Is this a right reason to get fired?
Question by Chris Borrero: Is this a right reason to get fired?
I recently was fired because I sent a prank email to a friend. I sent a yahoo greetings card to my friend pretending to be someone else that he was involved in an argument the night before. I used a few curse words but anyone reading would know that it was meant to be a joke.
I admitted that it was me that sent it when confronted. My friend who is also a supervisor recommended a few days of suspension, the person that was conducted the investigation saw it as a joke gone bad and recommended a letter of reprimand. My chief recommended a small suspension but when confronted by HR to receive my punishment…I WAS FIRED.
I admitted what I did wrong and my record was clean prior to this. I am part of a union and we’re in the process of fighting t by going to an arbitrator. I don’t deny the fact that what I did was wrong…but I came clean, it was supposed to be a joke but it didn’t go as planned.
The person that received the email (my friend) is black…the person I pretented to be is white….there were already racial tensions where I work and I think they made an example out of me.
I’m also in the process of looking for a new job…will this affect my job hunting? I have nothing to hide. According to my union contract, they were supposed to use progressive discipline…I have nothing prior to this.
This people did not care that I have a wife and 3 kids and a mortgage, I don’t want to work for them but I do want to clear my name. If I win the arbitration case I will move on somewhere else as soon as I find a new job. Was this a wrongful termination?
PLEASE ADVISE
To clarify…no racial or discriminating words were used on the email. I am a minority myself and I don’t say stuff like that.
After the damage was done…the victim that received the email and myself continued our friendship. We were friends before this and continue to be friends. After talking to my union lawyer, he recommended that I fight this.
Best answer:
Answer by rockinnnsteady
it’s definitely not a good reason to be fired, but it’s is legitimate. your behavior, although understandable from a joking perspective, is not acceptable in the workplace. plus, racism will only worsen your problem. goodluck on your case.
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