My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: TEXAS
It is the last day of the month. The last day of the month is your last chance to meet your monthly quota and perhaps achieve a bonus. My numbers were just shy of the mark. That day’s work means a big difference in my paycheck amount as well as job security. I have enough solid appointments set. My first appointment is for 8am. I open the account and put in my notes, pull a work sheet and gather some information. I go back to the account to get the phone number and that’s when I see that a co-worker has ignored my notes and put hers right on top of mine. She has taken my appointment. I couldn’t believe it. This would be the second time in a week that she’s done this. I stood up from my desk to get my co-workers attention. I was telling her it was my appointment and that she needed to give the customer over to me. She ignored me. So I turn to the shift manager who gets just as upset but not because of the situation but rather: “I’m too tired to deal with this.” I was yelled at just as much as the other co-worker. After a few heated questions, the manager said, “Just give it to her.”… meaning me. But it was made clear that I was wrong to expect that kind of consideration. It didn’t matter my efforts or customer rapport, didn’t matter I had notes in the account. It’s who gets the customer on the phone first. What? I couldn’t believe that it was ok for a co-worker to disrespect another like that. I felt like she was stealing money from me. We’re talking work ethics. I was so upset and felt so wronged, I made a knee-jerk emotional decision that I just couldn’t work like that. I got up from my desk so embarrassed and upset and said, “I’m outta here.” I left. I quit. I just walked out.
As the day went by, I realize how stupid I reacted. I did not handle myself very well. Even though I hated what had happened and knew I could not expect anything different, I still wanted my job. I called the department manager and explained what happened, that I wanted to work this out, and that I would be there the next business day to talk with the shift manager. He said, “Ok, we’ll leave it at that.”
Next business day, 8:00am, I arrive ready to work. I met with the shift manager and apologized for acting so badly and was hoping she would let me get back to work. She said she could not make a decision without talking it over with the department manager who would not be in until 9:30am. She said to go have some breakfast or something and wait.
I waited until about 11:30am and then sent the department manager an email:
Good Morning XX,
I talked with XXXXX this morning about keeping my job. She said she would have to talk to you first and that I would get a phone call. Did I misunderstand? Am I suppose to call you? Please let me know.
I emailed again at 3:00pm with a header say “Please call” and signed it with my name and cell number just in case he was having trouble finding my contact number.
I didn’t get a call or a response to my emails.
The next day a co-worker calls me after work to say that she heard I was fired. She said she asked the secretarial person in my department who told her that it was a tough decision for them to fire me. I couldn’t believe I was hearing this from a co-worker.
The next day I called the shift manager to confirm. She said yes, I was fired for job abandonment. She said no, I could not come back to work.
This is confusing to me. Did I quit? Was I fired? Was I fired for quitting? Unemployment denied my claim saying that I had voluntarily quit. They said I could appeal which I will try to do. I’m wondering, though, do I have a leg to stand on? If so, what should the appeal sound like? How do I find out what is being told to a potential employer?

