I was recently terminated after submitting my cancer treatment schedule to my boss, the owner of the company.
Colleen Hanson
I was recently terminated after submitting my cancer treatment schedule to my boss, the owner of the company. I have been working in an administrative capacity for this employer for over a year and a half. It is a small company with only 3 employees. I initially was diagnosed with cancer in June and from that point on I felt like my boss started trying to push me out. He never offered any compassion, empathy, nothing. He literally shook his head and started "huffing and puffing" the moment I told him. Keep in mind, outside of doctors appointments, I continued to go to work every day, no matter how poorly I felt. He started threatening my job almost weekly for unfounded reasons almost immediately after finding out about my diagnosis. Every time he did this I was able to produce proof to the contrary of whatever his current complaint was. He became more and more of a bully when he realized I was not going anywhere and I was not going to be pushed out. I have listened to him call me names to another employee who was refusing to do their job in order for me to do mine (one of his drinking buddies he hired). It has been a nightmare. I stayed as long as I did because I was scared that another employer would not want to hire someone who would eventually be undergoing cancer treatment. I am a single female and need to work to support myself, so this has been a huge fear. I almost rejected my treatment because I was fearful that he would fire me! My care team representative asked me why I would be willing to "die" for a job that was so horrible and said that should have some kind of recourse if he were to let me go. He let me go 3.5 hours after I turned in my treatment schedule, this after not saying one word to me the entire morning. When I asked him why he said that I was not doing my job. I asked him why, if that were the case, my inbox was empty and all of my tasks were completed? He then stammered and stuttered and said something about unauthorized internet usage, even though he knew I used the internet for research purposes for my job. He then went on to say something about "playing games all day". When I told him that was ridiculous and untrue he said that he had "printouts". I know that he has had his computer guy signing onto the computers remotely since the last employee left. So I feel like he found a way to set me up when he realized I was covering my butt on everything. I don't know, but I have never been written up my entire time there! I know that he let me go due to my cancer and the required treatment, but how do I prove that? By the way, my job was in the State of Kansas. I am so upset and stressed out about this, all while getting ready to start my treatments this week. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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