Cough It Up!
This Minden man says he was fired from his job for coughing on a keyboard. Seriously… he says his boss gave him the axe for coughing.
Ivan Wilson says every time he tells somebody what happened, they think he’s joking. He’s not, people! Wilson says he went to work sick because he didn’t want to lose his job. He says the company’s employee advocate told him he didn’t lose his job because he was sick… he lost it because he coughed on a keyboard. I don’t understand the difference.
It’s no secret people are on pins and needles with the whole Swine Flu scare, but where do we draw the line?
While typing this blog.. I’ve heard at least two of my co-workers cough. I’m not freaked out and I’m sure as heck not going to run to my boss and complain. Times are tough and if I thought I had anything to do with somebody losing their job.. it would make me sick.
Under Louisiana law, there’s nothing Wilson can do about his situation. He says he’s going to trust in God and hopefully find another job. I wish him the best.
Does anyone else find this story as strange as I do?
I do, in fact, find it to be a strange story, and I just don’t find it to be credible. This sounds like an excuse to fire him, rather than the real reason. In saying that he went to work sick out of fear of being fired, Mr. Wilson seems to be saying that he was on shaky ground at work anyway. In spite of the Louisiana law cited, Fibrebond might violate federal law if they actually fire someone for being sick.
Chris —
You should do a report about this proposed tax on Internet access…all “for the sake of the children.” Give me a break! Fifteen cents now…30 cents next year? Where will it stop? Let these money- grubbing leaches get their hands on your Internet bill and you’ll never see the end of it. (Just look at the taxes and fees you pay on your phone bill!).
Article:
BATON ROUGE, La. — A 15-cent monthly surcharge should be levied on Internet access across Louisiana to fight online criminal activity, the House voted 81-9 Thursday, over the opposition of Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Rep. Mack “Bodi” White, R-Denham Springs, said he sponsored the bill for Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, to raise money to finance a division in Caldwell’s office that investigates Internet crimes, particularly online sex crimes against children.
The measure would raise $2.4 million a year for Caldwell’s department, according to a financial analysis.
“I don’t think that 15 cents per month is too much to ask for our children’s protection,” said Rep. Simone Champagne, D-Jeanerette.
While White called it a usage fee, opponents called the charge a tax on Internet access. They also have questioned whether it would violate a federal law that prohibits states from taxing Internet services and would be challenged in court.
“Today it’s Internet access. Tomorrow, what’s it going to be? A subscription to DirecTV?” said Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans.
“I don’t think we should start instituting a revenue stream for every criminal element that’s out there,” he added.
The bill heads next to the Senate for debate.
The charge on Internet access would begin in 2010, charged to users on their monthly bill. Public libraries and public schools would be exempt. The dollars would flow into an “Internet Crimes Investigation Fund” for Caldwell’s office to investigate online sex crimes, online child pornography and Internet fraud schemes.
But all the conversation on the House floor centered on sex crimes against children.
“As the anti-tax man, I can’t think of a better fee, tax that we can impose … I don’t know a better use for 15 cents,” said Rep. John Schroder, R-Covington.
Opponents said they wanted to protect Louisiana children, but questioned whether there were other ways to fund the online criminal investigations unit.
“Instead of taxing each and every person, are there alternative sources of funds?” asked Rep. Neil Abramson, D-New Orleans.
The bill presented a conflict for Gov. Jindal, who has repeatedly pushed for tougher penalties against sex offenders but also has opposed any proposal that could be considered a tax increase.
“While we absolutely support cracking down on sex offenders that prey on our children, we’re opposed to raising taxes on the people of Louisiana,” Jindal press secretary Kyle Plotkin said in a statement Thursday.
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I have chronic COPD Chronic Broncitis . I HAVE NEVER SMOKED A DAY IN MY LIFE. YET I HAVE WHAT MOST PEOPLE REFER TO A SMOKERS HACK. I cough alot in morning espically. THANK GOD everyone at my work knows that I have this and they know you cant catch anything from my coughing and co workers are always laughing saying you going to cough up a lung one of these day. I feel very lucky that everyone does not even think anything about it when I have a couching spell. I think there is more to the story and that his boss just had it in for him and wanted to get rid of him. I think that it is a very poor excuse they used to get rid of him. IS THERE A LAW IN LOUISIANA THAT SAYS IF YOU COUGH ON KEYBOARD THAT YOU GET FIRED…… IF THERE IS IT NEEDS TO BE GOTTEN RID OF….. THE CONDITION I HAVE IS WHY I WISH YOU COULD FIND THE WILL POWER TO QUIT SMOKING SO YOU WILL NOT END UP WITH COPD CHRONIC BRONCITIUS WHICH OVER 90 PERCENT OF SMOKERS END UP WITH AND TRUST ME IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD WISH ON YOUR WORST ENEMY
Troy, the law they are talking about is the “at will” law. Employment in Louisiana is considered to be “at will”, and can be ended by either the employer or the employee at any time for any reason, or no reason at all. A contract for employment, if there is one, can be enforced, and there are federal employment laws which can be enforced. The Americans With Disabilities Act would probably protect you from being fired for the condition which you described. There is also federal protection from age discrimination, so the employers call it “early retirement” and pay the older workers to leave.
I am with those who think that Mr. Wilson may not be telling the whole story. It would be interesting to hear the company’s side of it. But I guess it is fair to assume they are unreasonable as long as they will not comment.
All they have to do is use a clorox wipe, or any store brand, and wipe off the stupid keyboard. We clean our own, with no one but us using it, and it should be a habit at a workplace with more than one user.
I think they just wanted an excuse to fire someone that day!
I worked with this man at Clement Industries. Anything for 5 minutes of fame. Lazy is the first word that comes to mind when thinking of his work ethic. Sorry, but that is just one side of the story. I like how people take stories and run with them. Sorry Ivan, you are just lazy. You may show up to work everyday, but production is what counts. Lazy people do not produce.
Very strange indeed, But you are right under the state law there is nothing he can do but also under federal law he should have certain benefits that he is entitled to. My understanding is that fed laws overrule stae anytime
Obama won wheres my free stuff…..
“As the anti-tax man, I can’t think of a better fee, tax that we can impose … I don’t know a better use for 15 cents,” said Rep. John Schroder, R-Covington.
these people are the problem with America. If you vote for any of these people. You’re outta your mind, and also part of the problem.
“As the anti-tax man, I can’t think of a better fee, tax that we can impose … I don’t know a better use for 15 cents,” said Rep. John Schroder, R-Covington.
If you vote for people like the above, you’re outta your mind, and also part of the problem with America.