Can I be fired for doing my job properly even while injured?
I work for an independent contractor delivering U.S. mail to rural areas and other Post Offices. My boss and owner of the company insisted from day 1 when I was hired that part of my job is to also: Deliver auto parts to a store in a town where I also deliver mail to the P.O. I am also suppose to pick up samples (blood, urine etc... ) from medical clinics in these areas and bring them back to the yard; so his employee hired to take them in to the labs (out of town) can do so. I know for a fact that when hauling mail/pkgs. For P.O. you are not suppose to be carrying anything but mail. Months ago I hurt my back unloading 2 transmissions - I informed my boss - who said nothing about filing anything on this incident. It has been getting gradually worse - than I did fall (not on job) which of course enhanced the pain. When I asked my boss about workman's comp for this so I can try to get this taken care of - his response was basically: You didn't do it while working for me. When I tried to tell him the initial injury happened working for him (and I'm still delivering transmissions) the fall doesn't come in to it. I called off 1 day during this (last week), my days off are; Sun-Mon-Tue). Yesterday I got a call from another employee (not the owner or his secretary-it was given to someone from a different department even); telling me that I was no longer on the schedule to work. I than called the owner and asked why I was being let go when I had been doing my job. He said that he didn't want to have me hurt myself worse (there are plenty of employees past and present that will say that he does not care about anyone but himself). I said it was wrong so he is having me work this week (training someone to do my job). I told him I am having an MRI next week and will know than what they suggest: therapy and/or surgery. He wants the results of the MRI and a note from my doctor saying I can do my job (70 lb weight limit-as in the postal app requirements). Even if I do this I will still be required to do the auto parts-this won't be put on paper because he doesn't want the U.S.P.S. to know that he is having us deliver other products along with the mail (not just on my route either).