Location: Utah
Would this be worth talking to an Employment Attorney and/or be basis for a viable an Unemployment case?
I sent a group text to my manager and owners of a small the company (\~20 employees). I was explaining that I am continuing to have physical pain that is impacting my ability to work in the field, and it is causing my mental health to also decline as it goes on.
He responded "Keep scheduling him in the field. He will quit soon enough" I responded "Wow. Thanks for the support" (I assume he didn't realize it was to the same group text I sent)
He eventually sent another message trying to walk it back, saying there was supposed to be an "if" in that sentence, asking if this was my 2 weeks notice, and saying the job requirements are not changing in the foreseeable future. I haven't responded to that message.
Some other notes:
We had previously discussed making changes to my role/duties, but they needed a couple of weeks to figure something out and get back to me (unfortunately this was verbal) to get me out of the field and working in the office. This was 6-8 weeks ago now
They have never asked for a doctors note, but are now saying they have never heard anything from a doctor about my condition, while admitting to giving me time of for it last week (no questions asked)
I am salaried, not compensated for OT, but I am far from having a "white collar" administrative or executive position
They do not provide health insurance, only vision, dental, and access to a company that will help you find insurance on the marketplace
They have a policy of only paying for driving one direction to job sites from the shop where vans are parked (90% of work is performed at client sites). Including drives that are 2-3 hours away - I'm required to be clocked out for one direction of the trip and have been scolded for not meeting my hours (45/week according to their policy) during weeks that included multiple drives to those sites.
Does this form any basis for a case?
Do I continue going to work while trying to find time to talk to workforce services and/or an attorney? I can barely get thru the day from pain some days