Company threatening jobs

[skidoorulz]

About 6 months ago a truck got damaged in our lot at night. Everyone on the night crew said they had no idea what happened. Security got involved and had an investigation which turned up nothing. Security then had meetings last week with all that were on the crew and 1 by 1 told them that they would find out what happened and that when they did find out, anyone who knew anything and did not tell who did it would also be terminated. This led 2 employees that knew who did it, to report the one who did it. My question is would it even be legal to terminate an employee who knew something but would not say? And how would you feel about a company who would pull this crap. Bottom line is the ones who knew should have said something 6 months ago. But given the workforce nowdays and the people who are going postal on the job, would you really want to take that chance. Also what happens when the terminated employee finds out who talked, and retaliates on the ones by vandalism or even worse. You know the company isn't going to help any.
I say it was a B.S. way to do things and I didn't have any involvement in what happened. I work days. But if I had I would have told Security that they would be getting a call from an attorney for threatening a loss of my job.

Am I wrong?

 

[tudizzle]

Never mind the shady fact that someone damaged company equipment and did not fess up....add the fact that two other employees knew about it and said nothing.

The same as having an employee steal from you in front of two other employees..and nobody says anything. WTF?

I would let the whole crew go and start fresh with employees I can trust.



How was the equipment damaged?

 

[skidoorulz]

Front bumper got tore off a truck. And I agree that six months ago someone that knew should have said something. But this day and age as I said, is it worth the possible retribution. Stealing is another story. If someone knew someone else is stealing they could say something and an investigation could be done and the offending employee could be caught on a totally different situation. Because theft is never just a 1 time deal. Also what I failed to mention is that management where I work have no balls. The way it would have been handled if someone told would have been like this. OK Fred we know you wrecked that truck because Tom told us he saw you do it.
And as I asked previously is it legal to threaten? Let alone terminate an employee that knew but would not say something. Yea you say you would fire the whole crew, but then I am sure you wouldn't be able to hire enough lawyers to defend that action.
I happen to be one of those employees that would and have said something if I knew what happened in other cases, but it has also come back to bite me in the arse when Management has said so and so said this

 

[m8magicandmystery]

well two sides to this....theft is one thing for employee's to cover up......

But i know that when it comes to a little shing ding here and there with equipment as a Boss i would rather my employee's cover and trust each other rather then have the pressure of ratting each other out..

THE MAIN ISSUE HERE IS....why was the simple issue of minor damage so uncomfortable to report in the first place..??..Why the "FEAR"...that sounds to me of corporate issues that have to be looked at.

If i ever have an employee fearful of coming up to me to say he had abit of a misshap then it was l that has failed that employee and not the employee that has failed me..

 

[mold]

Kill them all and let God sort it out!!!

 

[POLZIN]

I bet if they had just fessed up and said "crap I screwed up" no one would have lost their job. probably would have been no big deal. Honesty is always the best policy ALWAYS

 

[skidoorulz]

How would you all feel about the threat of your jobs? I have been with this company for 32 years and I think if I would have been given that ultimatum. I would have kept quiet due to the threat.

 

[X2Freeride]

How would you all feel about the threat of your jobs? I have been with this company for 32 years and I think if I would have been given that ultimatum. I would have kept quiet due to the threat.

Why are you so hung up on this?

After 32 years of precedent you cant trust your employer? That seems extremely odd to me.

If no one is saying anything when its obvious at least someone knew what happened to the truck, then how was the company to know that you were not all lying.

This single issue might be trivial in the grand scheme of things, yeah a truck bumper got wrecked to you its whatever. To the company multiple people knowing about it, not letting someone know, and then lying about it over and over sets a pattern of behavior.

If people cant even even be truthful and honest about trivial things what happens when something serious happens?

Think about it like this if you had 3 kids and one of them back your truck into the mailbox denting the rear quarter. 2 of them of them saw it happen, yet they all play dumb to you and avoid the truth. You ask them again and again and they deny the act. 3 days later your neighbor who saw the whole thing tells you all 3 were involved in what happened. How would you feel then.

 

[Mafesto]

The original question.....Is this threat of job loss legal?
Varies state to state.
For instance, SD is a right to work state, and an employer can terminate an employee at any time for no reason at all.

 

[X2Freeride]

The original question.....Is this threat of job loss legal?
Varies state to state.
For instance, SD is a right to work state, and an employer can terminate an employee at any time for no reason at all.

Montana is not a right to work state and in the past was very much pro union. I would suppose if one were so inclined they could bring something like this up to a area union rep or a lawyer and push the issue.

However, I can see why anyone in good conscience would want to do such a thing over a company want to find out the party responsible for destroying their property.

 

[89sandman]

i would guess a lot of it would depend if the employer thought the damage was malicious or an accident. i know as an employer there are damages that occur that are a part of doing business, sh!t happens sometimes...

 

[snowmobiler]

i get fired every couple years.cant help ya..

 

[mold]

i would guess a lot of it would depend if the employer thought the damage was malicious or an accident. i know as an employer there are damages that occur that are a part of doing business, sh!t happens sometimes...

I really don't suspect this is a damage issue, rather it is a trust issue!!

 

[tudizzle]

Legal reasons for firing someone include....being dishonest


reasons that may support a firing include:
• performing poorly on the job
• refusing to follow instructions
• abusing sick leave
• being absent excessively
• being tardy habitually
• possessing a weapon at work
• violating company rules
• being dishonest
• endangering health and safety
• engaging in criminal activity
• using alcohol or drugs at work
• behaving violently at work
• gambling at work
• disclosing company trade secrets to
outsiders.

 

[ruffryder]

or if you live in a right to work state, you can get fired for showing up.

Honesty is the best policy. If I was the employer, I would be pissed guys that have been working for me for a while can't tell me the truth about what happened with one of my trucks.

 

[m8magicandmystery]

Think about it like this if you had 3 kids and one of them back your truck into the mailbox denting the rear quarter. 2 of them of them saw it happen, yet they all play dumb to you and avoid the truth. You ask them again and again and they deny the act. 3 days later your neighbor who saw the whole thing tells you all 3 were involved in what happened. How would you feel then.

like 99 percent of any family in North America...lol..

 

[hockeyb4]

Not sure about the legality of the termination of an employee for having knowledge and not disclosing it. But it sounds to me like a scare tactic which depending on state laws they may not have been able to fire anyone. Without knowledge of the applicable laws the employees in question decided not to take the chance.
Just a thought if the night crew has had problems with performance and or staying on task. This may have been a way to scare them back into line?
That is not the way I would go as a boss but not all people in management completely qualified for the position
There are alot of factors to consider

 

[ruffryder]

You guys talk some funny stuff. I thought it was only illegal to fire someone for being disabled or based on race, or something else like that.

Seems these days people are "entitled" to their jobs?

 

[rmkMatt]

Seems these days people are "entitled" to their jobs?

In some states they are. My state is a right to work state, meaning I can fire anyone at anytime without giving them a reason. I can't imagine what it's like to be an employer in other states, though I'm sure there's a reason they have those laws in place.

 

[HOOCH256]

I'd have no reservations if I knew who did something and it put me and my job in harms way, I'd turn them in! I'm sorry but nothing comes between my ability to put a roof over my head and provide for my family or take away my ability to snowmobile of all things lol And i would love for someone try and retaliate against me, let's just say I have friends in low places and my moral compass don't always work!


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