Was I fired for not signing a write up slip because the write up or for insubordination?

by Anonymous

A few days ago I was running reports for my job. One of the reports needed to be faxed to another local business.

On this particular night the fax machine was not working properly and it was assumed that it was out of ink. Three employees, myself included, searched for an ink cartridge and we were unable to find one. I left a note for my manager telling her that the report had not gotten faxed because the fax machine was out of ink and we couldn't find more cartridges.

The next night when I arrived at work another one of my bosses said that she had something for me to sign and it was a write up notice stating that I should have replaced the ink cartridge in the fax machine or used the other fax machine (which is actually a copier that has a fax machine on it that we have not been trained to use). I told my manager that this was a stupid reason to write me up considering I had told the other boss that we couldn't find the ink cartridges and proceeded to tear up the write up and give it back to my manager.

The next day a third manager called me and asked me what happened the night before and when I explained what happened she tells me that because of this situation I am being let go.


Hi Anonymous,

So, instead of signing the write-up and documenting on the write-up why you felt the write up was unjustified, you tore it up and handed it back to the manager and the next day you were fired for an actual and real act of insubordination? You do see the problem here...right?

I don't even understand the assumption that a fax machine is not working because of an ink cartridge. An ink cartridge and paper is only needed for the transmittal verification.