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Post by spriskeptic on Nov 10, 2005 7:30:11 GMT -5
DES MOINES, Iowa - A judge ruled that a former security guard who was fired for seeing ghosts cannot be denied unemployment benefits.
ADVERTISEMENT According to a court ruling released this week, the former guard's allegation of apparitions does not constitute misconduct.
The issue started on Sept. 11, when Wade Gallegos alerted his supervisor at Neighborhood Patrol of Urbandale that ghosts were haunting a neighborhood he was guarding.
The supervisor arrived at the scene, where Gallegos showed him where the ghosts were still apparently standing.
The supervisor claimed he saw nothing and fired Gallegos five hours later.
The company found no signs of drug use or alcohol.
Neighborhood Patrol challenged Gallegos' application for unemployment benefits, arguing he was guilty of misconduct.
"Such beliefs do render the claimant unfit to act as a security guard," Judge G. Ken Renegar ruled. "The employer cannot have security guards who see ghosts and apparitions and inform the employer, and then the employer sends out the patrol cars."
However, the judge ruled, seeing ghosts is not the type of misconduct that can disqualify Gallegos from receiving benefits.
My comment: Now obviously we don't have the whole story here. If the guard kept calling in for patrol cars everytime he saw the apparitions, then I can see grounds for dismissal, but if he did it only once and called for some back up to witness the event, then I think firing was too harsh a punishment. As far as unemployment benefits go, if they had refused, I think they may have had some discrimination issues to deal with concerning freedom of religion.
What do you guys think?
Tom.
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Post by Rick on Nov 10, 2005 8:38:59 GMT -5
agreed. A security guard is there to observe. If he sees something unusual, then he is to report it. The sticky part is on the drug test, if the guy came back clean, then I think he has a wrongful terminatiaon lawsuit.
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Post by rojner on Nov 13, 2005 19:39:51 GMT -5
No matter the reasoning behind him seeing the ghosts at work, I don't believe it is grounds for termination. I am shocked that he applied for unemployment though. Can you imagin the clerk talking to him and asking him questions..."Reason for leaving?" "Oh, I saw ghosts at work." When you tell people you see ghosts most of them think you are a whack job! I am glad to see that he is receiving benefits, though. Whose to say whether or not he saw them, at least he is being compensated for loosing his job. But it does make you wonder...who would lie about seeing ghosts just to get fired? I could think of a hundred other things to do to tick off the boss (and many being a lot more fun)!
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Post by spriskeptic on Nov 14, 2005 15:27:54 GMT -5
You got that right. There are definitely more fun ways to get fired ;D That's one of the reasons that I believe in ghosts even though I have never experienced one. Most people wouldn't tell you they saw a ghost if they didn't at least experience something they couldn't explain. Most people don't want to be called crazy, or even worse, stupid. That guy should probably lie on his next application for employment: Reason for leaving last employer: I saw dead people. I wouldn't expect a call back. Unless, of course, he were applying with us
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Post by Michelle on Feb 25, 2008 18:27:56 GMT -5
I agree Tom. I think he shouldn't have been fired if he only called once. But, if he called multiple times I could see the reason why they would fire him.
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Post by skepticmind on Feb 27, 2008 2:25:20 GMT -5
Well I know that since I am in the law enforcement field and I went to my supervisor and told him that I saw ghosts they would revoke my certificate and take me for a psychological evaluation also known as a (302). I have to be very caution about what I talk about and to who I talk to at work.
I will be the first to say that yes I believe there is something paranormal at Lackawanna College, but that is a matter of opinion. They are person experiences. If I even spoke of that to my superiors, I would probably also be removed from my job. I don’t think I would have high hopes on being a police officer there after. I don’t exactly know the reason why, it’s just implied that we are of sound mind.
Police officers are unfortunately held too much higher standards. We carry weapons. We have psychological evaluations to carry our weapons. I recently had a psychological evaluation done for work and some of the questions were>>> Do you see things? Do you see ghosts? Do you hear things? Do you talk to people you do not see? Come on’!!! I am not saying that were psycho for seeking ghosts, but other people would just assume that you were a few fries short of a happy meal. I know that sounds a little crazy, but let’s be honest here. When you mention the word "ghost" most people automatically assume you’re a nut case and do not want to hear anymore about it.
People do not want to know what is out there. If they can’t see it, than it doest exist. I think police officers probably make the one of the best paranormal seekers because we are training for months on how to conduct surveillance, investigate and interrogate. That is clearly why I have never mentioned anything to anyone at work about my experiences, but the majority of the people I encounter at work have had person experiences at the college. When our cleaning staff is terrified to be in the building alone, they call me. I am supposed to face what ever it is that scares them and my job is to make others feels safe. One more thing to add.
Do not just assume that security guards are not armed with weapons. Most businesses, universities and private communities have armed security or private police. So with that being said, when you carry a weapon there is usually psychological evaluations done prior in order to carrry. My ACT 235 (Lethal Weapons) psycological was brutal, from experience the doctors are trained to see if you are capable mentally to perform job functions. I am not sure they are trained to deal with finding ghosts on the job though.
Do I agree with the officer being discharged? No, I do not. But until you know the “shoes” a police officer has to walk in, is just hard to describe.
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Post by skepticmind on Mar 4, 2008 1:41:42 GMT -5
I am interested in reading this article more.
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Post by Rick on Mar 4, 2008 9:06:26 GMT -5
I see the whole filed as a spiritual issue. if I see something, then I would relate it to being spiritual.
Law enforcment officers are trained as observers. I wouldn't one to say that he/she saw a ghost, but I would expect them to note that they saw a shadow.
Rick
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Post by yukstir on Mar 4, 2008 18:55:36 GMT -5
I found my way out!!!!!!!
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Post by skepticmind on Mar 5, 2008 1:02:03 GMT -5
Nice try Mark....
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