Mass. town defended after firing grieving dad for missing work

SUDBURY, Mass. - An arbitrator has ruled that a Massachusetts town was justified when it fired a municipal employee who missed too much work after his son's shooting death.

The MetroWest Daily News reported Wednesday that former Sudbury public works employee Anthony Zanco missed work following the March 2014 death of his 17-year-old son, Tyler, during a drug robbery.

Zanco used up all his sick, vacation and personal time, as well as a month and a half leave, then had 41 unexcused days off.

A town lawyer says Zanco experienced "an unimaginable tragedy" but that "you have to report to work to keep your job."

Zanco says he's disappointed with the decision but understands it.

His union says town policy stipulates that absenteeism must be disruptive to other employees and compared his absences to jury duty.