#98 Summary Discharge: Insubordination (Inappropriate and Undermining Behavior)
Staff accountant who received prior disciplinary notices, including a recent written warning for refusing to speak with his supervisor or his coworkers, blows up and sends a derogatory email to all members of his department and senior management regarding his perception of his supervisor’s ineptness.
March 14, 2017
Ronald Mack
125 South Rockland Court
Newark, NJ 07103
Dear Mr. Mack,
Effective today, your employment as staff accountant with our organization is terminated. Enclosed you will find a check for wages through today and any accrued and unused vacation and holiday pay due you. Your employment is being terminated for the following reasons:
• Insubordination
• Disruption of the business operations of the company and particularly of the Finance Department via your email to the executive staff and every member of the Finance Department regarding your perception of your supervisor’s lack of abilities and talents
• Making unfounded and inappropriate allegations against your supervisor13
You will be notified in a separate letter from the Human Resources Department of your COBRA rights and eligibility. If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Joanne Rawlinson
Vice President, Human Resources
13 A special note regarding interpretations by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in regard to employee conduct: The NLRB as of the time of this writing is exercising extreme discretion in protecting workers’ rights to “protected, concerted activity.” This may include complaining about supervisors’ communication styles and abilities and, absent physical threats, the NLRB has been giving employees substantial leeway at the expense of a company’s right to maintain order and respect. When in doubt about terminating a worker for maligning his supervisor, be sure to check with qualified legal counsel.