Fired for death in family?

[tzar177]

I have been working at a company on a temp-to-hire basis for the last 2 1/2 months. My grandpa recently passed away on a Thursday and I had told work that I would not be at work the previous day. After I had just left the hospital, work called me to say that I was fired for not coming into work, even though they knew I wouldn't be there the day before. They told me that they did not care that my grandpa passed away and that I should have been at work. Is there any law that protects me in this situation? Or anything that I can do?

 

[cbg]

Sorry, but no. At the present time there is no law anywhere in the US that grants employees the right to protected time off in the event of a death in the family unless a legally binding and enforceable contract or CBA expressly says otherwise. I understand that at least one state (not yours, unfortunately) has some legislation pending that may change that, but at the moment you are SOL.

I think your employer acted pretty heartlessly but they did not violate any laws.

 

[tzar177]

Thank You for the reply. I just think its so messed up. If it was their grandpa, im sure they wouldn't have been at work either. I have 3 kids under age 7 and now im jobless. I was laid off at my prior job. This economy sucks