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Firing

Injured worker? Proceed with unemployment case

07/01/2007

An employee who is injured at work is generally eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. But if you know the employee has engaged in misconduct that would make him or her ineligible for unemployment compensation, you can discharge the employee anyway and avoid paying both kinds of benefits …

Woman claims she lost job because of AIDS, seeks over $1 million

07/01/2007

A Plant City woman has filed suit against 5-D Tropical, a Tampa fish farmer and importer, for AIDS discrimination …

Jury awards $160,000 for retaliation

07/01/2007

The South Florida Water Management District will pay $160,000 for firing an employee who complained of discrimination. The employee had a 31-year record of good reviews with the district until a new supervisor took over …

St. Pete man claims he was fired for sex harassment complaints

07/01/2007

A St. Petersburg forklift operator has filed suit against Kane’s Furniture, claiming he was fired for complaining about sexual harassment by a male supervisor …

Your choice: Your convict husband or your police job

07/01/2007
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Run handbook by counsel to make sure it doesn’t destroy at-Will status

07/01/2007

Employers can fire at-will employees for any legal reason—or for no reason at all. Employees who work under a contract, on the other hand, have more rights. Don’t let a flawed employee handbook weaken your hand …

Whistle-Blower or news source? Either way, she’s out of a job

07/01/2007

Can you fire someone for speaking to the press? According to one court’s reasoning, it’s possible …

‘Last straw’ justification OK if you can prove earlier problems

07/01/2007

Sometimes, it’s the little things that finally lead to termination. An employee may have had performance issues and attitude problems for a long time, yet hasn’t been discharged …

Echoes of Virginia Tech: ‘Copycat comments’ lead to firings around U.S.

06/13/2007

“If I get one more write-up, if you think they had a problem in Virginia, it’ll be worse here.” That comment by  a Suffolk County (NY) Community College employee led to his arrest. At SeaWorld in Florida, a “joke” about the Virginia Tech shootings earned an employee the same fate. Here’s how to handle such comments in your organization. Plus, learn the 8 warning signs of violent worker behavior. 

FMLA time used up? Consider ADA before firing

06/01/2007

Q. An employee already took his 12 weeks of FMLA leave, but his doctors say he needs three to six weeks more. I want to terminate him because he isn’t ready to return. What’s the best way to go about it?—B.H., Florida