Employee fired over empty printer cartridges
October 27, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: HR Tech, In this week's e-newsletter - Tech, Terminations
A 25-year employee says he was wrongfully terminated after a co-worker falsely accused him of stealing used printer cartridges.
Dean Klein worked for J.P. Morgan Chase from 1980 until 2005. He was fired after being caught allegedly taking empty toner cartridges home, selling them to a recycling service and pocketing the money.
But Klein, who was a manager at the time he was fired, claims the company was acting on a false tip from another employee who was trying to clear the way for her own advancement.
He says Morgan Chase fired him without conducting a thorough investigation, never gave him a chance to defend himself and refused to give him a copy of the employee handbook that might spell out what he rule he broke.
He’s suing his ex-employer for wrongful termination and breach of contract.
How significant is the finacnial sum involved in this dispute? Staples, for example, offers $3 in store credit per cartridge, so over a long enough period of time, it can add up.
Tags: cartridge, J.P Morgan Chase, lawsuit, recycling
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Do you have any idea how many typos you have in this story?
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I take home empty bottles, cans and shredded paper from work for my home recyclables pick-up on Thursdays. This is because my office refuses to get involved with recycling — too much work, storage, effort, change, etc. Any excuse not to do something extra will work. So I hope someone doesn’t report that I’m cashing in on these “valuable” items that would otherwise go to the dump forever. So much does that could easily be re-used at the Salvation Army or other charitable organization. Many DOZENS of beautiful water glasses went into the dumpster here because someone wanted a NEW style. I could only rescue the last 7 dozen which are now holding beverages for the homeless at a local shelter.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Based on the information provided, how was this “wrongful termination”? They don’t outline anything discriminatory.
Breach of contract – that could be…..
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
If J.P.Morgan Chase used to throw the empty cartridges in the dumpster or used the label in the new toner cartridge box to send them back to the manufacturer where exactly does theft occur? It’s no different to dumpster diving. If the company used to send them to a recycling service themselves then I would agree he was stealing from them.
Our company has started collecting empty cartridges and sending them to a recycling service but I doubt if what we get back covers the cost of the lost productive time for the person sending them back.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:41 am
To Essie: don’t get caught at your local station bringing in waste from another town. There is a fine for that! Use a recycle center open to anyone that is not town operated.
The crime: isn’t it illegal to refuse a copy of the employee handbook? Can some one answer this??
November 4th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
we don’t even have a handbook. everything is online and good luck finding what you need.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Obviously there is something else going on here with a 25 year employee. This seems like it was a “good out” which actually might end up costing JP lots of money. I take home empty cartridges all the time and toss them or recycle them (and return the recycled to the plant) It would be interesting to see what the final outcome is. I say they were just trying to get rid of him sans severence package, unemployment, etc.