This is something you need to ask of a lawyer.
You already have that... so it has to be more. What are the chances of you getting a lot more? Also, what are the state laws? In Texas, they can fire you for not cleaning the toilets if they ask you and you refuse... it is a 'right to work state'... it is not against a federal law..
I have all my phone info as well as witness (2 of them) to what was said. You are correct about not the normal way of communication. He uses his blackberry to email everyone and again he never, ever called me on my cell phone or home phone. He didn't have my personnel cell number and got it from a friend and co-worker who quickly pointed out that my phone rings in both buildings I work in and didn't feel comfortable giving my cell number, but did. Since I will not see the severance package until mid May I have no clue what the Insurance coverage is. I believe its the same as what I have now but its free for ~15 months. As far as my BOSS goes. I found out how bad he really was by seeing the aftermath of the cuts in our department and how the Management was saved and actually increased. Talk about BS, they changed Titles of some Managers put them in the labs as team leaders with the same pay and they will do squat. Even Director level Managers were saved in various ways with demotions and then they cut the lower level workers. Most of the workers were over 50 that were let go with a few token younger workers.Just in passing - your boss is SLIME! That bit about calling you on your cell phone. Ugh. I assume you didn't delete the incoming calls record - it might be useful to prove that the only incoming call from him was that day - that this was not the normal way you communicated. How truly disgusting. Maybe this will turn out to be a good thing. I assume you got COBRA for 18 months - I think that's a federal mandate - so you should have that much time to figure out health insurance.
Let me start with the bitter part. I haven't been bitter up to the part I lost my job. Please understand that the company has been in a buy and cut mode since Warner Lambert company was bought. The people have been feeling the pressure of Forced Distribution, Bar has been raised (BS), etc for years and at least in my part of the company I know many people in various departments, groups, etc that feel the same as me about the company. It is not easy to walk away from a job just because you feel bitter/depressed about whats going and as you said (opportunity to move on and get a better life) remember no jobs or lack of jobs in my area for the skill sets I have. I can't move to another state or community for various reasons at this time, so I'm stuck until I re-invent myself. My Boss in all my 1 on 1 meetings about every two weeks always said and I quote: You are not going anywhere (referring to being lay-ed off) Seeing that I worked there for so many years I got to know many, many people. We generally shared our performance with each other etc. My performance is STELLAR and I repeat I can and always can out produce any worker in our group and I am not being bias by saying it. It can be proven by the tracking medics we have. I know Managers who were totally shocked at what had happen to them and seeing it was a demotion, and stated their pay will at least be the same. The excuse I was told the upper management used is to give the demoted or managers placed in positions where they have no experience is to give them more breath in the company. ( my thoughts is they know some will be pissed and leave on there own) I forgot to comment on number of layoffs. They are quietly doing them in small groups to circumvent the state rules of disclosure. They refuse to tell the media on what numbers are leaving. We were told in meetings early on that it was going to be like last years cuts 15% across the board which it was not.
