why don't people ever get fired?

[Babs]

We have this woman in an autism classroom at the school where I work. Her attendance this year (at best) has been 80%. Maybe 75%. As a consequence of her last-minute absence today, the classroom was short-staffed and a kid in the class got hurt. Apparently her excessive absenteeism has gone like this on for years. How can she still have a job? You'd think they'd get rid of her for liability's sake if nothing else.

I hear people all the time (usually complaining about co-workers) tell me, "it's nearly impossible to fire anybody anymore." Why??

[CJF]

eh. I fire people all the time.

[Eddie]

People can get fired at my place of work too.

They have a chance to fix their issues and make it work, if it doesn't they are sent on their way.

[Babs]

I'm actually morbidly curious to see if she still has a job on Monday. You'd think a kid getting hurt would be the proverbial nail in the vocational coffin.

[beelzebabette]

I'm actually morbidly curious to see if she still has a job on Monday. You'd think a kid getting hurt would be the proverbial nail in the vocational coffin.

Given where you work, I expect it will still depend on her reason for the absence (sickness vs laziness).

[il Padrino Ute]

We have this woman in an autism classroom at the school where I work. Her attendance this year (at best) has been 80%. Maybe 75%. As a consequence of her last-minute absence today, the classroom was short-staffed and a kid in the class got hurt. Apparently her excessive absenteeism has gone like this on for years. How can she still have a job? You'd think they'd get rid of her for liability's sake if nothing else.

I hear people all the time (usually complaining about co-workers) tell me, "it's nearly impossible to fire anybody anymore." Why??

Is she a member of the teachers union?

[FN Phat]

Unfortunately I fire about 2-3 people per month. It used to effect me but I am becoming numb to it now and my boss sends people to me to discipline and terminate.

[Babs]

Is she a member of the teachers union?

we're not a union district.

[il Padrino Ute]

we're not a union district.

Perhaps she's a bully and people are afraid of her?

The principal shouldn't accept such laziness, especially in that classroom. The threat of a lawsuit just might get her fired now.

[falafel]

we're not a union district.

But its still the school district. Seems like its much harder to fire government employees than public sector employees.

[beefytee]

But its still the school district. Seems like its much harder to fire government employees than public sector employees.

Forgive the ignorance.

What is the difference between government employees and public sector employees?

[SeattleUte]

We have this woman in an autism classroom at the school where I work. Her attendance this year (at best) has been 80%. Maybe 75%. As a consequence of her last-minute absence today, the classroom was short-staffed and a kid in the class got hurt. Apparently her excessive absenteeism has gone like this on for years. How can she still have a job? You'd think they'd get rid of her for liability's sake if nothing else.

I hear people all the time (usually complaining about co-workers) tell me, "it's nearly impossible to fire anybody anymore." Why??

we fire people.

[BigFatMeanie]

Forgive the ignorance.

What is the difference between government employees and public sector employees?

Some possible reasons:

1. Government employees are unionized in a higher percentage than private workforce employees.

2. States put specific policies in place to make firing government employees more difficult. The idea is that this is a protection to the taxpayer as otherwise you could possibly get a firing/hiring surge with every election result. It's designed to make the rank and file government employee base more immune to the ever-changing political winds. I don't know if it really works that well or not but many states specifically craft regulations on government employees for this reason.

[beelzebabette]

1. Government employees are unionized in a higher percentage than private workforce employees.

I think he was just asking if falafalalel meant private sector rather than public sector.

[John McClain]

Federal employees have certain employment rights under Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, so they generally can't be fired without following certain steps. Many states have similar statutes for their employees, as do many school districts. Most private sector employers will take advantage of the employment at will doctrine if their state allows it. I advise my private sector employer clients to exercise caution and wisdom, but inform them that generally, they can fire people so long as they don't violate the law or public policy. Conversely, I represent federal employees who have been fired or are about to be fired with some frequency because the law provides rights to these employees that private sector employees just don't have.