Suspension/Resignation in lieu of termination
 

Years ago, I got suspended. Later was offered resign or be terminated; the Union was confident I would get my job back saying I can fight it, but the termination would go on the PRIA file. I had big child custody and divorce issues that would not be resolved while flying. I got custody of my Son, resigned and went back to a prior career field. Many years later, my Son graduates soon and I want to get back into part 121 work. The PRIA file is clean. I've been invited back to fly for former employer that threatened termination if I did not resign. I've been upfront with them about how I left, they do not care about the resignation and are offering a bonus to come back; aside from getting some recent 121 time, I'm wary of going back to that bad experience.

Here is the question:
If asked "have you ever been suspended or resigned in lieu of being terminated?"
Answering Yes will create questions; acting contrite and saying "I made mistakes and I learned from the experience" would be a straight up lie.

What I learned was keep your head down, don't call the CP office trying to fix problems, instead call the Union ProStan committee and walk away; if you ever have to go to a hearing, bring your own Labor Law attorney (on your own dime) to hold the Company and Union Attorney's feet to the fire.

Old history now, but the question is how to answer "ever been suspended or resigned in lieu of termination?" Just say "no" and move on down the road? Or is this something to be concerned about. I don't like giving a misleading answer, but I do not see any upside to self disclosing what is likely long forgotten history. In the end it was a resignation.

Oh yeah, asking for a friend. :cool:

So you are asking should you lie? Because in my view there is only one answer to that question that is the truth, and the other is a lie. Some people dont see it the same way, but I see it as in everything you do, tell the truth and explain your side of the story. That is better than lying and just saying no hoping that it will just go away. If I was hiring I would prefer the acknowledgment of the event and explanation, rather than a lie saying it didn't happen.

But to each his own.

Be honest. If you did what you believe is right, you should have no problem explaining it to a hiring board. The fact that your old company is willing to rehire you now helps.

If you say NO.. and by some strange happenstance the company questions you about the true facts... you could be done.

Get caught lying= 99.9% chance of termination

Tell truth= 75/25 you get hired

Which are better odds to you?

You need to answer honestly, because if you get caught it's non-recoverable... you got fired from a 121 carrier, and then got fired from a second 121 carrier for lying about the first one... nobody would touch you, at least nobody you'd actually want to work for.

But if you resumed your career at the same airline which terminated you, that will do a lot to mitigate the circumstances. Having a major life issue at the time is also mitigating, you should be fine in the long run although yes to that box will delay your getting called by majors.

My vote is with rickair7777. Going back to the same employer would go a long way to mitigating the situation.

You might even try asking for a letter clarifying the conditions under which you left in the first place. A letter saying that you resigned and were in a status "OK to rehire" would, I think, wipe out any muddy history.