Dad fired because he went to ER with daughter instead of work

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

I was watching "Extreme Surgery"-there was a little girl who had had several life-threatening conditions. Her dad said, matter of factly, that one time he was fired from his job because he wouldn't come into work but instead went with his daughter to the emergency room....

Two questions: Wouldn't Family Leave Act make it illegal for the dad to be fired from his job?

How much you wanna bet the boss is a repuke?

[democracyindanger]

1. Third question

Why are you watching "Extreme Surgery"? :P

[frogfromthenorth2]

2. lol.. good point... He should get fired for watching that... lol

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. either that or clean up the house

and I'd rather watch Extreme Surgery.

[BlueJazz]

3. I've known a few Men in my life.....

(They were not as "composed" as I am) who would have ...how can I say this?...Ah..would have caused the Boss to have a Very, Very Bad Day!

[MountainLaurel]

5. FMLA

First, it only applies in certain cases: companies with more than 50 employees, I believe. Second, I think it only applies in case of long-term absences, and you need to give prior notice. Hence, calling off suddenly wouldn't fit the bill.

Just my 2 cents.

[Bouncy Ball]

6. You are correct.

Though the dad in this case might have a case for being unjustly fired, especially if he had paperwork to prove he was in the ER with his daughter on the day in question.

What kind of an asshole fires a guy because he was in the ER with his daughter?

Unless there's more to the story and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

:shrug:

[MountainLaurel]

7. Right-to-work state

What kind of an asshole fires a guy because he was in the ER with his daughter: One who can by law.

Here in VA, a teacher was fired because she had cancer. She just started in August and didn't have enough leave, so they "encouraged" her to resign before she was fired.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61570-2005Jan9.html

However, after an outcry by the community, they've decided to offer her job back:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5183-2005Jan12.html

[Bunny]

9. I just saw the show too. I think the little girl had a chronic

spinal problem. He may have missed a lot of work before the ER visit, perhaps it was the final straw. But if she had a chronic condition, he should have been eligible for FMLA, if his company was big enough.

[Book Lover]

8. Not in a "Right-toWork" state

where a worker may be fired for absolutely any reason.

But also please consider your source - this man may not be at his most truthful in front of the cameras. The name of the show is "Extreme Surgery"; not "Tales of Worker Exploitation" where the producers would have to do some fact-checking.

[skygazer]

10. Fourth question

How do you know the guy was telling the truth?