'Have we really been reduced to this?': Boss fires worker after he breaks his wrist on his own time, coworkers lament their replaceability

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Mar 16, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Getting fired from a job is one of the most disheartening things you can go through as an adult. Whether you've been laid off or let go for a specific reason, it can be a real blow to the ego. Not to mention, it might put your immediate financial future in jeopardy. It's even worse if you can't quite figure out why they let you go. You might be racking your brain for ages, wondering where you could have gone wrong. It's almost like a breakup this way. You're left wondering what might be wrong with you when in reality it was probably 90% about the other person. 

But what's even weirder is when you're let go for something that you have no control over. Maybe you've had a family emergency that needs more of your time than your work is willing to give you. Or maybe you were injured, like in this story, in an event that had nothing to do with work.

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    Cheezburger Image 10479952384
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This story, and stories like it, is why unions came about. When something happens to you that jeopardizes your employment, you ideally have a collective on your side to help you through it. In this example, though, the employee was left with nothing. Read on for the discourse. 
     

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    A co-worker was fired this morning for getting hurt on his own time.

    I work in a manufacturing plant in a rural location in the South East. We hire a lot of contractors, I am one of the few full timers.
    via u/bondsman333
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    At our morning standup we were informed that one of our contractors came in with a doctors note that they couldn't use their right hand because they had a broken wrist. Our staff lead asked if the injury happened at work- it did not. They then decided to let him go because he wasn't useful to us anymore and his recovery time would be too long.
    via u/bondsman333
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    It's like he's a farm animal we took out back and shot once he wasn't useful. Depressed all day. I said something to my boss- he shrugged it off and had the 'get back to work' look. I'd do something more drastic- but like most Americans I can't risk losing my job right now.
    via u/bondsman333
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    Is there any shred of decency left? Have we really been reduced to this? Profits over people...!
    via u/bondsman333
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    Other workers commiserated about this unfair treatment.

    schrutesanjunabe... • 16h ago We've been like this forever. Unions and labor organizations have helped the worker along the way. This is the problem with being a contractor and not an employee. I would bet dollars to donuts that this guy was improperly classified as a contractor, when he should have been an employee.
    via u/schrutesanjunabeets
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    doublecalhoun · 16h ago indeed we have been reduced to disposability as soon as they couldnt exploit his labor by making sure he produces more than he earns as a wage, its time
    via u/doublecalhoun
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    to find a replacement cog that can in fact produce more for the company than will be taken as a wage welcome to the machine. this chapter is called the timeline of doom.
    via u/doublecalhoun
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    Cheezburger Image 10479952128
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    . eyeshitunot 14h ago Your colleague should talk to an employment lawyer. If he was not legitimately an independent contractor, then he was an employee. His broken wrist, probably qualifies as a disability. He may be protected by the ADA. NELA.org to find an an employment lawyer.
    via u/eyeshitunot
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    Puzzleheaded_Yak... 16h ago I'm so happy I finally found a job where I feel respected, appreciated and am expected to treat my staff with the same respect and appreciation.
    via u/Puzzleheaded_Yak5359
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    Carnephex 14h ago • I'm just saying, management gotta be nervous about doing this stuff nowadays. People are at the end of their limits and all it'll take is someone just saying, "Ya know what?" Keep your head down and remember, hide first.
    via u/Carnephex
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    Affectionate_Ad_... • 15h ago This is wrongful termination due to a temporary disability. If your state classifies temporary disability status. It may be tricky due to contractor status though. He definitely has a case against employer if his injury is stated for reason of separation.
    via u/Affectionate_Ad_8079
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    Sword-ArmorColle... . 13h ago The risk of being an independent contractor. I can think of no reason why a person would want to work for someone else but not have the benefits of being an employee.
    via u/Sword-ArmorCollector
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    • Ok_Exchange_9646 13h ago Any shred of decency? No, not in capitalism. I've posted about this on here before, but basically, 99% of people would be completely OK with seeing you di on the streets, homeless, starving, etc. This is why society as a concept doesn't work for the average working-class person.
    via u/Ok_Exchange_9646
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    shadow247 • 10h ago FMLA would still apply. He needs a labor attorney like yesterday.
    via u/shadow247
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    TheGenjuro • 12h ago This would be like firing an astronaut whose purpose is to destroy an asteroid on collision course with earth if the astronaut developed vertigo outside of work hours and couldn't complete his job duties while on the clock.
    via u/TheGenjuro
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    snorkels00 • 11h ago Unfortunately that's why they hire contractors. They don't legally have to keep them employed if he can't work. It violates their contract. The contract was he works they pay him money. Contractors usually make more.
    via u/snorkels00
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    freakwent ⚫4h ago This is 100% how it works for contracting. It's been this way for a suuuper long time.
    via u/freakwent
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    Cool_Cheetah658 3h ago A similar thing happened to me when I worked in a warehouse. Cracked my wrist, off the clock, and my work let me go. Now, they kept me eligible for rehire, but since I couldn't do my job they said they had no choice. It was , but I was young and found another job quickly.
    via u/Cool_Cheetah658
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    Today, I probably would have at least argued that they could at least try accommodating by putting me on the sales floor, and giving me a shot at sales, but back then it was a different time, and I didn't have a backbone like I do now.
    via u/Cool_Cheetah658
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    Osama BinWhiskers 15h ago • If 1099 then it's pretty much the way she goes. He could've had disability or loss of income insuranceof.
    via u/OsamaBinWhiskers
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    Manderthal13 • 11h ago 'At will' labor. You can quit at any time and they can fire you at any time. There's no contract on either side that forces responsibility on either party.
    via u/Manderthal13

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