Q: Can my employer terminate me for following the stay at home executive order (MI)?
I work in Wayne County, MI; one of the hardest hit counties in Michigan with COVID-19, back in March my Manager and all my co-workers took a leave of absense do to the Pandemic. My stores a retail store and deemed a non essential business. My main manager said that the companies owner has let me go (fired me) on April 3rd. The executive order during that time stated that an employer cannot punish or retaliate against an employee for following the Stay-at-Home order issued by the governor.
Would this form of termination fall under "wrongful termination"? Or is there more to it then that? My employer never asked me back to work but never directed contacted me that I'm fired, but my main manager has texts messages saying so, please help, my employer has somehow stopped my ability to collect unemployment.
A: You will need to appeal the UIA's decision. What likely happened is that your employer reported to UIA that you were fired for misconduct or something like that, which would make you ineligible for unemployment. That agency can appoint a representative for you if you wish or you can retain an attorney.
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