Still looking for a case with very similar circumstances, I'm sure they are out there.
Hiddleston v Wattyl (NZ) Ltd
24 Nov 2006, P Cheyne, CA 163/06, (7 pages)
UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Dismissal on medical grounds - Applicant required surgery after injured at work - Before surgery, suffered heart attack and absent 3½ months - Returned to work but surgery rescheduled for that week - After surgery applicant required five months off to recuperate - Respondent asked if applicant would consider early retirement but no agreement reached - Applicant left work with respondent knowing would be away five months - Manager concerned about applicant's attendance and work ethic and intention to work until well after retirement age, which Manager found totally unacceptable - Upon discharge from hospital applicant received letter detailing respondent's concerns and asking him to put forward information to be considered as part of decision about ongoing employment - Letter advised not possible to hold position open for five months and probable employment would be terminated on medical grounds - Applicant rang supervisor, who was unaware of letter - Also faxed medical certificate to manager - Applicant subsequently received dismissal letter - Respondent failed to raise concerns about applicant's alleged general poor state of health with him - Also failed to advise applicant in timely way job could not be kept open - Dismissal unjustified - Remedies - Unable to find alternative employment - Applicant sought lost remuneration from time medically fit until age 66 on basis would have kept working - Appropriate to award future loss - Limiting award until age 65 made allowance for unexpected - Length of service nearly 20 years - Storeman
Result: Application granted ; Reimbursement of lost wages and benefits (9 months) ; Future loss of remuneration and benefits (5 months) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($12,500) ; Costs reserved
In almost every place I've worked the co. handbook will say, "As a right-to-work state we can fire you for any reason at any time."
That is simply
not true. I have read the Right-to-work statutes and no where does it say that.
Don't believe me?
Ask them, "Can you fire me for being a woman, black, for what church I go to, or being disabled?"
Of course the answer is no and they then realize that you know they are BSing you.
That statute (right-to-work) is primarily concerned with the rules of union organization. What employees and employers are allowed/not allowed to do. No where does it give employers carte blanche firing authority. The handbooks are simply lies to intimidate you. Period.
Having said that, with a good team of lawyers, Barr-Nunn could win anyways, but I would make them fight for it. The best protection would be Disability Act. A heart attack isn't necessarily a permanent disability but it sure as hell is at least a temporary one. Ask anyone who's had one.
Again, not the same, but very interesting.....
http://www.laborlawtalk.com/showthread.php?t=155818