Fired... for no reason?

I was recently fired from a job for seemingly no reason... I got along with my co workers, was never late, pretty good at my job (hey no one is perfect, but I never got a "talking to" from the boss saying I needed to improve or else), and one day I come in and the boss hands me a check, says it's not working out, and that was that. I was so shocked I just walked out without questioning him. So, for discussion...

has anything like this happened to any of you?

and, was that even legal for my boss to do?

Hasn't happened to me, but if I were you I would try to find out why. Depending on where you live, you can't be fired without a reason, although sometimes those reasons can be so stupid and still be acceptible.

Hasn't happened to me, but if I were you I would try to find out why. Depending on where you live, you can't be fired without a reason, although sometimes those reasons can be so stupid and still be acceptible.

Legendaryscmt

I'd reccommend not trying to pursue any legal action. You're just going to get yourself blacklisted.

[QUOTE="Legendaryscmt"]

Hasn't happened to me, but if I were you I would try to find out why. Depending on where you live, you can't be fired without a reason, although sometimes those reasons can be so stupid and still be acceptible.

ROFLCOPTER603

I'd reccommend not trying to pursue any legal action. You're just going to get yourself blacklisted.

But if it wasn't a valid reason, a good call to the job's HR department can do wonders.

Most employment is "at will" and I guess they can can you for no reason if they want.

Well I know that here in Australia you cannot be fired without reason and we have unions that you can take that dismissal to and they take furthur action. It's like if you were pregnant and they fired you - it's not acceptable.

I don't know if it's the same anywhere else.

Assuming that the place has an HR department. Unfortunately if the job isn't part of a union its not difficult for an employer to find a "legit" reason to terminate someone. Theres plenty of reasons they could give that would seem plausible.

I've thankfully never ran into such a situation but if I did, I would definitely ask them what went wrong/why I was terminated. I probably wouldn't protest but I'd like to at least know a reason.

Were you fired? Or laid off? Theres a difference. It's possible they laid you off because of various reasons, costs, staff, labor, etc. Which an employer has every right to unless you're in a union stating otherwise.

A lot of states allow companies to hire/fire at an "at will" basis. Meaning they can hire and fire you for whatever reason they want, so long as it's not an illegal method of doing so.

[QUOTE="22Toothpicks"]I don't know what state you are in but here in NC employers can terminate your employment for any reason at any time. thegerg

What was the reason they gave you??

I call BS.

You haven't provided enough details to judge anything.

Was it unionized ? I guess not since they apparently just gave you the cheque and let you go.

Getting along with people doesn't equate to being able to do your job well. Did you do your job the way it was supposed to be done ?

How is the company doing ? Perhaps you have the lowest amount of seniority and the company needs to trim the fat. Being you.

I used to work at Canadian Tire in my early 20s. I worked well enough, got along with everyone and partook of banging the various cashiers. Most of the time I was hung over. I recall one time having to run in the back while filling out a fishing licence because I started to dry heave from being hung over. I'd make a bed down in the store room and hide there for hours asleep. I used to call in sick almost every weekend until I talked the manager into allowing me to start at 12pm in the afternoon. I went away on vacation while the store was moving to another location, decided to stay on my vacation an extra two weeks and returned to checkout the new store. Saw that my name wasn't on the schedule and the manager walked up and asked "Do you still work here?" I said yes, and he said ok and put my name on the schedule. I just stopped showing up after while when I got a different job and technically have never actually been released from them.

So you either just plain sucked as an employee for them to just summarily tell you to get lost.

I call BS.

You haven't provided enough details to judge anything.

Was it unionized ? I guess not since they apparently just gave you the cheque and let you go.

Getting along with people doesn't equate to being able to do your job well. Did you do your job the way it was supposed to be done ?

How is the company doing ? Perhaps you have the lowest amount of seniority and the company needs to trim the fat. Being you.

I used to work at Canadian Tire in my early 20s. I worked well enough, got along with everyone and partook of banging the various cashiers. Most of the time I was hung over. I recall one time having to run in the back while filling out a fishing licence because I started to dry heave from being hung over. I'd make a bed down in the store room and hide there for hours asleep. I used to call in sick almost every weekend until I talked the manager into allowing me to start at 12pm in the afternoon. I went away on vacation while the store was moving to another location, decided to stay on my vacation an extra two weeks and returned to checkout the new store. Saw that my name wasn't on the schedule and the manager walked up and asked "Do you still work here?" I said yes, and he said ok and put my name on the schedule. I just stopped showing up after while when I got a different job and technically have never actually been released from them.

So you either just plain sucked as an employee for them to just summarily tell you to get lost.

Skarwolf

Lol, why is it BS? The worst thing I ever did at that job was accidentally drop a case of something, and a guy who worked there much longer than me did the exact same thing later that week. No one was even mad at me for doing it. No it wasn't a union job, it's a family owned local store. I don't believe I said that because I got along well with my coworkers that it meant that I was doing my job well. I really did do my job the way I was supposed to, so I don't think I got fired because the boss didn't like me. And if I was such a sucky employee, don't you think I would have been talked to about it? Like given a chance to improve? But, I was within my 6 months of starting, and I was the newest person at the place so.... I guess there doesn't need to be a reason given. All I was told is that it "wasn't working out"..... guess I was just an awful employee... somehow

I call BS.

You haven't provided enough details to judge anything.

Was it unionized ? I guess not since they apparently just gave you the cheque and let you go.

Getting along with people doesn't equate to being able to do your job well. Did you do your job the way it was supposed to be done ?

How is the company doing ? Perhaps you have the lowest amount of seniority and the company needs to trim the fat. Being you.

I used to work at Canadian Tire in my early 20s. I worked well enough, got along with everyone and partook of banging the various cashiers. Most of the time I was hung over. I recall one time having to run in the back while filling out a fishing licence because I started to dry heave from being hung over. I'd make a bed down in the store room and hide there for hours asleep. I used to call in sick almost every weekend until I talked the manager into allowing me to start at 12pm in the afternoon. I went away on vacation while the store was moving to another location, decided to stay on my vacation an extra two weeks and returned to checkout the new store. Saw that my name wasn't on the schedule and the manager walked up and asked "Do you still work here?" I said yes, and he said ok and put my name on the schedule. I just stopped showing up after while when I got a different job and technically have never actually been released from them.

So you either just plain sucked as an employee for them to just summarily tell you to get lost.

Skarwolf

Lol, why is it BS? The worst thing I ever did at that job was accidentally drop a case of something, and a guy who worked there much longer than me did the exact same thing later that week. No one was even mad at me for doing it. No it wasn't a union job, it's a family owned local store. I don't believe I said that because I got along well with my coworkers that it meant that I was doing my job well. I really did do my job the way I was supposed to, so I don't think I got fired because the boss didn't like me. And if I was such a sucky employee, don't you think I would have been talked to about it? Like given a chance to improve? But, I was within my 6 months of starting, and I was the newest person at the place so.... I guess there doesn't need to be a reason given. All I was told is that it "wasn't working out"..... guess I was just an awful employee... somehow

fluffy_kins

Unless you signed some sort of contract specifying otherwise, your boss can terminate you without warning. It sounds like you missed your opportunity to find out why, but I wouldn't sweat it. Just look for a new job. It's possible "not working out" just means they can't afford you due to the poor economy.

Sometimes companies downsize. They may not need the position or they may not need. Other times, it's not enough that you don't do anything wrong, sometimes employers want people who seize the initiative or show performance above the job expectations.