an accident involving fueling the bus I drove for my employer

by Anonymous

I drove a charter tour bus and have to fill it with fuel after every trip. I fueled the bus and accidentally drove off with the pump still in the tank. It could have caused big problems, but didn't. I didn't even know I had done it until my boss called me in and fired me for it with no warning and no second chance. It was obviously something that I would have never done again. I have worked for the company for 15 years without any mistakes. They are now appealing my unemployment benefits.


Hi Anonymous,

Of course they are. That's what employers do.

Did the state find that you were fired for an inadvertent one time error not rising to the level of misconduct?

Because even though the potential for big problems was there .. the employer will have a hard time winning because who would "intentionally" do something like this? In addition, they didn't warn you, they just fired you. I can understand how an employer may have a case for negligence if a person continued to have accidents like this, but one time in 15 years??

Geesh!

Just remember it was a mistake .. not misconduct. Heck, you didn't even know you did it .. until you were fired.