Lifeguard refuse job back after being fired

Tollster · Jul 5, 2012

Is anyone in America really surprised about this? The kid lost his job because he saved a life that was outside the patrol area while he was on duty and was promptly fired. Sad to see what companies are teaching people and the morel compass they hold. But I am not surprised, Only in America!

Fired lifeguard offered job back; he says no! | HLNtv.com

I am glad he refused their offer as he truely deserves better!

oldnslo · Jul 6, 2012

If I under stand this correctly the life guard company is worried about liability of there employees working outside of their jurisdiction. It is very sad that in todays society of of "It's your fault mentality" people are being punished for doing the right thing but are also potentially putting there employer at risk.

Example: Life guard goes outside his designated area to help some one and while doing so a person in his designated area needs help and there is no help. Now who is in trouble?

I applaud the young man for work ethics but unfortunately I can also see the companies stance.

slowzuki · Jul 6, 2012

Huge problem, people walking by people in trouble because its not their job to do anything about it. I'm not sure what the law is up here but in Canada you can technically be charged for not helping someone is distress when you have the ability too. I'm sure he surveyed his own area before proceeding to save the other person.

mjarrels · Jul 6, 2012

I bet he has a much better job now at three times the pay. Don't think the news media will ever write a story about it. My glass is always half full... this is AMERICA.

mark

aczlan · Jul 6, 2012

oldnslo said:
If I under stand this correctly the life guard company is worried about liability of there employees working outside of their jurisdiction. It is very sad that in todays society of of "It's your fault mentality" people are being punished for doing the right thing but are also potentially putting there employer at risk.
Example: Life guard goes outside his designated area to help some one and while doing so a person in his designated area needs help and there is no help. Now who is in trouble?
I applaud the young man for work ethics but unfortunately I can also see the companies stance.

In this case (from what I have read), his coworkers were covering his area and coordinating with EMS. The company has confirmed that the beach was covered. I can understand the liability issues, but I couldn't stand by and watch someone drown either...
Tomas Lopez: Hallandale Beach lifeguard fired after taking part in beach rescue

Aaron Z

dmccarty · Jul 6, 2012

The liability issue seems to be a red herring to me. Many states have laws on the books protecting people who render aide. Course anyone can sue anyone for anything. Flip the situation around though and lets say the life guard REFUSED to render aide outside his assigned area. Which is most likely going to result in not only a lawsuit but winning a lawsuit, rendering aide or not rendering aide? Which situation would show the company in the best and worst way?

What should be the company's policy?

The owner of the company really did a FUBAR. The report I saw said that other life guards quit the company when the life guard was fired. It will be interesting if the company keeps the contract when it expires. I wonder if the company will be able to hire replacements, and if not, will they loose the contract before it expires.

Later,
Dan

Rford · Jul 6, 2012

It sounds like he was fired by his immediate supervisor pretty much right after the situation ended. He didn't actually save the guy, he was saved by other swimmers. The kid filled out an incident report which revealed he went outside his area, and I believe the initial reports said it was outside the area that the lifeguard company has responsibilty to monitor. Since he violated company policy, his immediate supervisor fired him. The story does reveal a lot about our modern society, on a number of levels. But the owner of the company did reverse the decision (not much choice given all the fireworks) and tried to apologize.

dmccarty · Jul 7, 2012

The report I read said that the lifeguard was told that someone was in trouble down the beach and ran down to render aide. When he arrived the person had already been pulled from the water. It appears the lifeguard ran to help when the man was still in the water and once he arrived he and a nurse helped the man until EMS arrived. Just like he and the nurse should have done.

Like I said before, I don't get the liability angle at all. I really think it is all about the company not covering more of the beach than they are paid to cover. There are many beaches in FLA that have coverage right next to an area with no lifeguards which makes me think this was a business decision hidden by the cloak of liability. Can you imagine if the man had died and the life guard had NOT responded? What the family would say? The media storm that would follow? What the company would look like after upset witnesses, on camera of course, said the lifeguard just said there and did nothing while the man died? I would bet the company would loose the contract at a minimum.

There are some interesting comments on the websites reporting the story. Tomas Lopez: Hallandale Beach lifeguard fired after taking part in beach rescue

Mr Ellis has publicly admitted that his firm Jeff Ellis Management, LLC enforced a policy against its employees that prohibits performing any water rescues of potential drowning victims while they are on duty, "under certain circumstances". No company can lawfully prohibit any employee from assisting any other person in an emergency situation involving a potential loss of life or injury under ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, as the company does not have the legal authority to enforce that provision against employees without the consequences that go along with that decision. By withholding this critical information from city officials at the time of his firm's most recent contract signing with the City of Hallandale Beach, Mr. Ellis committed FELONY FRAUD, and therefore the contract that his firm Jeff Ellis Management, LLC executed with the city is immediately null and void at the time of this public disclosure.

There are similar comments regarding the legality of the lifeguards firing. This story might get more interesting.

I saw that the lifeguard received the key to the city of Hallandale Beach.

Later,
Dan

radioman · Jul 7, 2012

liability? baloney! How many times were you contacted or showed a report by an insurance company about liability issue just for doing your job outside of his area. ZERO I bet. its all too easy to say its not my problem. no wonder america is in trouble from this mentality as we continue to operate all jobs, companies this way.