month, I emailed my director 2 weeks prior to being terminated. I asked for a raise to my hourly wage. I also asked for a copy of my final sales report for the previous month. My director completed the details and submitted for bonus due to time restrictions the owner had prior to taking a vacation. The next day I emailed the owner to inquire about the theft of a rewards gift cards a supplier offered as incentive for selling their product. I received a reply indicating I should not have emailed him on his vacation. He copied the management on this reply. In my initial email I revealed personal information about having to apply for food assistance. The next week I was sent home by my director after discussing the matter of theft by another employee. I had an accident in my home Sunday night that resulted in a broken rib and finger. I was late to work on Monday and left early without notifying my manager of my injury. I was fired the next day. Do I have recourse?

You can file for unemployment. Beyond that, this does not sound like any sort of unlawful termination.

 

[eerelations]

Emailing the owner while he was on vacation and leaving work early without telling your boss are both legally valid reasons for firing you.

 

[commentator]

Asking him for a raise, looking like his Uncle Buck, almost everything is a legal reason he could fire you anytime if he wants to. You are in an "at will" state. Unemployment benefits are your only possible recourse, if your employer cannot show that he had a valid misconduct reason to terminate you, you may be approved to draw no more than $275 a week for a few weeks (less than 6 months.)

 

[TimStudiesLaw]

For the record, the rewards card may not belong to you either. When I was in sales, we were not allowed to accept incentives (or commissions) from anyone other than our employer. The manufacturer's incentives went to the house, and the house decided if and when to disburse them.