A woman starts a new job and two months later starts a relationship with her boss. They are the best of friends they spend a lot of time together. Phone calls are exchanged every day through cell phones etc. This last for 10 months until the bosses wife finds out and now the woman is losing her job without notice. Is there any recourse for her? This is in the state of florida. Besides it just being a stupid move and her being extremely hurt by all of it, she is also losing a job where she makes good money. She's own her own with three kids. What should she do?????? The man has never treated her with anything but respect until now.
2007-03-11 14:05:46 · 6 answers · asked by DJM 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
Yes, she should check with legal aid. They will give her advice for free, possibly on the phone to start with. It is considered sexual harassment. She needs to think it through first. Does she want this kind of thing on her resume? Can she get a good reference from this boss? Can she get a letter of recommendation from this boss? She will be asked by future employers the reason she left this job.
It isn't fair, it just is. You are not supposed to get any repercussions from this but it happens anyway.
2007-03-11 14:16:49 · answer #1 · answered by SUSAN K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She clearly has a case for wrongful dismissal. Best to speak with a lawyer immediately. BTW, although this involves an affair, it is not sex harassment because there is no harassment involved. There's no "just cause" for her dismissal, i.e. can't legally fire someone because she had an affair with the boss.
Although your friend did nothing illegal, what she did was illicit and it's a lesson learned. I often advise against romantice affairs at work. Although the second most common way married couples first meet is through work, it's can be treacherous. When it's between coworkers, it can sour the working relationship if the affair breakdown. Even if they work in different departments, you still have to face the person daily at work and that's stressful. I know this from experience. But getting into an affair with the boss can put your job at risk. What's more, your friend got into an extramarital affair because the boss is married! She was at high risk of this situation developing! If the boss' wife finds out, she'll want your friend gone from work. Although it's illegal to fire her over this, it's going to happen. And it did! What your friend did was not only risky it was ILLICT!! That's why she's in the situation she is. She's done nothing illegal but she made a serious mistake.
-- Liam
2007-03-11 14:56:26 · answer #2 · answered by almcneilcan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably not.
Aside from the first response - unless she can show that it was unwelcome - I don't think she will have much of a harassment case (but if you know a lawyer, check anyhow.)
Generally speaking, as long as work was "at-will" (I'm not familiar with Florida, but most of us are all "at-will" employees) You can get fired at any time, with or without notice - as long as the reason is non-discriminatory.
What does that mean? If, say, it were a construction company in the days of old, and every guy who walked in the door made comments about her legs/body/whatever - then she'd have a harassment case. If her boss promised her a raise if she's sleep with him - that would be a harassment case.
If, as it sounds, she got no special treatment and she went into this relationship willingly - I don't think she will have a case.
I suspect that a very savvy employment lawyer would be able to try and show that 1) if she weren't a woman, she wouldn't have had a relationship with her boss and 2) that relationship is what caused her to be let go - then POSSIBLY she might have a case.
Best of luck to your friend - but tell her to be wiser. Married men are NEVER good to have relationships with!!!
2007-03-11 14:11:07 · answer #3 · answered by tigglys 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask him for a transfer to another location within the same company (if possible), or a substantial buy out... or (consult a lawyer first) tell him she'll sue for wrongful dismissal. I'm sure someone will help her out.
I hope she learned a lesson through all this, however.
Good luck to your friend.
2007-03-11 14:11:42 · answer #4 · answered by swilkes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sweety "she" has a lawsuit...the boss is in violation of sexual harassment because bosses shouldnt get involved with their workers...like a teacher shouldnt get involved with a student..
A good lawyer could help her case and rightfully sue either sexual harassment or something close lol good luck
2007-03-11 14:10:17 · answer #5 · answered by myownsecretarydotcom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dump the thing like a bad habit get back up and move on
2007-03-11 14:15:46 · answer #6 · answered by Punk Princess 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋