I got fired... was it wrong?

Powder · #1 09-16-2006, 10:19 AM

I got fired from my job on Thursday and I'm thinking of going to the companies human resources department to appeal or contest it, if I can even do that. Anyway this is what happened...

I work in a casino. I'm a bartender at the upscale bar where you can get all your specialty muddled drinks, high class scotches, etc. We also have a club in the casino. Last Saturday I worked the day shift and got off at about 7pm. I went and changed and then me and a few friends went to the club to hang out and pick up chicks and stuff. We had a really good time. I wasn't planning on getting drunk, but hey you know one thing led to another and before I knew it I was hammered. When the club was closing down, a couple of us walked back over to the bar where I work just to unwind for a few minutes before we went home. This was at about 3:30 AM, the bar where I work closes at 4AM. I talked to a couple people who said they would give me a ride home because I knew that I was in no condition to drive. I talked to my manager there, and she said she would make sure that someone gave me a ride home. OK good. I told her that me and a buddy were going to go eat at the resturaunt at the front of the casino, which was about a 30 second walk from the bar. Well being in my current state, I didn't realize that about 90 minutes had passed while we were eating and talking. While we were leaving, my friend was walking out the front door and asked if I needed a ride, I told him "no, its OK, someone I work with is giving me a ride thanks." Well I walked back over there only to realize everyone was gone. The whole place had already been cleaned up. Now I didn't realize this but there was still a couple people there on duty, but they were gone making trash runs or whatnot. I thought to my drunk self for a minute not really knowing what to do. I finally made a poor decision to walk to my manager's office to see if she was there and to see if she could help. Her office is in the employee area of the casino. When I got there, she told me I wasn't supposed to be in the back of the house, especially while I was intoxicated, and that I could get in a lot of trouble. I pretty much had already understood this, but I didn't want to make an much dumber decision like driving home. It was a poor decision but at the time I didn't see many other options. She tried to get me out before casino security saw me. She asked someone to give me a ride home, a guy I worked with. He said sure no problem. I told him I'd be waiting back at our bar and he said he'd be there in a few minutes. Well I went back there and waited, and waited, and finally fell asleep. At around 6AM a casino security guard came and woke me up and made me take a cab. He really pushed it and didn't really give me any other option even though I was trying to explain to him what was going on.

Well I get to work the next day and my manager informs me that while I was in the back of the house, someone from security did happen to see me, and they told the beverage manager, which is my manager's boss. She told me that disciplinary action was most likely going to be taken, but she didn't know the severity of it because it wasn't her decision. OK so I worked Sunday night, was off Monday and Tuesday. I worked Wednesday and by this time I was thinking maybe they realized I was just trying to do the right thing and will let it blow over. Well I worked my full shift on Thursday and as I'm getting off, my manager says she needs to speak with me in her office. I pretty much knew it was to take care of this situation, I figured I was probably getting written up so I just had to sign some paperwork and whatever else comes with it. When I get there, she tells me that the company decided to fire me. I definetly didn't see that coming. I figured if they wanted to fire me they would have done it a week ago.

I realize that I did something wrong, but I believe that I was doing something right considering the circumstances. If I would have driven home, gotten in a major accident and possibly killed someone, that would have been way worse for the casino in terms of liability and publicity. I saved them from taking that chance and this is how I'm thanked. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do at this point. I'd like to get some other opinions first. I really like this job, otherwise I wouldn't fight to try and keep it.

KSPD · #2 09-16-2006, 10:26 AM

Was it wrong? maybe. Should you fight it? maybe... but you're up against a casino which also means...

Will you win? Not a chance in hell.

guids · #3 09-16-2006, 10:29 AM

Yes, you should have been fired, being intoxicated at your workplace, is iffy, but doing something you know to be wrong (being in the back of the house), ecspecially at a place like a casino w/ so many regulations is enough to deserve the consequences.

Coffee · #4 09-16-2006, 10:31 AM

So...to recap...you got off work, got drunk at the place you work, then wandered back into a restricted area.

What it sounds like is that they wanted to fire you from the get-go, but your manager probably fought them as hard as she could. Going back there sounds like you violated a fairly substantial protocol, and it tied everyone's hands when you did it.

That said, going to the human resources department couldn't hurt, because it's not like you were incompetent or stealing or something(I'm assuming). But, I wouldn't get your hopes up, because if Mississippi is an at-will state, and you weren't on a contract basis(which I'm guessing you weren't), then they don't need a reason to fire you.

DcifrThs · #5 09-16-2006, 10:31 AM

they didn't fire you for what you did.

they fired you for what you might do in the future.

Barron

Powder · #6 09-16-2006, 10:35 AM

[ QUOTE ]
...because if Mississippi is an at-will state

[/ QUOTE ]
My attorney says this is unfortunately the case.

samjjones · #7 09-16-2006, 10:51 AM

Not sure how you can contest this. You violated a major rule by going in an employees only area in a casino while off-duty. I agree with DcifrThs that this is more about what you may do in the future, rather than punishment for this act.

captZEEbo · #8 09-16-2006, 11:14 AM

[ QUOTE ]
If I would have driven home, gotten in a major accident and possibly killed someone, that would have been way worse for the casino in terms of liability and publicity.

[/ QUOTE ]WTF? You act like you're the victim here and had no options. You COULD have just called a cab right away.

funkymunky · #9 09-16-2006, 11:39 AM

How is the casino responsible for getting your drunk ass home? It sounds like you could've taken a ride home, if you weren't eating and chatting in the restaurant, and/or sleeping.

Powder · #10 09-16-2006, 12:21 PM

Actually I already said there were other options, I just wasn't in a state of mind to see them at the time. See, up there, yup there it is. And yes I could have called a cab at any time, but when is "right away?" At the point where I already assumed I had a ride home or at the point where I was confused as to what was going on? Oh you make it sound so simple.