I have been working at Amazon for 2 years 5 months, I missed no more then 2 weeks 3 at the most and that’s pushing it of work or being absent. Edd spoke to #Amazon and they said that I had been absent to much and I had a negative upt balance and being it’s a policy violation. They denied my unemployment however they claim that safety is a priority and they don’t like people falling asleep around metal and machinery, this is some of the reasons why I didn’t go in, but safety is only up to their standard and is only half assed, they only consider safety to be an issue when it’s good enough to be in their eyes, they say that safety is their priority over productivity, I call BS! Productivity and rate is priority, you don’t make rate you will eventually get a write up and fired. Rate for packing in pack singles is 108 U.P.H. (units per hour). Which is packing about 3 packages in a minute. Then A.F.E. 1 and 2 rate is about 280 U.P.H. I was one of many great packers that never talked or stood around like most of the people there. There was always someone having to be told to stop talking or to stop standing around everyday. I also had school accommodations and school visitation that allows me to leave early but I also got called in to go over the same issues over and over then theres vto volunteer time off and the biggest is I have doctors notes. does anyone think I have a chance to fight the denial. I’m angry and Amazon gets away with a lot of crap. When I was employed there I noticed that they don’t keep any paper trail from what I could see. There was a point of time I couldn’t work in a certain department because I had become claustrophobic and had seen a doctor to confirm it and was given a Doctors to keep me out of there. They submitted the Doctors note and had it in their computer. A while later they tried putting me back in there and I told them that I can go in there because of being claustrophobic and that I have accommodations they said well we don’t have no Doctors note for you, I said there use to be what happened to it, did hr get a rid of it and they didn’t say anything, I said maybe you guys need to start having a filing system of paper work instead of destroying important paper work, still no comment. When they terminated me they also didn’t have me sign any paperwork stating I was let go and I’m not sure if that matters or not? any opinions would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance.
Have you attempted to Contact your Department of Labor, yet?
Sounds like a lot of crap as well. I am sorry that I do not have much information on this. Keep going on.
Dear Serena, Definitely appeal the denial . These days most unemployment cases are denied upfront . Most folks give up and the government and the employer get a pass. First of all, to qualify for unemployment you must have worked at least 3 quarters straight . That includes any time off for sickness or vacation . Second , you must appeal but you need to stick to the facts and leave out your opinions and feelings . You say you had a doctor’s note . I’m not surprised they “misplaced “ it. If in fact , it was submitted have your doctor issue a copy of it and if you need to , request a copy of the medical notes for the day you were seen and diagnosed . If you have a witness that was present and is willing to vouch for your account of events , have them ready . Sometimes an appeal is approved just from the online submission , other times a judge or magistrate conference calls the parties involved and holds the hearing over the phone . You will get advanced notice of this call. Have your witness present . Send in any written evidence ahead of hearing date . In the future please keep a copy of your doctor notes even if it’s just a snapshot with your phone and if you really want to be careful , ask for a signed receipt for everything you ever submit to HR . Most employers these days fight unemployment claims to avoid paying out. However , you lose nothing but a little time and effort by appealing and hopefully proving your case . If the facts are verifiable, the appeal can be approved and you can get your money . Sometimes you can even get some retroactive pay from the date of application. I once applied , got denied , appealed , won the appeal , then the employer appealed the appeal decision and I lost in the end but I got to keep what they paid me during the appeals . As you can see , sometimes the employer appeals and appeals too. For me, it was worth it. I also helped a friend who was fired to appeal a denial and he won the appeal first time around . Like I said , stick to the facts , that’s what matters . Finally , consider filing a complaint with the EEOC and let the employer know so they can see you mean business . You can even hire an attorney if you want . Anyway, your local workforce office or unemployment office can answer questions regarding your state’s procedures. Sometimes the feds extend benefits past the 6 months . Just remember that a condition of receiving unemployment benefits is that you have to look for work weekly and submit proof of that . Find out your state’s requirements. Some states require 3 job searches a week while others require more . And please remember to keep copies of all job searches because if it gets “misplaced “ or lost due to system error or server crashing etc. you still have hard copy proof . I don’t recommend amazon as an employer to anyone . They have a bad reputation as an employer . Next time you look for work , research the company first including the work culture , ratings , financial stability , common HR practices, and any pattern of lay-off. You can do this by searching their website, but also the BBB history of complaints as well as online reviews from job search sites or google finds. In the end, unemployment benefits are temporary and never pay enough to live on. But it can help while you look for a better job . Good luck and stay positive, everything happens for a reason . You can’t get the better job unless you leave or get fired from the last one so this may have been God’s way of moving you into your next assignment . A blessing in disguise . Learn about your rights as an employee from the EEOC as well as the department of labor and don’t let this happen to you again. Employers take advantage of our ignorance. An informed employee gets more respect . I was threatened with Termination once because my children had pneumonia and I had to be out . Employer said I had too many “problems “ and That she would deny unemployment. I told her , you mean I have too many “children “ and go ahead and deny it , I will appeal and win because I have proof from the pediatrician, the pharmacy and their schools and my other relatives that they children were sick one after the other with pneumonia . She changed her tune . Know the law and know your rights .
I worked at amazon as well. I got hurt there and when I went to HR they gave me some papers to give to the dr and told me to wait for someone to call me. After 3 weeks no one called so I went in and talked to HR again!!! They said I just had to “sit tight and wait, they will call”. WELP! They never did and I got let go....I got fired for doing what THEY told me to do. Then a year later I tried to reapply and I’m not allowed to...only for seasonal work. That place is a nightmare!
Your doctor have copy's of what they have given you right fight it it is mot going to hurt you good luck
You should have given them a copy of your doctors note.. I personally make sure they know they are getting a copy only... if you can your doctor should have the note on file at the office get a copy of it.. and if your condition stops you from most employment opportunities.. you might want to talk to a lawyer.. at most your first consultation is free... just ask.. you might want to look into therapy for your condition.. or even check into social security.. but I know that this work world can be difficult.. and your not a perfect fit for every job. Find work that you actually enjoy and you will find that you would rather be at work than anywhere else. My current employment is busy then slow.. right now real slow. I've worked a lot of crapy jobs.. but if you want a better job I would definitely look into bettering your self with education. Ed2Go is good for online classes of many different educational programs.. and don't be affraid to ask you state for help such as medicaid and food stamps those programs should get you into programs to help you find a job that you are more suited for. But once unemployment has denied you then it's really difficult to get it approved but don't put your life on hold waiting on unemployment.
Fight it. You can take it out of UI, but you have to go through the review board whose members are incompetant. After the review board denies you, you submit it to the Court of Appeals which is a state court and out side of employer friendly UI. That's where I'm at right now after having my rights of privacy violated by unemploymemt and 4 judges guilty of judicial misconduct and violating my rights for a fair and impartial hearing and review board. I'm going on 9 months fighting this BS.
So there are a few things. You mentioned. I wrote on each point:
" I’ve been at Amazon for 2 years 5 months and I missed less than a month of work or being absent"
The specifics of what you mean can make a big difference. Were they callouts? Unplanned absences? Did you follow the policy to call out each time? Because even 10 callouts a year can be considered excessive by a lienant companies standard. Did you miss a large portion at one time? So missing 30 day in less then two and a half years can be considered excessive.
"That is some of the reasons I didn’t go in, along with having school accommodations and school visitation that allows me to leave early"
Having an actual documented accommodation is very important. You weren't specific, but did Amazon have this accomodation on file in HR? If you filed an actual accommodation and that was approved then you would be protected within the parameters of that filing. If you have the approved paperwork that could be ammo for an appeal. If you have not gotten the accomodation approved unfortunately it's not an accommodation.
"biggest is I have doctors notes"
The simple fact of having a doctor's note doesn't mean a company can not hold an employee accountable for the attendance policy. It can literally say "excuse person from work for 30 days" it means nothing without an accommodation request or FMLA filing thru HR(see above). While doctors notes help when you miss shifts consecutively for a contagious illness. The notes would grant you back to work. But extended time off needs to be done thru HR, and an accommodation request.
Lastly,
"they claim that safety is a priority and they don’t like people falling asleep around metal and machinery but safety is only up to their standard and is only half assed"
Have you brought this to anyone's attention? Sounding the horn after termination doesn't always sit well after the fact. While it's a concern that can be noted. It's not something relevant to grant you unemployment. You may have a legal standing ground if you had demonstrated a pattern of bringing unsafe practice to your supervisor and they failed time and time again to correct. Further you'd have to be able to tie that and your termination together.
Soooooo.... Without knowing specifics I can only speculate. It appears you had taken extended time for whatever reason and Amazon didn't wait around for you. You may believe that is unfair, but if you had failed to follow to laws that govern leave and accommodation request. You had set yourself up to be unprotected. Being fired doesn't guarantee you benefits. It's insurance and the pennies coming out of your check are a premium.
If you have any documentation from any supervisor during times you were out giving you the impression the time out was ok, it might help.
In the end it cant hurt to appeal and get the case another look. Still look for work tho in the interim. Good luck!
I wish i was a boss to hire you.Dont give up.I feel the one for you only needs to know whou and where.Keep on the foot work jacob
Can you get unemployment for negative UPT?