Q: Is it legal for an employer to fire a worker for catching covid and potentially exposing people on accident?
This is in Michigan. My friend was last in work on Friday and had symptoms starting Sunday the. called into work on Monday and hasn’t gone in since the Friday she left. She was fired on Tuesday for the reasons being “You caught covid and potentially exposed me and my family” they terminated her for potentially exposing them even though she in no way had control over catching covid. She didn’t go into work when she developed symptoms. This cannot be legal. she doesn’t want her job back at this point but is there anything that can be done?
A: I am sorry to hear about this situation. It is impossible to answer without more details. Without knowing all the details, At-will employment means an employer can fire a person at any time for any reason except an illegal one. There are numerous conflicting policies/laws at play, including protections for missing work because of Covid. I would tell her to seek out counsel from a local employment attorney, if for nothing else but a free consultation.
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