A friend of my wife was fired recently. The issue is that she was called into the manager's office and given the news. Then she was not allowed to go back to her desk to get her personal belongings. That included her purse with D/L credit cards etc. She was sent home by taxi and her personal stuff sent by courier. Is this siezure legal? The reason for the dismissal is irrevalent.
KGB dismissal tactics Legal?
- Thread starter nobbie48
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I'd say it's not and amounted to theft. They could have had security escort her to her desk.
My wife has worked for places where directly after dismissal you are escorted off the premises but I think you were allowed to clear your desk first but only under supervision. Reason being it was a programming company and they didn't want to risk malicious code being put into anything.
Your friend's situation sounds unduly harsh.
Your friend's situation sounds unduly harsh.
I was in a situation where they fired me because they found a volunteer and screwed me out of half of my wages.. They still let me work on their computers containing valuable lab data. They were lucky that my professionalism and integrity won over the anger 
I was in a situation where they fired me because they found a volunteer and screwed me out of half of my wages.. They still let me work on their computers containing valuable lab data. They were lucky that my professionalism and integrity won over the anger
Dude you didn't light a spliff at your desk?
Like a boss
Sent from my tablet using my paws now Free
Depending on what reason she was fired for, it might be legitimate. She might have been stealing or they feared that she might cause damage or create a scene.
I always fire over phone or somewhere far away from the work place... even text message once lol and once with the police there (had person arrested for theft)... I learned a long ago that the damage someone can cause in that small amount of emotionally fueled time can be large especially if your work environment has customers coming in all the time.
Red_Liner740
Well-known member
I'd have gotten cops involved if I was not allowed my personal belongings. So much for quiet exit out of the building.
stevex
Well-known member
Which leads me to believe this woman was guilty of something for her to so meekly leave all of her stuff there and take their word that they would send it by courier... immediately, I would imagine, because who would wait a day for that stuff to be shipped?
again, does not compute
again, does not compute
Dresden
Well-known member
standard procedure. They will mail the items and or have security escort her to retrieve them.
You will be surprised at what an angry ex employee will do. One blanket rule for all unfortunately.
Many times they'll have someone go to your desk and fetch your stuff for you.
That way you don't have to go back and face your co-workers after being let go.
So if it was too much for you to carry, then what other way would work?
There's probably more psychology involved in the process now, and the bigger companies tend to be very careful about abiding by the law.
That way you don't have to go back and face your co-workers after being let go.
So if it was too much for you to carry, then what other way would work?
There's probably more psychology involved in the process now, and the bigger companies tend to be very careful about abiding by the law.
johnp
Well-known member
My boss got called away to a meeting on a Friday and on Monday his half eaten muffin was still on his desk. Then some guys showed up to pack up his personal belongings e.g. " Is this his toothbrush?" , pictures of kids etc. It was indeed termination for cause, although no criminal code infraction.
This is a big company so I assume it was legit.
I think the employer can argue that you shouldn't be keeping any personal stuff at work, i.e. anything on premises is theirs.
This is a big company so I assume it was legit.
I think the employer can argue that you shouldn't be keeping any personal stuff at work, i.e. anything on premises is theirs.
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Motorcycle Mike
Well-known member
The part that I find way over the top is not letting her take her purse including her ID. I would not have left the place and would have called the police myself to come sort that **** out. Even if the company suspects her of stealing, they have no business keeping or going in her purse -- that is only for the police to do if suspicions warranted a charge.
Sounds like quite an experience when your boss is fired
Exactly.
We're not talking about pics of kids, or a hairbrush. We're talking about a purse and its contents. There is no reason in this world that they could have for this. IMO there's two options, one being that they could escort her back to get it, or two that they could retrieve it for her.
For the people that may disagree with me, the question I would ask you is; if it was 30 below in the dead of winter, would they have put her outside without her coat?
No, it's not. It does sound off but without knowing the reason she was "let go"... than no one here can really comment on whether it was justified or not.
I have always allowed a person to collect all of their belongings after letting them go. I usually allow them to do this on their own but on a couple of occasions have had them escorted while doing so. Even when physically removing someone, while we were actually carrying him, we stopped at his cubicle so he could get his things....
No matter what, I can't see a reason that someone's belongings couldn't be collected by another employee (of the fired person's choice) and brought to whever the perosn is at when being fired, manager's office, etc....
No matter what, I can't see a reason that someone's belongings couldn't be collected by another employee (of the fired person's choice) and brought to whever the perosn is at when being fired, manager's office, etc....
When they did a mass layoff at our company a while back they basically escorted people to their desk to get their phone/wallet/keys and then walked them out. They were allowed to come back after work hours to retrieve their belongings under security so they don't take anything that's not theirs, or damage anything. As for your wife's friend, the reason actually is relevant because for all we know she was threatening a co-worker and if she went back to her desk she may do something unexpected. So yes, reason is relevant to get a proper response.
