Help! Fired after 20+ yrs, no warning, no severence pay, no reason given! A total shock to coworkers too!?

Angels Serenity

Considering you didn't put in what state you live in I have no idea if you live in a "right to work" state. The first thing I'd do is contact the Department of Labor to file a complaint. If they have fired you unjustly they can actually get into trouble if it's proven. Your coworkers can help you with this when witnesses are needed. In addition go to Unemployment to file for benefits while you're trying to find something else or get this cleared. They also will investigate. Thirdly and the last option AFTER the other two? Contact an attorney who can give you even better advice with a free consultation and who might be able to represent you if you are legally entitled to restitution. Good luck and for what it's worth I'm sorry for what you're going through. It's a shame if they were pushing you out to keep from paying you retirement that a company would do that. Do what you can to get the help you need with the above options. One should come your way.

linlyons

A) i''m sorry.
B) really.
C) welcome to the world of no unions.

this is not to say that there are not problems with unions.
but getting fired so the company doesn't have to pay retirement, or because your boss's drinking buddy wants your job is probably more serious.

Expert Realtor

If you are over 45, you fall into a protected class, and I would call the EEOC to see if there is something that they can do to help.

Judy

Well, that stinks. But if you are somewhere where employment at will is the law, which is pretty much all of the US, and you don't have any kind of contract, it's legal. Your only recourse might be if you can show that it was because of your age. If they fired a lot of people for example and they're all over 40, you could talk to the EEOC. But otherwise you are probably out of luck for any legal recourse.

Good luck - I hope you find something else quickly.

bostonianinmo

Employment in all states in the US is "at will" unless you have an explicit employment contract. Unless you have evidence that your termination was based upon a prohibited reason -- age, gender, race, etc. -- then there may not be a lot you can do.

Another poster referred to the so-called "right to work" concept. That has nothing to do with any right of tenure. All that it means is that you cannot be forced to join a union or pay non-member dues to a union that represents the employees of your employer. In a non "right to work" state, also sometimes called a "Closed Shop State" you can be compelled to join the union OR pay non-member dues to the union for the "privilege" of working for the employer.

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