Fired for a "Quiet please, Work area" sign. Leagal recouse??

[saganite]

Maybe you're better off not working in a company with a jackbooted thug as the chief of security. It sounds like his own company is scared of him. If you were reinstated you can bet the guy would make it his mission to make your lives miserable.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Likely it depends on the laws of your state but as a general rule if you are under contract through an agency then you don't have much legal recourse.

Your agency would have to be the one to do it as they are the one's who actually have a contract with the company. Your contract is with the agency.

But I am not a lawyer nor did I stay at a holiday inn last night.

[Dog Gone]

In general, unless your employment is pursuant to a contract with the employer, or you are represented by a union, you can be terminated for any reason or no reason at all.

It sounds as if you were hired by a stupid company and fired by a stupid company. Stupid companies eventually go out of business because capitalism does not reward stupidity.

[Boundless]

I would have first tried active noise-cancelling headsets.
Listen to silence or tunes most of the time, and phone
calls as they arise.

I've worked where such signs are allowed, and had a cube
right outside the cafeteria - the signs don't work, and
are hardly worth losing your job over.

[svcw]

You are contracted / temp workers .... they can get rid of you because they do not like the color of your tie.

[theDentist]

Seek an attorney. Even if you are re-hired, would you want to work in such a violent and threatening environment?

[Dallas59]

Your better off..Agreed. What a jackass company.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

I hope you have other opportunities available.
I certainly wouldn't want to work for jerks like you describe. Say good riddance and move on. Good luck.

[aikido2kyu]

Thanks for the replies. I already have 3 interviews set up for next week. I've been contracting for a few years now, and know the drill. Was just curious to see if there was any legal action I could take.

[zzen01]

OK here is what I would do, File an EEOC complaint Sue the Company for not providing you with a proper work environment AND go towork for a Proper Software Company.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

This makes no sense...

Usually, it is your supervisor that fires you, and SECURITY escorts you out.

Your company has security fire you, and the supervisor takes your badges?

[jocon307]

You and your co-worker are lucky to be out of there. You could talk with a lawyer about suing, but if you were not a bona fide employee I doubt there is much that can be done. Count your blessings, something better will come along. Crazy people are to be avoided at all costs.

[Dallas59]

Then the super is a chicken you know what and not a super.

[Old Seadog]

"Stupid companies eventually go out of business because capitalism does not reward stupidity."

You obviously haven't worked for some of the people I've worked for.

[keat]

Stupid companies eventually go out of business because capitalism does not reward stupidity

If the "very large company in Cincinnati, Ohio" is the one I'm thinking of, I doubt they will be going out of business anytime soon.

IMHO, I find signs, like the one Mike put up, to be petty and disruptive. More formal recourse should have been taken.

I would have met with the supervisor and said "I could be much more productive in a quieter environment..."

As far as complaining to the agency, I would not expect them to go to bat for the employee as they would jeopardize thier relationship with the client.

[bert]

Should have got your TPR reports in on time.....

[ClaireSolt]

In the future, assess carefully whether you can work where they want to put you. If it will be too noisy, say so and insist on better placement. Once you sit down and accept bad conditions, you have given up most of your power and redress is very difficult.

[Dittohead68]

You have no recourse. Ohio is a Right-To-Work state, which means you can be fired for any reason, or no reason at all - same is true on the flip side - you can walk out for any reason, or no reason at all.

You're better off - really. I used to work for an insurance broker in the Akron, OH area that was completely INSANE. Screamed at the employees over the intercom, brought his 15 little ankle-biting dogs to work with him every day, threw temper-tantrums on a regular basis, threatened his employees on a regular basis, screwed his employees out of promised raises and pay, etc...... Working there was a nightmare. Bottom line was that, short of suing him for "holstil work enviornment" in a civil suit, noting could be done about the way the company was run. Not even Dept of Labor or OSHA had an impact or recourse (impotent beurocrats - all of them).

The best thing I ever did was find another job and walk out on the boss. I left him "high and dry". Not to worry though, I won't need him for a reference. I have been with my new company for over a year, now, and life is great!

Moral - when things start getting bad, get out. You can't change things. Inevitable, if the behavior is detrimental to the company, someonw will develop the backbone, or common sense to weed out the stupidity.

[G Larry]

I'd spend the money to take out a half page ad to explain your situation.
I'd bet that Security thug was one of the recent loud mouths in the hallway, and that's why he asked "who was talking loud".
In the ad, name the company, the content of the sign, the actions of the security thug (don't use his name), and the fact of your termination, along with an editorial such as, "Who'd want to work for these clowns?"