Deferment reason to fire?

[dochesangel]

I have been working at a non profit agency for the past ten months through a federal program, Experience Works. During that time I have been paid minimum wage for 20 hrs a week. However, I have been given numerous projects which have required me to work in excess of 60 hours per week. I have continually been told this would be my in to getting hired. I have now racked up 1591 hours of "volunteer" time and was two weeks ago finally hired. As part of the hiring process a background check was required so I went in and told my supervisor that I didn't think it would show up, but that I was currently on probation on a deferred prosecution and if I successfully completed my probation it would not be a felony conviction. He said "thank you for telling me and if it isn't a conviction it will not be a problem." It came back and now he is letting me go. My thing is I have worked there for 10 months. They know my work ethic, I am not doing any duties I haven't already been doing and besides the fact that I have brought in approximately $60,000 in grants I have also donated over $15,000 of my time. Do I have any recourse?

 

[NY_Shark]

There may be some recourse under an unjust enrichment theory, but your case is very complicated since you were volunteering, MAYBE with the expectation that you would be hired, and because you are dealing with a non-profit. I would google some attorneys in your area that specialize in employment law and see what he or she thinks.

 

[Patricia_Young]

Wait a minute. "Volunteering"? If you were being paid for 20 hours per week, why would you not be paid for the rest of the time you worked? What type of work do/did you do there?