Anaheim : Company Hires Back Staffer Fired for Letter

An employee of an Anaheim company who was fired recently for writing a letter on company stationery in support of a non-smoking ordinance is back on the job this week.

Tom Tarbell, 29, returned to his position as a clerk in the personnel department of Kwikset Powdered Metal Products on Monday.

Tarbell said the vice president of the company called him in Friday, told him his dismissal was an “overreaction” and hired him back at the same position and pay, along with back pay for the time missed and attorney fees. Tarbell said he had hired an attorney, who wrote Kwikset a letter protesting the dismissal. His rehiring, however, did not appear to be related to the attorney’s involvement, he said.

Tarbell was fired March 13 for writing a letter on company letterhead to the Anaheim City Council, urging them to adopt a nonsmoking ordinance. A majority of the council, after months of review, adopted the new law five days later.

“I’m really glad this is all over, plus there will be less smoke,” Tarbell said Tuesday. “I think it’s worked out really well.”

The clerk, who had been with the company for about 10 months, was fired by his personnel director--a Chamber of Commerce member who had spoken before the council against the ordinance.