Thread: Fired for being a threat to the boss' marriage?

Originally Posted by AlyssaEimers

He doesn't have to give a reason to fire her in an "at will" situation. I would not want to own a business that once I hired someone, I could not then decide to fire them without having to justify myself to someone else.

Well, like it or not its pretty much like this already. Firing someone is incredibly risky. Though he lost the case, he paid tens of thousands in legal fees to defend his right to fire her. Most wise employers just settle out of court to make the person go away. My Dad is a CEO, and when they have to fire people they almost expect a lawsuit, even with a documented record of poor performance. He's encountered everything from its because I was black, or fat, or depressed, or an alcoholic, or whatever. They truly were sh*tty workers, with documented sh*tty records..........but its cheaper to offer them 10 grand or whatever to just go away than it is to pay the legal fees to take it to court.

Originally Posted by Potter75

Well, like it or not its pretty much like this already. Firing someone is incredibly risky. Though he lost the case, he paid tens of thousands in legal fees to defend his right to fire her. Most wise employers just settle out of court to make the person go away. My Dad is a CEO, and when they have to fire people they almost expect a lawsuit, even with a documented record of poor performance. He's encountered everything from its because I was black, or fat, or depressed, or an alcoholic, or whatever. They truly were sh*tty workers, with documented sh*tty records..........but its cheaper to offer them 10 grand or whatever to just go away than it is to pay the legal fees to take it to court.

That is terrible.

In my life before kids I did all the hiring and firing for the store I managed, Oregon is an at will employer, and it was nearly impossible to fire people. I had an employee that was never on time, would miss shifts without calling in and just didnt come in and open the store one time while we were on our honeymoon. I went through all the paperwork for the termination process and she still sued.

I agree, firing people who are TERRIBLE is really hard. I had an awful situation the year before last with someone who was lazy and slow, who came in late every day, didn't complete work on time, made a ton of mistakes that were published live, used incorrect terminology to the point that it confused everybody dealing wit us, and would even say things IN FRONT OF HR about how he didn't do certain assignments because they "took a lot out of" him, and STILL it took about 6 months to even give him the 90-day warning. (Yes, 90 days.)

He didn't sue, but the company was so jittery about it that it took mountains of meetings, paperwork, and more just to get as far as we did. (He ended up resigning just as his 90 days was up.)

It may be legal, but it seems incredibly unfair. He can't contol himself, so she no longer has a job? That seems pretty one sided.

Under normal circumstances, I would say that if he is having such a hard time controlling himself, maybe he should quit. But since this was a dental office, I am assuming that he was the dentist (and owned the practice.) Obviously if that's the case, he can't quit (without closing the dental office.) However, if he is not the business owner, then I definitely think that if she's not doing anything unprofessional and he simply can't control his attraction to her, then it's on him to quit even if he is her superior. If you can't control yourself, YOU should be the one to suffer the consequences, not an employee.

Originally Posted by Alissa_Sal

It may be legal, but it seems incredibly unfair. He can't contol himself, so she no longer has a job? That seems pretty one sided.

Under normal circumstances, I would say that if he is having such a hard time controlling himself, maybe he should quit. But since this was a dental office, I am assuming that he was the dentist (and owned the practice.) Obviously if that's the case, he can't quit (without closing the dental office.) However, he he is not the business owner, then I definitely think that if she's not doing anything unprofessional and he simply can't control his attraction to her, then it's on him to quit even if he is her superior. If you can't control yourself, YOU should be the one to suffer the consequences, not an employee.

I assumed he owns the business, being the dentist.

Originally Posted by freddieflounder101

I assumed he owns the business, being the dentist.

I assume that as well. I'm just saying, under a circumstance where the boss wasn't the business owner (like, if MY boss found ME irresistable) then I would think that it would be on them to quit, rather than firing me. In this case, if he is the business owner, obvs he can't quit.

I don't know why people are making a big deal about it. She didn't even have to get a reason I guess or he could have made up one that isn't as bizarre sounding - as long as it didn't indicate discrimination. Hire and Fire and Quit at will..is just that. If the cards were turned and we were the employees somewhere and couldn't quit we'd be fuming mad.

And I think employers need more protections against the cost of lawsuits. Whoever loses should have to pay ALL costs from start to finish. So if the employee starts one of these lawsuits they gotta pay each and every nickel all along the way. That will help control this maybe.

Originally Posted by Alissa_Sal

I assume that as well. I'm just saying, under a circumstance where the boss wasn't the business owner (like, if MY boss found ME irresistable) then I would think that it would be on them to quit, rather than firing me. In this case, if he is the business owner, obvs he can't quit.

If something creates a difficult work environment and they are just two working together so much then something has to change. I would hate to have to go to work where I couldn't concentrate on my work due to any other reason. That reason should be eliminated or else find a new job. But like you said, if you're the boss then obviously you are not going to be the one leaving.

The truth is that this is such a common problem. So many people try to relocate, find new jobs, etc to avoid office temptations that really do put a damper on marriages. I'd totally leave my job if I felt I was having a tough time with these sort of issues.

Originally Posted by myyams

I'd totally leave my job if I felt I was having a tough time with these sort of issues.

Agreed. My marriage is much more important than my job. There are other jobs out there but no other Daves for me!