Legal Question in Employment Law in Florida

Dealing with Difficult Employees

I have been employed as a supervisor by a local contractor for 12 years (prior to that I hac been self-employed for 10 years). Recently 2 employees have demonstrated aggression toward me--one grabbed my shirt by the collar and threatened me, and the other ''got in my face'' to argue argue with me--when asked to do specific tasks to get the job going. As a result I had terminated both. (I referred to specific rules as outlined in the Employee Rules and Regulations, which each employees receives upon hiring). I have since found that both employees have had their terminations reversed by my supervisor, and are both still working for the company. My employer is now claiming that I was unjust in terminating these 2 employees, that the rules in the hand book ''are meant to be broken'', and that I may be terminated. Am I at risk of losing my job for adhering to the company rules in terminating employees? Will my employer be held liable if I am hurt or injured by a disgruntled employee that the company has re-hired after being terminated?


Asked on 6/20/02, 3:38 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Keith Stern Shavitz Law Group

Re: Dealing with Difficult Employees

Unless you are a member of a Union (which as a manager/supervisor you would not be) or unless you have a written contract of employment, you could legally be terminated at any time for any reason--including attempting to terminate another employee. Thus, your employment could legally be terminated as a result of the facts you describe. However, if you suffer an injury as a result of an attack from a co-worker and the attack occurs at work, then your employer is responsible for those injuries.

Please feel free to contact my office for additional information regarding this matter at (305) 810-2887.

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Answered on 6/20/02, 3:51 pm


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