Hmm. The case might have got tossed because of the sketchy circumstances with the guy who dimed him out

But even if he was acquitted or not tried you can normally still fire someone for missing work over something like this...presumably he was absent for a while without bail.

 

You can?

Not trying to stray away from this evenings circlejerk but do you think that's right?

 

I just read in our HR provided training and standards of conduct that sitting in jail is counted as AWOL time (yes - they actually still use that term). I'm not sure if the first order penalty is removal, but it was certainly possible by the third time.

 

My current employer will fire you for missing work if you are in jail. It's not uncommon.

Heck, they tried to fire a guy who was in the hospital because hit a bear on the way to work.

 

I bet that went over well. I'd never want to work for any organization that made those kinds of decisions or treated people like that.

 

Why do you think I've been trying to get a new job?

I've had 4 days off since October, on duty 12-18 hours day.

And no, none of them were Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years.

 

Sad part is this company used to be run by a very famous pilot.

Sadly, Mr. Hughes has been dead for a very long time.

 

Absolutely, and I have...twice.

Unless there are some union provisions to the contrary you are not obligated to give someone an unplanned, spur-of-the-moment LOA because they somehow ended up in jail. It's not like jury or military duty...you can simply fire them for not coming to work after X number of days (like anyone else who no-showed).

There is a certain segment of society who have a bail-bondsmen on speed-dial, but I always held my employees to a higher standard of behavior. You can also easily fire someone (caveat for possible union provisions) who brings public discredit on the company...murder, rape, kidnapping, child sex abuse, etc all meet that standard in the eyes of a reasonable person. You can expect your employees to conduct their private lives in such a manner as to avoid these sorts of legal entanglements. Private behavior is their business but once it hits the police blotter and local news it's no longer private.

 

Ok, what about wrongful imprisonment, detaining and the such?

 

Innocent until proven guilty must not exist in the corporate world. I know I'm young but that doesn't sound right.