Fired for Riding Moto to Work

[Marcoose]

Be happy that your career is no longer subject to crazy azz people. Honestly, life is too short to put up with people who think that it is alright to abuse because they are some sort of customer. Find a better job with more reasonable people and be happy.

Did you read the part that explains the customer in question is mentally disabled? Or perhaps YOU are mentally disabled and we need to have pity for YOU? Or perhaps you aren't mentally disabled, just plain cruel, and we need to have more pity for you than we do for a mentally disabled person.

 

[EastBayDave]

happened to me: worked at the local school district for ~4 years as IT tech. Enjoyed the job, fixed 1100 laptops in the last year. Loved it; everything went fine, had good rapor w/everyone. In number of hardware repairs I was #1 (printers/pc's/laptops.)

I never road bike to job, ever (experienced too many negative bias people in my time...), plus I needed to carry parts/tools.


Then one day wifie's car went into the shop/gave her mine. Had to ride ZX12R into work. Boss & co-workers saw it, everyone came out to gawk. Boss sees 220mph speedo & frowns. Uh-oh.

Was laid off 2 weeks later because "position was fazed out." My question of why lay off your #1 tech (of 8), well we are taking a different direction in favor of network engineers (which I wasn't.) Shhhhiiiit.

Found out later I was replaced by 2 outsourced onsite temps.

 

[Warrior Princess]

I am unsure of the law and actions in a civil matter for the use of the term fire or terminated but for unemployment benefits their is a definition of the terms and the term makes a difference in the service provided.

 

[Sticka]

Did you read the part that explains the customer in question is mentally disabled? Or perhaps YOU are mentally disabled and we need to have pity for YOU? Or perhaps you aren't mentally disabled, just plain cruel, and we need to have more pity for you than we do for a mentally disabled person.

Read much?
It was not the mentally disabled person that gave her a hard time. It was the mother.


.

 

[ST Guy]

On the one hand, it's a bummer that the woman treated you poorly.

On the other hand, you knowingly broke a condition of employment. As a caregiver (it seems), you have a responsibility to be able to care for your charge, which you can't do if you don't have a car available. No, you haven't been asked to drive (yet) and yes, you would have had advance notice...unless there were an emergency.

Lesson learned...?

'Haven't read the rest of the thread, but I don't believe he broke a condition of employment. The OP only needed to have/own a car. And obviously, when the OP took BART, there was no problem.

OP: Some people are ignorant jerks. The mother certainly sounds like one, based on your description. (And I feel sorry for her child.) Unfortunately, there's likely not anything you can do unless you actually work for an agency or something. But if you worked directly for the mother, then I'd just look for work elsewhere. 'Sucks, for sure. And while looking for other employment, I'd consider letting prospective employers know that you might be riding. Though if you think that might affect how they perceive you, I think you'd likely be safe not mentioning it as most people aren't going to react like that jerk mother did.

 

[shaun b]

In the end it might be a blessing. It's probably not easy being let go unexpectedly and over something that seems relatively trivial though. With the next gig, just be up-front about the riding and make reasonable accommodations with them should it prove to be an issue.

couldn't agree more. sounds like you're going to be better off. in addition yo getting paid less than agreed to, you got let go for a lame reason.

take the chance to find a better gig.

good luck.

 

[WarpSpeed]

I learned long ago do not let employers wipe their ass with you or they will gladly do it all day. The mere fact that your not getting paid what was agreed upon is enough to file suit. Jump on that! If you aren't being paid while driving or riding to work what business does she have telling you what mode of transportation you take? Don't let this ride off your back. File a lawsuit!

 

[slowpoke]

I did not take my moto to interviews. I want to hide my badassness.

I just tell people I ride a scooter.

 

[Bondage]

I ride to work every single shift. We had a temp boss come in, and I had just come back from the Bay and I was wearing all my gear. Guy gave me a good, long, hard look

I wouldn't be surprised if after our upcoming "training sessions" (which is more like an evaluation) I'm given the boot. This job has gone steadily downhill with the economy. Maybe they're hoping I die in a crash so I don't get severance

Point is, some folk are ignorant and hate motorcycles, and sometimes those people are your superiors.

 

[terdog55]

Only $200-300 in back pay not worth attorneys

I would say that you can negociate the existing problems (back pay, rate of pay, terms of employment, issue with the agency), but the time to do it is now. Get all your employment details on paper.

Contact the attorney referrall provided previously and talk to him. You may be surprised and he may negociate this for you for minimal. I dont recommend that you discuss this directly with the women, as this can escalate into a ugly situation.

Just because this is an AT WILL state, doesnt mean that there arent state and federal laws that protect you. Look at the state board of labor website.

I was once fired, after working for the company for 5 yrs, for accidentaly breaking a windshield.They demanded that I pay to replace it, I refused. They couldnt prove that I did it with intent, I got a lawyer and got a full yrs salary for thier screwup.

Good luck Heather.

 

[psychocandy]

i know people hate the idea of lawsuits and talking to a lawyer or whatever, even i do. but in this case, esp. with a fellow barfer reaching out to you, i think you should at least talk to Mr. Revenue Hunter. what this lady did is BS. whether you go back and work for her or not is up to you, but whatever you do, don't apologize to her for anything.

i can't tell if your agency is ripping you off, or if she is, but either way. this situation stinks. keep it as long as you have to (yes, the economy blows and people stick with shitty jobs 'cuz what else are they gonna do), but in a field like you're in, i'm sure you'll be able to find some kind of comparable employment without the harpy.

 

[ST Guy]

Or.......find a boss that rides! Mine has two Ducs.

 

[Bravnik]

I would like too, especially since there was also a problem with me not getting paid what I agreed to (I agreed to $12-13/hr, not $8). However, my contract is at-will and says they can fire me without cause if they are unhappy with me for any reason.

Just so you know, at will does not necessarily mean at will. The typical lawyer will recommend an employer to give a verbal then written warning before termination. Been through many employer/manager training to know this one. At will does not mean you can just fire someone because you feel like it.

In your case not only were you fired for no reason you were verbally abused and were actually fired due to a personal discriminatory feeling from the employer. On top of that if you were not paid what you were contracted to be paid then you have a case with that.

You can actually fight this if you feel it's worth the effort involved. Just contact a labor lawyer.

 

[ob1ventura]

You weren't actually fired for riding your bike--that would be discrimination. )

Even the state discriminates. When traveling on business the state will reimburse an ee for driving their car at around $.53 / mi. You may even take your private aircraft if approved. Ride your bike.....$.00 / mi.

Not a saftey issue. You can ride but no $. That is the same state that collects reg /dmv fees and regulates the crap out of the bike.

 

[SirSkankin DBA]

So for clarification:

Do you work for the Family or for an Agency? ( I am guessing the agency, since you mentioned the agency is going to investigate it.)

That will impact any recourse, if you choose to follow it that route

 

[DucatiHoney]

Even the state discriminates. When traveling on business the state will reimburse an ee for driving their car at around $.53 / mi. You may even take your private aircraft if approved. Ride your bike.....$.00 / mi.

Not a saftey issue. You can ride but no $. That is the same state that collects reg /dmv fees and regulates the crap out of the bike.

I'm confident that the state's actions fall within acceptable guidelines and do not qualify as discrimination per the letter of the law. I get what you're saying--it's unfair--but it's not necessarily discrimination.

 

[serazin]

They may well be my supervisor but they are not my superior.

 

[ob1ventura]

I'm confident that the state's actions fall within acceptable guidelines and do not qualify as discrimination per the letter of the law. I get what you're saying--it's unfair--but it's not necessarily discrimination.

No question.

I wasn't using the term in a legal sense but as used in this thread.

 

[bluesjr]

Did you read the part that explains the customer in question is mentally disabled? Or perhaps YOU are mentally disabled and we need to have pity for YOU? Or perhaps you aren't mentally disabled, just plain cruel, and we need to have more pity for you than we do for a mentally disabled person.

WTF!? is this a joke? if so, it's piss poor. if not, I don't see why this doesn't violate the TOS. thought we weren't supposed to attack one another. mods?

would someone please post a link to the TOS so I can read it. I can not find it with search.

 

[Lester Green]

WTF!? is this a joke? if so, it's piss poor. if not, I don't see why this doesn't violate the TOS. thought we weren't supposed to attack one another. mods?

would someone please post a link to the TOS so I can read it. I can not find it with search.

the TOS are closer than you think. look at post #76 and they are right there for your viewing pleasure.