Legal Question in Employment Law in Pennsylvania

Re: My life threatened physically by my boss

You have the right to work in an environment free from death threats. Your remedies for having that right violated depend on the circumstances. In any event, however, you should be able to leave that job and collect unemployment compensation because a death threat would be a "necessitous and compelling reason" for quitting. You may also have a claim against your employer for damages for intentional infliction of empotional distress. Other claims would be dependent on the reason for the outburst from your boss. Was it in retaliation for some proteceted activity or related to discriminatory motives? You should seek out an attorney promptly to explore these questions before taking any action.

Re: My life threatened physically by my boss

I'm afraid that what you describe is the type of call I receive too many of every day including the following:

1) I worked with the same supervisor for 5 years and we got along well. I just got a new supervisor and he doesn't like me(or I don't like him or her).

2) I always did my job well. My reviews were always excellent but last month a new company bought out my boss and they're now telling me I'm not doing my job properly but I don't think they like me.

In the above situations or the siiuation that you describe a difference in philosophy or a personality conflict has developed. That type of problem can lead to tension which can cause lower productivity in the workplace.

When that happens one of both parties may have to leave the workplace to increase productivity again. I'm afraid that when the choice of who leaves is between an employee and an employer or between a worker and a supervisor it is not usually the employer or the supervisor that ends up having to leave.

Assuming the reason for the conflict was not discrimination (based on race, gender bias, disability, etc) the employer can terminate your services based on a personality dispute or a dirrecence in the perception of how you perform your work.

I think you have two choices at this point:

1) Do the best you can to try to patch up matters with the owner on a pesonal basis. Perhaps he can let bygones be bygones, although based on the small number of facts you presented it sounds like that will be difficult.

2) Begin to look around for other employment before you are fired.

Good luck.