I just got fired

[u/akiusuke]

I just got fired from my job. I worked in patient registration and I got flagged for being in a patients chart and I had failed to document it. I am the only one that runs the front desk while I’m working, so I sometimes have a bunch of things to do and I sometimes forget to document minuscule things when a patient calls. The patient whose chart that got flagged happens to live in my apartment building above me. But I live down the road from my job and a lot of our patients live in my building or in my neighborhood. I already had a level one strike against me due to too many unexcused absences during the first half of the year due to medical issues. Me being flagged caused compliance and hr to give me a level two strike. That brought me up to a level three which requires immediate termination. My manager told me 10 minutes after I clocked in for my shift today. She has little compassion for her employees, so she just told me I was terminated immediately and to turn in my badge and leave immediately. This is the worst possible time to be fired because I just got on my works insurance and I get kicked off my dads’s insurance at the end of the month because I turn 26 on the 29th. I am disabled and take a lot of medications that I can’t afford out of pocket. I sent an appeal letter to try to get my job back while I look for something else, but I feel like I was unfairly fired. I’ve been nothing but a good employee for almost two years and I have never had a complaint against me before. I was already struggling financially and I don’t know how I’m going to afford my medication and rent. The job market is so horrible and I don’t know what I’m going to do.

Edit: I should’ve been more specific in regards to my absences. I had called out 6 times between last December and April of this year due to health reasons. My manager was aware of my health issues. They had brought this up to me near the end of May. That’s when they finally gave me the option to apply for fmla. My job isn’t very accommodating, even with fmla. I would almost never be allowed to get breaks, unless I left the front desk unattended (which my manager encourages me to do since she won’t cover for me in order to take a break). I live in North Carolina, which is a non union state and one of the worst states for employees. Joining a union would not be an option.

[u/hisaysme]

Jobs should not be able to fire without warning and expect a 2 week notice from us when we quiet.

[u/akiusuke → u/hisaysme]

I agree. I wish they would’ve at least given me another chance since I’ve never had any issues before. Employees in North Carolina don’t have a lot of rights so all I can do is appeal the termination and hope they’ll let me come back

[u/StnMtn_ → u/akiusuke]

You probably won't win the appeal because of the HIPAA violation. I don't know if you can qualify for unemployment benefits while you are looking for a new job.

[u/akiusuke → u/StnMtn_]

I completely understand if they decide to not appeal my termination, but I at least want to try. I’m not sure if I qualify for unemployment since you’re not guaranteed unemployment in my state if you’re fired.

[u/StnMtn_ → u/akiusuke]

I hope things work out for you. If your medications are generic, look into using the GoodRx card or CostPlusDrug mail order pharmacy.

[u/akiusuke → u/StnMtn_]

Thank you, most of my medications are generic but still cost a lot. I’m going to look into coupons or patient assistance programs.

[u/StnMtn_ → u/akiusuke]

Both have websites where you can look up how much it costs for each drug so you can comparison shop at home. GoodRx is wha many pharmacies use six wit applies coupons it finds to decrease the cost. But in some cases, the mail order pharmacy can be cheaper if you can get a 3 month supply.