I was recently wrongfully terminated from my job in New York, and it’s been a challenging experience. About three weeks ago, I needed to take a weekend off to attend a family funeral. My employer only granted me one day of bereavement leave without notifying me that my request for an additional day was denied. I had accrued sick time that I believed I could use for this purpose, as it’s allowed under New York law. I reached out to HR to clarify my situation, hoping they would understand my need for the extra day off. However, they later counted my absence as a no-call no-show and terminated my employment a month later. To make matters worse, I discovered that they had stopped deducting union dues from my paychecks months prior and were not compensating many employees for training unless they specifically asked for it. I had completed eight hours of training and took a test on the day I was terminated, but I was not paid for that time. Additionally, they often promised bonuses but would shortchange them by $50 or $100. Now, I’m left wondering if this constitutes wrongful termination. I haven’t applied for unemployment benefits yet because I’m unsure if I qualify. I’m considering reaching out to my union representative and possibly a labor lawyer to discuss my options. It just feels strange to be out of work after putting in so much effort to communicate my needs.