Background information: my former boss 1) employs an illegal immigrant to save money on cleaning services, 2) asked me to alter documents, 3) asked me to cancel my hotel room/stay with him in his condo while traveling, 4) improperly invoices, 5) doesn't always pay vendors, etc. As a result, I do not trust him at all. I gave two weeks' notice, and my last day was yesterday. He refused to close my e-mail account upon my departure and is having all messages forwarded to him. He also instructed the other employees to say that I'm simply "out of the office" rather than no longer employed at the company when people call. I am not comfortable with this situation/fear he will use my account to send e-mails and know he is doing all of this to deceive both clients and vendors. Can I get a court order to make him close the e-mail account (I live/work in New York City)? If so, is it best to seek out an employment attorney to start the process? Thank you for your advice!
2007-05-19 08:41:32 · 2 answers · asked by JessieD 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
Discuss this with your lawyer. Congratulations on getting out of there.
You could let people know you are no longer at that company......clients and vendors..... but check with your legal advisor first.
2007-05-19 08:52:55 · answer #1 · answered by smiling_freds_biz_info 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He is engaging in illegal activity. (Hiring illegals)
He is engaging in possible criminal activity. (Having you alter documents - which if you did *you* could be in serious trouble too.)
He is engaging in possible immoral/illegal activity. (If you are female, his asking you to stay with him while travelling could be construed as sexual harrasment.)
He is engaging in Fraudulent Activity. (Knowingly producing incorrect invoices - this is called Criminal Fraud)
He is engaging in Criminal Activity. (Refusing to pay vendors for contracted services.)
As for your boss refusing to "close" your e-mail account. This is a grey area. You could try to log-in using your old password and send a blanket e-mail to all of your contacts to ignore/delete any future e-mail from this address, as you no longer work for the company. Mind, you, you could be arrested for doing so. Instead, contact all the vendors and clients you were dealing with PERSONALLY to advise them that you have left the employ of the company for personal ethical reasons, so they should ignore any future e-mails from your former account, but DO NOT GO INTO DETAIL.
Many companies will not close an e-mail account of a former employee when that person leaves for a simple reason. They will have the e-mail forwarded to the person whom has replaced the departed person, or taken over the account(s) managed by them.
Considering the criminal and unethical behaviour your former boss has already displayed, I'd say you have a legitimate concern. However, due to the altered documentation with your name on it..unless you have the original documentation in a safe place, you should not come forward unless you are willing to become a whistle blower, in which case you would need to bring EVERYTHING you did while employed there to the attention of the DA.
As for obtaining an injunction to close the account/informing persons that you are unavailalbe...it could work, and you may need to do so. See a lawyer soon!
You could also obtain employement in the same industry ASAP, and be seen at the trade shows/etc with the new company, and proclaim to all and sundry that you haven't worked there in weeks/months/etc.
If you have friends among the company's employees, and you are friendly with your former clients and vendors, keep your ears up and see if he is still using your name. (Again, that could be fraud.)
The BIG question is, did you talk to your clients and vendors to let them know you were leaving? If you didn't...do it NOW.
2007-05-19 16:10:17 · answer #2 · answered by jcurrieii 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋