work is realy getting to me

[oldyam80sg]

So i am at my job Friday and my boss wants me to do several things at once.Everything is rush, rush, rush and on top of that i burned my left arm on a heat base.Ended throwing this thing that weighed 20 lbs at least 10 feet after i got burned by it.Have been at my job close to 16 years and want to leave.My one boss gets all the credit for our departments hard work and getting tired of making others look good.My question is this-If i was to quit my job can i collect unemployment?

[oseaghdha]

No. Voluntary separation is not covered.

Take what you have learned and shop it around elsewhere.
Gotta tell you, it's tough out there right now.

[oldyam80sg]

Well worse case scenario is that my boss tells me to do something and i refuse and am terminated then i heard that it takes 2 weeks but then i can collect-true?

[DiverRay]

No, because you would be terminated for cause. At least, here in CA that's what would happen. try to get him to tell you to go WITHOUT actually giving him a reason he can complain about. Say something is unsafe, and you can THEN refuse to do it WITHOUT any problem!

[Larrym]

Termination Rules

Termination for "insubordination" is reviewed in my state (WA) by a person form the Department of Economic Security. The employer gets a chance to present his side and you get to present your side as well. If the DES person finds that you were actually guilty of insubordination then you are ineligible for "unemployment" benefits.

This is of course for failing to follow ordinary orders/commands. You as an employee do have the right to not follow any orders which are unsafe, illegal, or immoral.

[oldyam80sg]

I have heard different in NJ-A woman i worked with years ago kept coming in late all the time and was terminated and still could collect-what if i bitch about my burned arm and how my boss ignored me and would not take me for treatment because people were in a meeting and could not be disturbed?Will not work in unsafe conditions and get burned.

[Larrym]

Bad News

I myself heard tales of those who "played the system" and won. I've also met a few individuals who seemed to "know their way around" the DES rules. They were quite proud of it actually.

I never even tried to play the game. When I had problems with an employer I simply looked for another position somewhere and applied for it. Kinda like a monkey never lets go of the branch he's holding before he grabs the next one. It always seemed to take forever but I did enjoy those moments where I had to go into my boss's office and give him/her the bad news.

[DGXSER]

Hey Pete,

Sounds like you have an azzhole for a boss, and work in a place that keeps control by fear. Bad news all around. However, the unsafe work conditions is just an OSHA call away. Give them a ring and explain what happened. Chances are it could cure both of your problems as most employers will find they have a drop in work load and "lay-off" the person with the concern. As additional feel good thing, if OSHA finds the conditions as unsafe as you do, they will provide a "financial stimulation" to make the place a bit safer.

As to the guys who would not take you to get fixed because of some meeting, well;

It's a great day

[trbig]

Yup.. and unemployment checks are going to be MUCH less than your pay. And yes, it can be two weeks after an involuntary layoff, but could be much longer if your employer fights it. Then you have to have all the poaperwork to prove you are looking for another job.. etc.

As bad as you hate it, in today's economy, I would hang on to that branch with BOTH hands until I had another one to go to. Unemployment is at an all-time high, and there's going to be a lot more competition for the jobs that are out there.

Just suggestions.. Nobody here can tell you what to do. But I will leave you with... "Work harder!! Millions on welfare are depending on you! Try your best not to be one of them...

Tod

[oldyam80sg]

Well my big issue is this-I think it is much harder looking for a job when i actually have a job.Actually called OSHA one time when i cracked an ankle working at Toys R US.They said they would look at the working conditions but really didn't do anything about it.When the company terminated me because i missed work due to being in a cast and didn't pay my medical bills-a phone call to a lawyer resolved that.My company has recently in the past 4 years lost a lot of people that were there for awhile(5 years).That is due to people getting fed up and leaving-some voluntary some not.My company seems to think that because i was gone for 1 1/2 years(Military duty)that i have to "make up" that time.This issue seems to come up every-time i complain about all the work load being put on me.

[trbig]

Thank you for your service.

Next time, (Now this is just me and my opinion) they tried to throw my military service in my face, I'd tell them to go enlist so they can protect YOUR sorry azz next time while you stay there in the air conditioning and heated room. Then tell them that the next derogatory comment made about your legal seperation for military duty, they will be answering questions from your lawyer on harassment/ hostile workplace charges. Then it would be nearly impossible to fire you. If they did, you could simply state that it was because of this that they terminated you.. and they would be the ones having to try to prove that's not why.

Either that, or I'd just beat his azz and get fired.. But again.. that's just me.


Tod

[oldyam80sg]

The other week we(my boss granted i have 2 bosses a man and a woman-the place is run by women)and 3 other people moved some metal racks that took a week to prep.The CFO was walking around and was looking at my boss Pete and me drilling holes in the concrete.The plant manager was there along with my female boss and said good job Linda in getting these racks done.I said she didn't do anything to help-the plant manger said she coordinated them i said that's not working physically and got some really dirty looks by my comment.Trbig i like the way you think!

[79XS11F]

what if i bitch about my burned arm and how my boss ignored me and would not take me for treatment because people were in a meeting and could not be disturbed?Will not work in unsafe conditions and get burned.

That would not likely go over very well. The employer will defend himself by simply saying that if the situation was unsafe, you, as a responsible and safe employee, should not have participated in the activity. The best thing to do is find another job and then leave. Once you give your notice your current employer may even meet with you and come to an agreement that has you staying where you are with more money or better working conditions. Believe it or not, most employers do not like the costs involved with hiring and training new employees. Of all the people that are out there looking for work, how many can do your job? You may be more valuable then you think. This of course depends on just what it is you do for a living. In any case, don't cut off your nose despite your face so to speak.
Rob

[oldyam80sg]

Let me clarify something-i did a job and got burned and my boss was simply too busy to take me to get looked at.Its not that i did a job that was unsafe and went and got burned.The fact that i got burned and was not looked at bothers me.The fact that my boss leaves at 230 and this happened at 220 shows he was more interested in leaving than to deal with me.Will deal with this issue tomorrow.

[79XS11F]

Let me clarify something-i did a job and got burned and my boss was simply too busy to take me to get looked at.Its not that i did a job that was unsafe and went and got burned.The fact that i got burned and was not looked at bothers me.The fact that my boss leaves at 230 and this happened at 220 shows he was more interested in leaving than to deal with me.Will deal with this issue tomorrow.

OK so this person failed to attend to your injury? I don't know how things work in the USA but here in Ontario every employer who has a set number of employees (I don't remember what the number is) MUST have in place a health and safety rep or reps and a PLAN as to how injury's are handled. If your work place has such a plan or set up and this person was the "go to person", he / she is in pretty deep DoDo if they were aware of your injury. If this injury required medical attention like a trip to the hospital or local clinic, then this person is in real real deep DoDo. In our company of about 45 employees we must have 3 health and safety reps and a PLAN in place. EVERY injury that requires a dressing including bandaids is suppose to be reported to one of the reps who will handle the "case". It however is not reason to quit your job on grounds of an unsafe work place. Even here in Ontario it is difficult to proof that a work place is unsafe. This is because every employee has the right to refuse to carry out work that is unsafe. The handling of injuries after they occur is something that the ministry of health and safety or what ever is in place in the USA would handle. The only benefit of that to you would be a safer work place. That's always a good thing but not helpful in a search to leave with just cause.
Rob