I just got “laid off” by an employer, but it’s an unfair situation
Question:
I’ve worked for about three weeks and was scheduled to work this week, for my third week. However, they called today and told me that they had enough people and I was “laid off”.
I was just working yesterday and I had no warning whatsoever. I know the laws say that the employer can fire me without reason and notice, but if there is some sort of oral promise or implied contract of some sort, than it’s an unfair dismissal.
The employer did ask me about my schedule for the next six months. And when I started, they did indicate that I was working long term.
As well, it’s not a lay-off, because they’re still hiring. I did get the feeling that the manager at the training location didn’t like me. I made the targets, I did the work, but she was always giving me looks. She also told me that I was not to correspond in Chinese with customers who do not speak English for no reason at all.
I don’t know what to do. Overall, this looks bad on me. Do you think it would make a valid case? Can I file a complaint?
In my area, there’s this Youth Employment centre that “fights” for the rights of employed youths. They take in complaints and so on and processes them for us. Would this be valid enough?
Answer:
If you are in a right to work state there isn’t much you can do. An employer can terminate your employment for any reason, so long as it’s not an illegal reason. Check if you can file for unemployment. And remember, you were laid off, not fired. It makes a difference to the unemployment office.
