Legal Question in Employment Law in Georgia

I was suspended for 2 weeks for not performing a daily duty. I am a paramedic in Georgia and my supervisor told me to sweep our truck bay. I advised him I would do it later, we got busy and I forgot. He reminded me at a time when we were alone in the station. I stated I would go ahead and do it - though it was after shift change and I reminded him it would not be the first time it had not been swept out. I walked out to the bay to sweep it and he suspended me (in front of 3 co-workers) for refusing to sweep the bay. As a matter of fact, he told the on coming supervisor "don't worry about that man, I'm sending him home for 2 weeks" - standing 50 feet from me, but 10 feet from the other 2 employees in the bay. I have a family member who was admitted to the hospital for a stent today and was unable to speak with the department head - but I was called and told I had to sign papers concerning the suspension - w/o being able to defend myself or being present while it was discussed. Are there any laws in Georgia that affect when and how an employee can be suspended - I have never even been written up before and what (if any) regulations are there about doing it in a public forum?


Asked on 4/15/10, 6:27 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

Employment in GA is generally "at will" and an employee can be terminated for any or no reason (with very few exceptions not raised in your post). A suspension is much better than that. Your complaints about being suspended or embarrassed are job complaints, not legal issues.

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Answered on 4/22/10, 3:14 am


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