primitive gets fired for bad knees

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=250x3477

It's not true, but we got no slang term for out-and-out fables, like we do for bouncies and stretchies.

Maybe "Dollies" or "a Dolly" would work?

DollyM  (189 posts)        Sat Nov-15-08 02:21 PM
Original message
 
fired for "disability"

I started a new job one month ago. I went to a training with another staff member and took along my handicapped hanger since she was driving. I have osteoarthritus in both knees and can walk but do appreciate the closeness of handicapped parking.

A few days later, my boss came in the office and told me she would not have hired me if she had known about the problem with my knees. From then on I got raked over the coals just about every day for every stupid thing under the sun until last week she just said this wasn't working and told me to clear out my office and go.

I thought it was illegal to tell someone you wouldn't have hired them if they had a disability. I was doing marketing for a nursing home and she thought it interferred with my ability to get around which it didn't, I just move a little slower and use handicapped parking.

I am scared to death now to utilize my handicap parking when I get a new job (crossing my fingers for a new job in this lousy economy as my husband was fired from his sales job last month after he ended up in the hospital.)

Yeah, yeah.

DollyM  (189 posts)        Sat Nov-15-08 02:48 PM
Response to Reply #3
 
4. I didn't get any written warnings so nothing is on paper

Her comment was made in front of her head nurse but the head nurse is her "toady" a friend that she brought with her when she took over the nursing home administrator job back in August so I don't expect any support from her but she did hear her say it.

My only consolation is that I am the third marketing person (this position) she had let go in 3 months and about the 35th employee she has fired in that time period. Their census is about half what it should be so the nursing home is in deep financial trouble and I think this was just a way of getting rid of me when I couldn't produce results overnight.

Still, it hurt to actually hear her say she woudln't have hired me if she had known about my disability. She did say she didn't notice it when she interviewed me and I didn't mention it because it has never been a problem before. I just need a couple of accomodations such as the handicap parking and I'm fine.

I dunno.

You know, I could be being cruel here, but I don't think I am.

Maybe "Dollies" or "a Dolly" would work for such tales?

[JohnnyReb]

I think someone is culling dead wood at the office.....probably for good reason.

[franksolich]

I think someone is culling dead wood at the office.....probably for good reason.

You know, sir, I've had considerable experience in this, although never in any negative or personal sense.

With employers being hassled so much by "disability" lawsuits, I cannot conceive of even a non-upper-level (i.e., someone not as sophisticated and knowledgeable about employment law) person with the power to hire-and-fire making such a comment.

No way.

Employers are very skittish.....and it's to the detriment of people with authentic disabilities; we're "too hot" to hire, because we "might" file lawsuits.

Either (a) Dolly was let go (not necessarily "fired," either) for some reason unrelated to her knees or (b) it's all made up.  This mole has to learn to sharpen its technique, otherwise it's not for long among the primitives of Skins's island.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Well, perhaps we do need a descriptor, this type of pedestrian victimhood lie lacks the sort of famous personalities, boasting of extreme substance abuse, defiance of authority, or personal heroism at risk of one's life necessary to qualify it as a "TiT Tale." 

[whiffleball]

Employers are very skittish.....and it's to the detriment of people with authentic disabilities; we're "too hot" to hire, because we "might" file lawsuits.

In my past supervisory positions I couldn't say much more than ,"Yes, -x- worked here from -x- year to -x- year", when called for a reference.

[NHSparky]

Something tells me that this person has never heard of the ADA.  Sucks for them.

[franksolich]

In my past supervisory positions I couldn't say much more than ,"Yes, -x- worked here from -x- year to -x- year", when called for a reference.

That's the usual rule that seems understood by even the densest of people who hire-and-fire.

I'll bet you never told a disabled person he was being let go because of his "handicap."  If confronted with such a situation, I'll bet you had to give another reason.

This whole tale sucks; I wish the Dolly mole well, but he's got to perfect his technique.

[Zeus]

The Business people I know and associate with bend over backwards in "Reasonable Workplace accommodation".   Not only trying to be helpful but because as Frank mentioned ADA lawsuits.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires an employer with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, unless it would cause undue hardship. A reasonable accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way a job is performed that enables a person with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. There are three categories of "reasonable accommodations":

changes to a job application process
changes to the work environment, or to the way a job is usually done
changes that enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment (such as access to training).
Although many individuals with disabilities can apply for and perform jobs without any reasonable accommodations, workplace barriers may keep others from performing jobs which they could do with some form of accommodation. These barriers may be physical obstacles (such as inaccessible facilities or equipment), or they may be procedures or rules (such as rules concerning when work is performed, when breaks are taken, or how job tasks are performed). Reasonable accommodation removes workplace barriers for individuals with disabilities.

This guide answers some of the key questions facing small businesses in connection with reasonable accommodations. It explains the obligations of both employers and individuals with disabilities, and reviews the limits on how far employers must go in providing reasonable accommodations.

This guide is adapted from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the ADA. Small employers wishing to learn more about reasonable accommodation and undue hardship should call 1-800-669-3362 to request a free copy of the Enforcement Guidance, or review it at EEOC's website, www.eeoc.gov.

[Vagabond]

In my past supervisory positions I couldn't say much more than ,"Yes, -x- worked here from -x- year to -x- year", when called for a reference.

The only time I recall something wlse is when one of my first seargants ran down a guy that had been cashiered for smoking pot.  I know what the general opinion is, but this guy busted his tail and was generally a great soldier if it hadn't been for that one (fatal) flaw.  When he bragged about it he was upset that no one agreed with him.