I can't Believe this is just happen to me, now I'm totally screwed?

Question

I went in this morning and got fired. My daughter was a premmie and I was out of work for 5 months because I was put on bed rest and then she was born early and I went back in Feb of this year. Ok well she has been sick a lot and I’ve had to miss a lot of work because of it. Im sorry my child was sick so much she has extreme eczema and kept getting bacterial infections and running fevers so I had to stay at home with her. This is the part that made me so upset the director looked at me and said with no emotions on his face “ its not our fault your stupid little daughter keeps getting sick you should of thought about that before you got pregnant.” I froze I couldn’t believe what I just heard. I’ve worked there for 3 years and he is the new preacher and I can’t believe he said that to me. Here’s the best part they had all the days I’ve missed and said they had no doctors notes to back them up. That’s total bull I gave them doctors notes even when I went to the doctor on my lunch hour while I was pregnant. An ever time I’ve been out with my daughter since I went back to work in feb. I gave them on then. Now I have no job, I can’t get unemployment because of bull reasons about it being a private church school and we don’t qualify for it. Im not really seeking any answers I just want to know when I go to try to get another job do I tell people the story because like my father in law said its his word against mine and preachers are holy in peoples eyes and now im just a 26 year old new mother looking for a job and a no body.

Answer 1

number one, go to an employment tribunal. This is unfair dismissal. Never mind the fact he is a preacher. This is irrelivant.

If you have supplied doctors notes etc they cannot sack you. (At least not in England)

It sounds as tough you are a teacher. As am I. Are you a member of a union? report this to them. Do not ignore this just because he is a preacher. I wouldn't care if he was the bloody pope!

Search straight away for an employment tribunal service which can assist you. In England we have ACAS.

Go from there, and good luck

Answer 2

Oh, wow. I'm sorry but that's why I don't believe in church. But anyways, what he did to you is illegal. I suggest you talk to a lawyer because he is not able to let you go for maternity reasons, and there is a law out that states that if someone in your immediate family is very ill your allow to take off a certain amount of time, I believe its three months. Although I don't think they are premitted to pay you for this time period they do have to allow you to take it off. Honestly think about this, what he did yo you is very very wrong.  

Answer 3

What an idiot. This guy is lucky that he still has a job.....his behavior is totally unacceptable and unprofessional. Is there someone you can report him to?  Just keep telling people about this guy, because chances are he has been the same with others, and sooner or later people will believe YOU.  

He should have come to you while you were taking the days off, and asked if you would have needed more time off to take care of her. Or at least he should have been understanding about it. The fact that you had worked there three years says you were obviously much appreciated at your job.  

You will find another job...do not let anyone talk to this guy for a reference, find someone else.  Don't even put his name on your application if you have to fill one out. Tell any prospective employers exactly what happened (so they know you do have a child and may from time to time need to take care of her if she's sick), and how you were let go.  Ask other coworkers from your job to act as a reference for you. You can always start by going to a temp agency; they have lots of jobs to fill, and you can usually find one pretty quickly.  Good luck to you, and thank goodness you're away from this creep now!!

Answer 4

You need to contact your local EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) office and have them file a federal law suit for you.  In 1994 the older President Bush signed into law the Federal Family Medical Leave Act which guarantees you can't be fired because you or a close family member is sick and you have to miss work.  While they aren't required to pay you for the time while you are gone, you are allowed up to 12 months of job security.  I hope you had copies of the doctor's notes, but if you don't, go back to all the doctors and get them.  They will prove your case.  Hope it all works out.

Answer 5

You didn't s***w up.  You did what you had to do for your child and no one can fault you for that.  Is there a place in your area that you could report that too.  If not contact the department of labor in your state.  Ask who you would have to talk to and they will tell you where to go.  It is not fair that you are put through this.  Even the Senator of your state might be helpful in telling you what to do.  You will have a hard time to prove what he said to you unless someone else overheard and is welling to be on your side but even though.  Try to get a record of all the times that you have been to the doctor with your daughter.  I am sure the preacher will have a list of all the days you have missed but if you can back it up with the records that you did go to the doctor and for what reason I think that might get you the help you need.  It won't get you your job back but you might be able to get him to pay for your wages since you were fired for to reason.  Good luck to you and don't feel that anything you have done is your fault.  Your first priority was your child.

Answer 6

I wouldn't mention it to future employers.

People expect Preachers to be like really nice, cause they are holy people.

And if you tell someone that, then they might think you're leaving something out and that's why the Preacher was so mean.

then they'll think you're like psycho or something or a liar, and that's not good

Answer 7

At this point, try and put the pain behind you or better yet, use it as a motivator. Rather than focus on that situation, start looking for new work. I agree with most, don't bring this issue up on a job interview because it will seem like you have baggage and might detract from the job.