Option to resign or be terminated...

brigadeaviator

brigadeaviator

Well-Known Member
Well my soon to be former employer has given me the option to resign or be terminated... That was days before the Christmas holiday. Back story: I was the non-flying copilot in a crash that recently occurred in a single pilot certified jet. The reason I was given for this decision told me they were looking for anything they could find to hang me out to dry. The whole situation is foul and now it seems I'm waiting for a while before I could see the NTSB findings and can move in any direction aviation wise. I'm trying to be positive about the whole situation and looking at this as a great and valuable learning experience. Good news is I survived a plane crash in one piece and 2015 can only get better than last year for me.
 
This, I've been given that option before as well and it sucks. It will help you in the future to realize that most of the time your the expendable part of the employee, employer relationship.
 
Beat me to it (about the lawyer thing), congrats on being okay. Hopefully this will be a learning experience and you can move on.

FWIW (he might be retired now) I know a airline captain that took off into IMC w/o and IFR rating and crashed a 172 quite a long time ago. He and one of his passengers were hurt and it was certainly his fault, but he moved on (everyone made a full physical recovery) and he's had a stellar career since.

Good Luck.
 
Definitely see a lawyer before you do anything. You'll probably have to go through a few of them before you get into actually see someone. You're looking for an employment lawyer. It's probably going to be a few weeks before you actually get an appointment. Employment lawyers get a lot of people calling with stuff they really don't want to waste time with but it takes time to weed through all the chaff.

Employer is probably going to want an answer pretty quick, probably before you get to see a lawyer. Tell them you are researching your options. Up to you if you want to tell them you are speaking with a lawyer. But expect them to react one of two ways when a lawyer is mentioned.

#1, they will fire you on the spot. But you should be eligible for unemployment (nothing wrong with unemployment). A lot will depend on the circumstance of your contract/employment. This would be a good thing actually. Because it leaves them open for all sorts of legal exposure.

#2, they will offer you a settlement for you to not sue them. Might come with an amount roughly the same as unemployment. At this point don't do anything without a lawyer.

Good luck!
 
There are many factors to consider. One is that being terminated allows for unemployment while resigning doesn't. Also being terminated make it possible to sue for wrongful termination. That isn't to that those are the key factors, just that it is something to throw into the consideration equation.
 
Houston said:
There are many factors to consider. One is that being terminated allows for unemployment while resigning doesn't. Also being terminated make it possible to sue for wrongful termination. That isn't to that those are the key factors, just that it is something to throw into the consideration equation.
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Actually in many states you can be eligible for unemployment even if you quit. There need to be extenuating circumstances but it is possible. Especially when you are forced to resign. Not suggesting the OP resign though.
 
I don't know about the accident but regarding being terminated or asked to resign, resigning is better, but not by much. Some applications ask if you were terminated or ever asked to resign. But that being said, you will get hired again. Some people will tell you know, but others will tell you yes. One year after being terminated I'm flying the same plane at more than twice what I was making, and was just given an assistant chief position. Just keep pushing, and when given the chance, work your butt off.
 
Thanks everyone for the input. Talked to a lawyer and there wasn't much that could be done. The company looked for any reason (reason given had absolutely nothing to do with the brakes failing to work) to be grounds for ending my flying with them. All I can do is be positive about the experience and hopefully get some 121 time now that 135 flying is no longer an option until the NTSB report comes out in a few years. In the end, I walked away in one piece, and can still fall back on being an exotic male dancer like back in my college days so there is a bright side lol
 
rockman2343@aol.com said:
One year after being terminated I'm flying the same plane at more than twice what I was making, and was just given an assistant chief position.
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latest
 
rockman2343@aol.com said:
I don't know about the accident but regarding being terminated or asked to resign, resigning is better, but not by much. Some applications ask if you were terminated or ever asked to resign. But that being said, you will get hired again. Some people will tell you know, but others will tell you yes. One year after being terminated I'm flying the same plane at more than twice what I was making, and was just given an assistant chief position. Just keep pushing, and when given the chance, work your butt off.
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Wait, not to be an ass but how does someone that was terminated for abandoning an airplane and have a DUI and no 121 PIC become a ACP. If you tried to tell me to act professionally, I would laugh in your face and walk out.
 
Gonzo said:
Wait, not to be an ass but how does someone that was terminated for abandoning an airplane and have a DUI and no 121 PIC become a ACP. If you tried to tell me to act professionally, I would laugh in your face and walk out.
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Ditto.

Respect the office, but certainly not the officeholder.
 
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