[Oh Haha]

It sometimes doesn't seem like it but the HR dept. can be your best ally. I had many conversations with ours at the time and followed their instructions to the tee.

As you may know my wife is the HR manager at an auto plant here. I cannot believe the stupid things she has had to fire people for. Seriously, it's like they have no clue!!

She pretty much had to write a new handbook when she started as the existing one was full of legal holes.

She's good at her job and knows the laws.

Good luck with the situation. I hope your company can make it stick.