Has anyone heard of a situation where an employee was terminated for refusing to be promoted?

Thanks. I may turn this into an ADA suit if they carry this out. I have 27 years of consistently superior performance as a research engineer. I have no "people skills" at all, was recently diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. My Department Head is retiring and I was informed by memo that I am being appointed his successor. No consultation, no interview, no application process. Never even asked me if I was interested, I would have said "no". The company is a government contractor, we are covered by a union contract but the contract is silent in this area. Despite my qualifications and performance record it would be difficult at my age (53) to get another position at anywhere near my present salary.

• Report

by Stranger in a Strange Land on November 15th, 2009

+3

• Report

by Stranger in a Strange Land on November 15th, 2009

If our union won't take on the case, I may be forced to become an incompetent Department Head until I can take early retirement in a bit less than two years time. What a stinking way to end a career! Of course the litigation, if the union decides to take in on, would probably last longer than that anyway.

• Report

by Stranger in a Strange Land on November 15th, 2009

Well. . . .unless you have an "employment contract" that "spells-out" in specificity how to "deal" with this type of situation and/or laws of YOUR state, I'd just "deal with it", do the best you can in your NEW position, and try to find the "spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down"! I'm thinking you make a "pretty good" salary and,therefore, try to focus on THAT, Warrior 11. You MUST be fairly proficient in your area of expertise, so you CAN'T be all "that" bad! ^_- !!!!

• Report

by Millenium - The Mysterious M. . . GONE! on November 15th, 2009

I know how to do my present job very proficiently, but it has nothing to do with people. The union hasn't been able to get this into the contract, even though this has happened to others.

• Report

by Stranger in a Strange Land on November 15th, 2009

Looks like my retirement will just have to be ten years earlier than I had planned.I can't stand the idea of doing a job badly, but can't afford to quit. Just have to be quietly incompetent for the next 22 months. Peter Principle in action.This company is run by idiots, only government contracts keep it afloat.

• Report

by Stranger in a Strange Land on November 15th, 2009

The union believes that the company does this to get rid of older, higher-paid workers and get around the age-discrimination laws. Force someone into a job that they have no aptitude for, then fire them for incompetence when they can't do the job.

• Report

by Stranger in a Strange Land on November 15th, 2009

Thanks +3 The same assinine reasoning, "up or out".

• Report

by Stranger in a Strange Land on November 15th, 2009

They just cannot comprehend that someone is happy and productive where they are. In your case,of course,you could intentionally fail the test. I was never asked, interviewed or anything. Just received a memo appointing me as Department Head upon the retirement of the present Head. Trying to get our union to litigate this as an ADA case, since I have Aspergers Syndrome and am completely unsuited to work involving "people skills".

• Report

by Stranger in a Strange Land on November 15th, 2009