Legal Question in Employment Law in Michigan

Terminated after 12 years of employment

For 12 years I worked to become adm. asst. for a doctor. A 3 year employee took my job away by making me look bad. Others said she wanted my job. I went to the hospital with chest pain, while on sick leave, my boss called and wanted to know what I was going to do. When asked what he meant, if I was going to quit because he heard that I was leaving at year end. When I told him I wasn't quitting he said he was firing me. So this person badmouthed and said things without him even asking if they were true. I understand you can fire anyone anytime and for any reason but what about the bad talk. She is still making things up even though I don't work there anymore. He told my friend there she can't talk to me anymore even on her own time because she tells me things about what lies this girl is saying. If they find out, she will get fired too. Can they do this? Do I have any recourse? Or is it all heresay? I cannot find another job that makes as much as I had worked up to earning. I am the 5th person fired this year because of this girl. I also lost $3750.00 for my bonus. I have contacted a lawyer and he said I should leave quietly and forget about it but it has affected my life tremendously. Thank you for any input.


Asked on 12/04/00, 9:21 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Martin Scott Law Offices of Martin A. Scott

Re: Terminated after 12 years of employment

In general, I agree with the advice you got from the lawyer you talked with. The employer can fire you just on the word of the other employee, no matter how stupid or unfair that is. (There is no law against bosses being stupid.)

Your statement that you can be fired at any time for any reason is not entirely correct. You cannot be fired because of discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age or disability. Why was the other employee saying bad things about you? What sort of things was this employee saying? Why did the boss beleve her and do what she wanted? If illegal discrimination is part of the answer to any of these questions, then there may be something you can do. Please feel free to write again with more details or contact me directly if you thing discrimination was involved.

Any employee who is fired or otherwias treated wrongly because of illegal discrimination should consider discussing the mater in detail with an experienced employment attorney. Ignoring incidents of discrimination just encourages more discrimination.

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Answered on 12/05/00, 2:42 pm


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