Position "eliminated"

[mert620]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? WI
My position at a school district, of 25 years, was eliminated. Within 1/2 hour I was out of my office. There were 2 jobs that opened and closed right before I was eliminated, they obviously knew that this was going to happen. I am MORE than qualified for each of them but of course was never given the opportunity to pursue these. Is there anything I can do about this unethical treatment? I was given no warning or excuse other than they need my "funds" to hire the new HR director. Thanks.

 

[ecmst12]

You can file for unemployment and look for a new job. They are not required to offer you any other position, especially if they are looking to pay someone much less than you are making.

 

[eerelations]

This may have been unethical but it's not illegal.

 

[cbg]

Depending on the exact circumstances, I'm not even convinced it's unethical. There can be valid business reasons for not hiring someone who is overqualified.

 

[eerelations]

Hence my use of the word "may".

I am a long believer in offering about-to-be-laid-off good employees available lower-paying jobs that they can do, and only partly because of the possibility of not having to pay the attendant legally-required severance costs (OMG 25 years! in Canada that would cost at bare minimum 33 weeks' pay + 33 weeks' benefits + 4% vacation pay on the 33 weeks' pay! and that only if the person was a white male under the age of 45 in a very low unemployment environment!). The other reasons are that it shows the person we value him/her as an employee and so if he does choose the severance package, he's less likely to sue, and also it soothes his/her coworkers - less likely they'll jump ship if they know we've done our best by the person.