I work late nights in a call center. I noticed an envelope sitting out of place on my bosses desk which had been there for the past few days. After about the 3rd day of seeing it sticking out, I picked it up and pulled out the piece of paper, it read "Why are you rummaging around my office, you should know you are under survelience. Leave your badge on my desk and while you're on your way out the door, ask yourself, Why would you be reading confidential documents in my office when I'm not there?" I looked up from the letter and saw a web cam staring me in the face. One week later, I was fired for rummaging on my bosses desk. Is it legal to fire someone for that? Should I sue my former employer?
2006-12-27 00:35:09 · 7 answers · asked by SterlingNico 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
Oh... and is it possible for me to get unemployment as well?
2006-12-27 00:55:16 · update #1
i don't know if it's illegal, but it's unethical.
2006-12-27 00:42:02 · answer #1 · answered by barb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is entrapment. Not sure about the legal ramifications, but it reveals the sneaky character of your ex-boss and the environment he created in that work place. The boss was wanting to tempt his employees, so he made that envelope obvious and tempting. What you should have done is pick up that envelope and stick it under something on the desk, or put something on top of it so the temptation was nil. Reading what was inside is a breach of etiquette, privacy and good manners. In short it was wrong. But pooh on your boss for being such a weeny.
2006-12-27 00:56:29 · answer #2 · answered by pshdsa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is legal. You had no business in that work space, going through the bosses papers. If I had been the boss, I'd have gotten you the next day, not a wekk.
Sue for what? Firing you for doing something wrong? Grow up and move on.
2006-12-27 00:44:44 · answer #3 · answered by kingstubborn 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is legal, there are jurisdictions out there for classified information protection, He/She probably suspected someone was tampering/rummaging through their desk and decided to catch you in the act. Why were you doing that anyway? Its just like opening someone elses mail, there is a law against that, your employer could sue you, but decided to fire you instead, you should be lucky to get off so easily.
2006-12-27 00:44:56 · answer #4 · answered by germanrose20 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what state you live and/or work in.... example... Texas is a "Right to Work" state. Which really means "right to fire". They can fire you because they dont like the color of your shoes, or fire you because they dont like the way your nose crinkles when smiling.... So you would have to check with your local state laws. I would try a www.EEOC.gov or www.workplacefairness.org
2006-12-27 00:48:43 · answer #5 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like you were being set up.. your former boss sounds pretty paranoid.. he probably has some naughty secrets hidden in other files or something.. unfortunately employeers can fire you for just about anything and there's not a lot that can be done about it..
2006-12-27 00:43:56 · answer #6 · answered by Byakuya 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. You can be fired for that.
2006-12-27 00:42:57 · answer #7 · answered by hooper5446 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋