Termination of Employment
As a Branch Manager for Firstar Bank, I was terminated for "conducting transactions for immediate/distant family members (3). These transactions were done to secure a $5-10MM per year account with Firstar. Ohio Labor Bureau originally determined that the termination was unjustifable, and later, as a response to Firstar appeal, the labor bureau reaffirmed that original determination. I was always dedicated to Firstar and was totally destroyed when I was terminated. I have lost my wife and children because of the loss of my job with Firstar (financial commitments), and I really need to know if anything can be done to help my situation. I remain dedicated to Firstar as one of the prime banking institutions in our nation, but I do feel wronged...personally.
1 answer | asked Oct 7, 2001 06:43 AM [EST] | applies to Ohio
Answers (1)
Hi Bruce:
The legal answer to your question is that your employer has the right to terminate you for any reason if you were an "employee at will." You probably were, unless you signed a contract or belong to a union.
An exception to employment at will is where your employer terminates you for a reason that is unlawful. The most common examples are discrimination based on age, sex, race or other prohibited reason, as well as retaliation for engaging in protected conduct. You can learn more about both of these topics on the FAQs and Answers on this site.
In your case your employer told you that it terminated you for conduct that it appears to claim violated its business ethics policy. This reason, if true, is generally a lawful reason. Even if not true or provable, it is not an unlawful reason.
If this reason is false, however, you can use the fact that it is false as evidence of discrimination or retaliation. In short, if you think that your employer fired you for an unlawful reason, we may be able to help you pursue a remedy, and the stated reason, if false, will help you prove your case.
posted by Neil Klingshirn | Nov 7, 2001 5:20 PM [EST]
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