Can I be fired for being in pain?
Today at work my foot started cramping up and I had severe pain on the outer side of my right foot, so I began standing on my left. I told my supervis
Today at work my foot started cramping up and I had severe pain on the outer side of my right foot, so I began standing on my left. I told my supervisor about my pain and that I could continue to work until the next employee came in. My supervisors told me they would see if somebody could come in to replace me as soon as possible. The day goes on and I'm still in pain. Nobody has come in to replace me. My left leg began to get sore as I'm sure you can imagine standing on one leg for hours can be painful, so I go take a seat, while my co-worker handles the customers. When I come back after 5 minutes there are four cashiers and 2 cooks (I am a cook). I ask my supervisor again if somebody could replace me, or why one of the not busy cashiers couldn't replace me? He went on to tell me there was nothing he could do and I have to work through the pain. So I told my other supervisor that I could barely stand without tears coming to my eyes and that I couldn't work anymore. I sat down and called my boyfriend for a ride. They told me that if I go home, I would be fired.
So my overall question is can you legally keep an employee at work though they are in pain? And can my boss fire me for leaving after telling several people about my pain?
or:Today at work my foot started cramping up and I had severe pain on the outer side of my right foot, so I began standing on my left. I told my supervisor about my pain and that I could continue to work until the next employee came in. My supervisors told me they would see if somebody could come in to replace me as soon as possible. The day goes on and I'm still in pain. Nobody has come in to replace me. My left leg began to get sore as I'm sure you can imagine standing on one leg for hours can be painful, so I go take a seat, while my co-worker handles the customers. When I come back after 5 minutes there are four cashiers and 2 cooks (I am a cook). I ask my supervisor again if somebody could replace me, or why one of the not busy cashiers couldn't replace me? He went on to tell me there was nothing he could do and I have to work through the pain. So I told my other supervisor that I could barely stand without tears coming to my eyes and that I couldn't work anymore. I sat down and called my boyfriend for a ride. They told me that if I go home, I would be fired. So my overall question is can you legally keep an employee at work though they are in pain? And can my boss fire me for leaving after telling several people about my pain?
or:Legally, no. Do you have an employee handbook or contract to hand to read the fine print? I'd suggest looking for legal documents about 'firing' someone. There are laws against wrongful termination. You could potentially take them to court for it.However, poor time keeping and attendance could be grounds for dismissal.
or:In the 'food' customer service industry - if you can't find a replacement and go home....they can fire you. Try finding a job where you don't have to stand up so much.
