I started with LinkTech 11/28/07 and really loved the job. In April I started being trained to put plastic on boat bottoms. Another worker who had been there 3 years asked his best friend supervisor if I could show his father (since he was interested in starting a plastics company of his own because it didn't look like his disability was going to go through). I started teaching him the craft and a month later they hired him as an employee (we got along swell). Well, our customer's weren't paying so we had a temporary lay-off the second week of October. I found out that even though the new father employee (who was there less then half the time I was and 3 months less then the guy under me) didn't get laid off, just me and the employee under me. We were both told it would be about a month, so to file for unemployment. We both did and mine showed Reason was Lack of Work. Three weeks into the layoff I found out that the other guy was called back (but he told me he is only getting a little over 30 hours a week but didn't have the 18 months to get unemployment). So at the end of the month layoff I go and ask about being called back and I'm told it will be awhile because of lack of contracts. Understandable and since I can get unemployment and the other 2 can't and will work for just 30 hours a week (so I'm told), fine (I get more than that on unemployment which I am now drawing off of their company). It's now been six weeks and I find out from the wife of the "best friend" employee that her brother just got out of prison and that her husband (best friend) and father-in-law (the one I trained) are trying to get the supervisor to hire him full-time! So I go check into the office about when I'll be called back (telling no one what I've heard) and the office lady tells me there is even less work so I should probably go find another job! (funny how all this happened before Christmas) The office lady does the books and I wasn't told this until they realized I would be claiming off them and not my former employer of 10 years. I guess my question is this... Can they hire another employee why I'm claiming unemployment off them for 'Lack of Work'? Do I have any recourse at all in this aside from claiming every week of unemployment that I can? The supervisor is discriminating against me because he is in love with his best friend and will do anything to keep him happy. I just wanted to do my job, which I was good at and was told this by the owner. But I've been informed by part owner's (the office lady's husband is one) that they are soo... afraid of loosing their supervisor that he can basically do what ever he wants! Any thoughts? Thanks for any help you can give.

Can they hire another employee why I'm claiming unemployment off them for 'Lack of Work'? Yes.

Do I have any recourse at all in this aside from claiming every week of unemployment that I can? No. An employer can hire or recall as they please, provided the reason isn't a prohibited one (age, race, gender, religion, etc.)

The supervisor is discriminating against me because he is in love with his best friend and will do anything to keep him happy. Ok but it's not illegal discrimination - it's simply favoritism based on a personal relationship. That's not illegal.

I just wanted to do my job, which I was good at and was told this by the owner. But I've been informed by part owner's (the office lady's husband is one) that they are soo... afraid of loosing their supervisor that he can basically do what ever he wants! Any thoughts? Start looking for a new job. There's no telling when or if you'll ever be called back to this one and it's foolish to just sit around waiting. Good luck.