Warwick, Rhode Island--
Tom St. Germain says he lost his job after telling his boss about emergency surgery.
Cancer diagonsis was stressful enough for a local Pier 1 Assistant Manager. But then he said he lost his job after telling his boss he underwent emergency surgery.
Tom St. Germain, 24, thought he had a hernia, so he scheduled a doctor's appointment for his next day off, July 21.
He went in for emergency surgery on July 22 to have a cancerous testicular tumor rermoved.
"You just don't expect that to happen," said St. Germain. "Cancer, it's like months and months of treatment, and you know, just not something you really look forward to."
St. Germain had been working at the Route 2 Bald Hill Pier 1 Imports as an assistant manager for nearly five months, with full benefits--on the fast track to managing his own store.
"I love my position at Pier One, I like the company," said St. Germain. "I just never expected this to happen at all."
St. Germain said the Bald Hill store manager, on behalf of the regional manager in North Attleboro, Mass.,fired him over the phone--effectively ending his medical coverage.
"She needed to terminate me because I wasn't eligible for a leave of absence for the short-term disablility. And the policy is after seven days of being absent from work that they have to terminate you," said St. Germain.
Since he was fired, for the better part of two weeks, St. Germain said he was getting the run around from Pier One. Then he called NBC 10 News and reporter R.J. Heim started making phone calls. Within hours, the president of human resources for Pier One Imports called St. Germain.
According to St. Germain, she apologized for what happened and said that an exception should have been made. She added that she would try to make things better for him. Pier One sent NBC 10 News an e-mail, in part, that said "...Pier One has a long history of fairly resolving employee matters. We do not talk publicly about these matters."
St. Germain shared an e-mail the president of the company sent him during his interview with NBC 10 News, saying they're looking into waiving his six-month eligibility requirement, looking for a solution without causing undue hardship and he should focus on his recovery. She also said that her thoughts are with him during this difficult time.
Tom St. Germain says he lost his job after telling his boss about emergency surgery.
Cancer diagonsis was stressful enough for a local Pier 1 Assistant Manager. But then he said he lost his job after telling his boss he underwent emergency surgery.
Tom St. Germain, 24, thought he had a hernia, so he scheduled a doctor's appointment for his next day off, July 21.
He went in for emergency surgery on July 22 to have a cancerous testicular tumor rermoved.
"You just don't expect that to happen," said St. Germain. "Cancer, it's like months and months of treatment, and you know, just not something you really look forward to."
St. Germain had been working at the Route 2 Bald Hill Pier 1 Imports as an assistant manager for nearly five months, with full benefits--on the fast track to managing his own store.
"I love my position at Pier One, I like the company," said St. Germain. "I just never expected this to happen at all."
St. Germain said the Bald Hill store manager, on behalf of the regional manager in North Attleboro, Mass.,fired him over the phone--effectively ending his medical coverage.
"She needed to terminate me because I wasn't eligible for a leave of absence for the short-term disablility. And the policy is after seven days of being absent from work that they have to terminate you," said St. Germain.
Since he was fired, for the better part of two weeks, St. Germain said he was getting the run around from Pier One. Then he called NBC 10 News and reporter R.J. Heim started making phone calls. Within hours, the president of human resources for Pier One Imports called St. Germain.
According to St. Germain, she apologized for what happened and said that an exception should have been made. She added that she would try to make things better for him. Pier One sent NBC 10 News an e-mail, in part, that said "...Pier One has a long history of fairly resolving employee matters. We do not talk publicly about these matters."
St. Germain shared an e-mail the president of the company sent him during his interview with NBC 10 News, saying they're looking into waiving his six-month eligibility requirement, looking for a solution without causing undue hardship and he should focus on his recovery. She also said that her thoughts are with him during this difficult time.
Good morning, deafdyke!!!! I live in Cranston, R.I. I am active with the Deaf Community. I used to be a member of Providence Deaf Club, R.I. Deaf Club. I used to work at the R.I. School for the Deaf as a receptionist, and that is where I met James Healy. Very nice man, he did a lot of work with the Preschool area. Jessica Whitney sounds so familiar, I am not sure if I know her. I wonder if we ever met in the past? That would be so cool huh?
Oh Juliae, that is so awful. Your Aunt going through so much to recover from such a tragic illness, and having to worry about getting laid off too. That is so heartless. How is your Aunt doing now?
No way Levonian could you every sound like Ravensteve, because you are making a good point. Years ago, people who worked good jobs, and became sick were irreplaceable, the company would do everything to help their employees. Today it's not that way at all. If you're seriously sick, the company just tosses you out like a piece of meat. It is a good thing that there are lawyers that can help these people, even if they can't get their job back, but at least compensation to these people who are so sick and at the same time give them their dignity back.
Shiva, I am glad that Channel 10 News got involved for this man. Right he needs to focus on his health and recovery, and again right, in order for him to focus, he does need his medical insurance. One would think that people can be compassionate about another person's illness, but, this Manager proved that wrong. You're right, it was a cold hearted thing to do.
Right Malfoyish, the Manager had fired him, and I agree he should sue this company and wake them up to others who become ill beyond their control. Such a big chain of stores around the country, you would think they would be willing to help this man recover and be supportive. It's shocking to hear how cold these people can be, and wonder what they would do if it had been someone in their own family that had been fired for the same reason. How would they react. They should think twice.