Fired after one day of family care

Bowens gave written notice Sunday evening that he would be absent Monday and return Tuesday. He returned as stated and performed his assigned field work.

Joseph E. Gonzales, Bowman’s Albuquerque branch director and a former High Mesa co-owner, acknowledged the circumstances and expressed sympathy in an exchange that included training supervisor Erik White. In the private meeting that followed, Gonzales accused Bowens of making up the emergency and orally fired him, directing him to leave his badge, collect his belongings and leave.

Gonzales later gave shifting accounts of what had happened. That evening, he told Bowens to find another job.

At 2:57 a.m. on March 11, Bowens sent management his contemporaneous account of the firing and his mother’s redacted discharge records, directly rebutting the fabrication accusation. After that documented rebuttal, Gonzales began sending hostile messages in response, accusing Bowens of coming after him personally and portraying Bowens as entitled and causing controversy.

Bowman’s New Mexico Sick and Safe Time policy covers parent care, presumes use of available sick leave for covered absences unless advised otherwise, and prohibits retaliation. Its documentation provision addresses two or more consecutive workdays. Bowens’s absence was one.

Weeks earlier, Gonzales arranged for Bowens to cover a coworker’s family-care leave. Bowens worked approximately 14.5 hours on the Farmington assignment, and Gonzales thanked him for his flexibility.

Bowens received no written discipline or formal corrective action. White expressed confidence in his locating work; Gonzales acknowledged that he had done the work asked of him.