I’m hoping that The Herald and reporter Jim Haley will stay on top of the story that appeared in Sunday’s edition regarding the claim filed by Sherree Marler (“Former court employee files claim”). Certainly there’s much more to tell and will likely be revealed in the coming weeks, particularly if this matter ends in a lawsuit. Any senior management or business owner knows, or should know, that short of criminal activity or frequent unexcused absences, in today’s 21st century working world the only way to rid yourself of an undesirable employee is to convince them that quitting their position is the “best option.” This is in contrast to firing or immediate dismissal of an employee without cause. The latter, even though supported by law, more often turns into a legal tangle that will end up in court and may not be concluded for months or even years.
Getting fired versus voluntarily leaving a job is as different as night and day should it become a legal issue. Try collecting unemployment insurance as a first step and you’ll get an idea of what you’re in for if you choose to escalate your grievance. Marler was demoted, a common first stage that many managers begin with to start a process that hopefully will convince an employee that they have little or no future at their company. After 26 years on the job and managing nearly as many employees it seems a bit odd that Marler just wasn’t working out. Steve Brown is wrong about one thing. A demotion often is a termination when the employee terminates themself as a result.
Rex Jennings
Snohomish
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