Monday’s coming

[Kat63]

I’m presently unemployed. I filed for unemployment, but because I was terminated involuntarily, the state agency is making me go through a phone interview on Monday to make sure I really qualify. (I was *not* let go because of bad conduct - they said I didn’t have the technical knowledge they needed. And I’d worked there 2.5 years and they never told me that before.) My dad and my boyfriend both think it might be age discrimination - a way for the company to get rid of me because I was highly paid.)

Anyway, I have this interview coming up on Monday and it’s scaring me. I didn’t tell anyone IRL because I didn’t want them to worry about me, but now I think keeping it to myself was a mistake.

I need help.

[Hidden]

Hi, I think you have a really good case for unemployment. It’s good to reach out to others for support during stressful times.

[Jeff1943]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your job, it sounds very much like unfair dismissal to me. You were doing your job properly, you had not been pre-warned about anything.

So you are beyond blame and during that phone call on Monday say you think you were unfairly dismissed as nobody had criticised your work even when you were dismissed. Surely it doesn't take two and a half years before your employer noticed you didn't have the technical knowledge they needed. Emphasise that you think it was age discrimination.

Don't be scared of that phone call, Kat63, get ANGRY, show the person phoning that you are really angry and it was unfair dimissal.

Your anger will put all fear to flight! Don't worry, you will say exactly the right things during that phone call. It will be fine. Have you thought of claiming damages for unfair dismissal as what they did affects your reputation as an employee. They should be made to pay. In the u.k. we have special tribunals that will handle unfair dismissal claims, maybe something similar where you are, I would say worth a year's pay.

[Kat63 in reply to Jeff1943]

In the U.S. companies and employers can do whatever they want. Employees have very few rights.

[car103 in reply to Kat63]

I think you can google information (by State) on the unemployment claims procedures. I believe that once you are fired and apply for unemployment the employer might try to block it because it costs them. This is how you can end up being interviewed and possibly denied. Be as knowledgeable as possible. Go in with confidence. Good luck.

[Kat63 in reply to car103]

I think that’s exactly what’s happening here. My former employer is trying to block it. He is a vindictive sociopath.

I was NOT fired for disciplinary or behavior reasons. That’s what I was told.

[hypercat54]

H there must be labour laws in the USA whereby you have full rights when you have been in a job a certain amount of time? If so they can't just sack you like this without at least offering you training in the technical aspects they say you need.

You could have a good case for unfair dismissal. x