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Screwed by Mediacom

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Buck4life1972

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I worked for Mediacom Cable Company in Des Moines, IA until recently when I received a certified letter that I was being let go. This was a complete shocker to me since I was out on Workers Compensation because of an accident I had working for them--at no fault of my own I might add. I was just doing my routine job of downgrading a customer's service by placing a trap on the line (filter that takes away video yet keeps internet frequency flowing through) when upon decending my ladder--it shifted suddenly to the left and I fell approximately 20 feet! I broke both of my legs and shattered both of my heels, and dislocated both ankles--one was a compound fracture (left) and on the other leg I broke my Tibia and it had to be held in place with External Fixators which is technical for bolts through the shin and heels--OUCH! I was hospitalized for 41 days and I had 4 surgeries on the right leg in order to get it back where it could be semi-normal. I can't explain how painful the whole process was, but it was and is an experience that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy (except maybe Mediacom). Anyway, throughout most of my hospital stay I got visits from various supervisors and Mediacom "bigwigs" --all of them telling me to just get well and that no matter what, there would be a job waiting for me when I was able to return. Three months later while recovering at home (the accident was on 9/6/06) I receive a certified letter that I no longer have a job because I have not been able to perform any kind of job for them per my doctor's orders and I have already been out for "longer than anyone that has had an accident with the company before without at least doing phone work or something, so we've decided to replace your position."
Now, I want to know what you think about this crap. I now have to look for a job, BUT I can't even drive my car or for that matter walk! My doctor sent a fax stating that I could not do anything until the first of the year due to my strict regimen of rehab this month--but they are incapable of understanding/sympathizing/empathizing. I have sought council of a lawyer, but it appears the law does not stop this from happening. Any advice would be helpful.
Thank you:( :osu:
Buck4life1972
It's Gator Hunting Season
 
This is when the term "Right to Work State" sounds cruelly twisted, in a Dickensian Bleak House manner. There is nothing right with this type of treatment, let alone at this time of year, when your own doctor says you cannot yet work. It is simply vile and beneath contempt.

There is a gap which exists between the stated intent of "Right to Work" (job transportabilty / portability for the individual) and the actual implementation of the law by many companies, which amounts to "Fire at Will."
 
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The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) grants a 12 week period during which time your job is fully protected. So you have no protection under FMLA as of 12/6/06.

The questions I would ask are:

How long had you been working for them before the accident?

Are you qualified to do any other job for them?

Are you willing to do any other job for them?

All in all, I think they did you wrong by not offering you a position that would grant you a place to sit (or use a wheel chair if need be) and still be of benefit to the company. The supervisors stopping by and repeatedly assuring you your position was safe may have been sincere and the decision to let you go came from way above them. Mediacom isn't exactly a small company.

Letting you go just days before Christmas is though is a low blow.

What if you can't ever do the job you were doing again?

Just get better and then find a new employer. In the meantime, apply for disability to pay the bills as much as you can.

But, if I were you in this situation (and after a few shots of tequila and six pack) I'd write a little letter to the local paper's editor and let them know about Mediacom's handling of your situation.

Good luck.
 
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Ok, so what--I only worked there since January 9--there is a little thing called ethics--I can't think of a more unethical way to treat your employees. Plus I was going to be cleared to do at least pre-calls to customers at the start of the new year--and they couldn't wait!? Furthermore, I was never told about there being a "time limit" on my recovery--how can you gauge that anyway?
 
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Varkala%20fisherman.jpg

http://members.kabsi.at/pmaster/Indien%202004/thumbs/Varkala%20fisherman.jpg
 
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tibor75;683812; said:
Companies unethical? wow...shocking...

Employers can typically fire employees anytime, anywhere, for any reason. Deal with it.
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Fair enough.
Perhaps the best means for the majority, who work for others, to deal with this is to prevail on their elected representatives to change the law that claims Right to Work, when in truth it all too often results in Fire at Will.
 
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Fair enough.
Perhaps the best means for the majority, who work for others, to deal with this is to prevail on their elected representatives to change the law that claims Right to Work, when in truth it all too often results in Fire at Will.
Click to expand...

Yep, which is a perfectly good way to waste your time, because it will effect nothing, because politics are a bunch of bullshit :biggrin:
 
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