Fired for hearsay

[samick]

I am scheduled to have a first meeting with VEC to answer questions regarding an incident that took place at work and was the reason employer gave for being fired.

My employer is stating that I told a customer he had to tip me to get a quality car wash. These were not my exact words and I only told the customers the company policy which is not in writing but we were told in meetings with GM/DM and owner.

In actuality I emailed the owner of the company stating concerns I had with my new schedule, loss of wages/hours, reduction of commissions and a more physical job due to his step son coming back after incarceration and drug rehab. I was informed by phone 4 days after the email that the owner agreed and to finish my shift and I was being let go due to lack of work.

A month prior I also had stated to my GM that I had evidence showing the owners son was drinking on the job and felt unsafe working with him and the GM said he was not going to tell owner for he was scared of calling out his son.

I have read your info and will use it but I am very nervous and without benefits I am afraid of losing everything my family has.

 

[Peppermint]

All you can do is tell the truth. Do not volunteer extraneous information, however. All that stuff about the owner's son is not relevant to your defense. Address ONLY what you are asked and ONLY relative to the incident that resulting in your separation from employment.

 

[samick]

Me and my Gm spoke about the incident and he said that he felt there was no wrong doing and that he was not here so he could not know the whole truth. I was not giving a verbal warning nor a written warning. Company policy states there is suppose to be a writtne warning for first offense and second offense is termenation. Company policy also states that if you are fired you will not be awarded your vaction pay but my last check gave me all my vacation pay.

 

[Peppermint]

The fact that there were no warnings will be to your advantage. That is what you want to focus on.

"The statement I made to he customer was (whatever it was). Statements were made by others to the GM that did not accurately reflect what I said. I did not know my statement was in violation of any policy."

However, company policy is not law and there was no legal obligation for you to receive a warning (or two) prior to termination. Neither does the fact that you were paid you accrued vacation at termination automatically mean you were not fired; maybe an exception was made in your case, or maybe there was just a clerical mistake.

 

[army judge]

OP, as Peppermint has advised, just tell the truth.
The truth is always simple.
The truth can be stated in two or three short sentences.
The truth requires little explanation, as people know it when they hear it.

Do not disparage others, only address what you did or said.
If you in anyway hinted or intimated that "tipping" you would get the customer a "better" car wash, you've got problems.
Even IF you admit to saying something similar, you've got problems.