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Fired For Telling the Truth
I worked at a local service station for 5 1/2 years. A customer (whose two sons also worked for the company part time) came in to pick up his vehicle after an oil change. He got into his car, drove away, and then broke down, still in sight of the service station. He came back in and said he heard a strange noise and then the engine stopped running. So I called a tow truck for him & also called our service manager to inquire if he had heard any strange noises while he had moved the vehicle. He said no, and to have it put in the garage for tomorrow. The customer went home. Not 10 minutes later, the service manager came flying into the parking lot (I worked the night shift) and rushed into the garage. I watched him as he pulled all the spark plugs out, spraying them with lubricant, and tried to break the cam with a large wrench. THEN I realized what had happened: he had done an oil change, and NEVER PUT MORE OIL IN!! The engine had seized, and he was trying to cover it up! I went home with a sick feeling in my stomach. Then I called the customer’s son because I knew his phone number and asked to speak with his father. I told his father what I had witnessed and that the service manager was trying to cover up a serious (and expensive) mistake! I was fired the next day. BUT I spoke with that customer about a year later, and found out that the company had to replace his vehicle for him because (obviously) the engine in his was not fixable. I lost my job and benefits. I had a 1 year old son I was trying to support at the time, but I still felt like it was worth it. No one should have to suffer from that kind of dishonesty.
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more grease to your elbow
Cathy you did a wonderful thing, many would have kept mute in order to keep their job. MORE GREASE TO YOUR ELBOW I say and do not be discouraged because you did what many would have feared doing. I pray I get your kind of courage. All the best
evelym arhin -sam | 11 months, 3 weeks ago
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Fired for telling the truth
It is despicable
combocanmm THE BILDER | 11 months, 1 week ago
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FIRED FOR TELLING THE TRUETH
It is good to tell the truth, but next time, tell him earlier.
MARLEIGH MICHELLE HALL | 11 months, 1 week ago
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I've been in your shoes
I’ve been in your shoes. I was fired from my last job because I exposed an HR manager who threatened employees, violated wage laws, and so much more. Now, thanks to their bad rap, I cannot find work in this town. I’m going to lose my house, and I have to move back in with my parents. It sucks, but I know I did the right thing.
I know that you did the right thing. Trust me; it sucks. I know how much, it sucks, but I also knows that it is important to do the right thing. I am praying for you and your son.
Sincerely,
Someone Who Cares
Me | 11 months ago
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United States
I think you should have given your employer the chance to do the right thing by monitoring the situation and stepping in if necessary by contacting upper management about your observations. Your first responsibility is to your employer.
If they did not do the right thing then you have choices to make, you could quit (looks better on a resume), you could call the customer and offer your information to help them win their case, you could call the local news, you could wait to get fired and document everything for your lawsuit while you wait.
There were a number of things you could do rather than immediately call the customer. Your loyalty should be with your employer until they did something that caused you to feel the need to quit. The service manager was hoping the engine was not permanently seized up and he could break it loose, of course no one wants to get their car back from the repair shop in that condition after a seize up. But it does make a difference in how expensive the repair will be; maybe he just was hoping he could minimize the repair costs and not planning to screw over the customer. You will never know.
I’m not sure whistle blowing laws cover blowing whistles on crimes that have not been committed but only assumed would be committed.
I would have fired you for not showing any respect, trust, loyalty, or faith in me as your employer. I also would never hire you if I knew this story. I believe you were fired for being a terrible employee.
ernie | 11 months ago
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the right thing to do
That was the right thing to do girl!
whitney gail hatmaker | 10 months, 4 weeks ago
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Re: I've been in your shoes
It is illegal for an employer to fire you for reporting employment law violations.A person can ontact the Department of Labor and file a formal complaint. They will take about 6 months to investigate but they will come down on the employer and make they pay any back wages and overtime owed to all employees. Not sure if they can help you directly, but if they fine the company for their violations you could use that as evidence in a civil case.
Mike Lemoine | 10 months ago
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fired and suit tem
You should put a case against the owner of the company and get an attorney.
Mary | 9 months, 3 weeks ago
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poor girl
Hey, you should find the owner of the car to help you. The person who did that to you should pay for their mistake. Do not let thing like that go. You should try to punish them.
nelly | 9 months, 3 weeks ago
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normally
Normally, I would have kept my mouth shut, but I have learned in the past the God does not like ugly, and he rewards those who suffer a great deal. So with that being said you were honest enough to yourself and the job that obviously did not appreciate you. I am speechless about so much of this story, and it has touched me to a great degree, keep being you darling, and always remember joy comes in the morning. I bet that boss of your’s is missing you to a great degree.
Amariah | 8 months, 3 weeks ago
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