Even though most employers are well aware of how they can and cannot treat workers, some go down the wrong path without thinking about what they are doing.
The Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission recently decided to grant a new hearing to a former paramedic supervisor for Highlands County Emergency Medical Services who was previously fired. The man was fired last year upon testing positive for the use of a weight loss drug. However, the results of the test were later overturned when the former employee proved that his doctor had prescribed the drug.
Although Highlands County Emergency Medical Services offered to take him back, the man had six stipulations he wanted filled, including the payment of attorney fees, lost wages and benefits, an apology from the company, purging the firing from his record, promise that the county would not retaliate against him and compensation for his damaged reputation.
Once the county refused and the man did not go back to work, they declared that he abandoned his position. He made it clear that the Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission “made the determination that I was wrongfully terminated, that Highlands County terminated me against the law, that this was an attempted coverup that was exposed, and they agreed and made the determination that I was not terminated for a good cause. So I would like you to reconsider the stand you’ve taken.”
At this point, there is no way of knowing how things will turn out. That said, the man is going to have a second chance to prove that his wrongful termination claim is factual.
Source: Highlands Today, “Paramedic wins second employment hearing” Gary Pinnell, Jun. 06, 2014
