DwightNYC212
New Member
While employed at a large global digital marketing agency in New York City with approximately 1,000+ employees, I was recruited by the owners of a smaller boutique agency, also here in NYC, to work on a very high profile account that I was told that they had just signed a long-term agreement with, and they needed someone with my skills and experience to manage this new piece of business.
At the new agency I was hired at a starting salary of $95,000 per year, plus full benefits, which was $12, 500 more per year then my previous salary at the larger agency.
Approximately two months into the job, I learned directly from the new client, while on a conference call with them and my boss, that there was actually no long-term agreement in place and that no final decision had been made on whether we would be their agency of record. The client went on to say that the current agreement was just a temporary one for initial work, and that there were no guarantees in place for more work going forward.
After that client call ended, my boss seemed very uncomfortable. It was obvious to me that I was not supposed to know that a long-term agreement between the client and the agency had not been signed.
When I questioned my boss about this new revelation, she avoided the question and took me to lunch and reassured me that we would definitely win the account and that there was nothing to worry about.
Approximately one month later, the client abruptly announced they would have to delay the launch of the initial work we were currently working on, and that I was managing, for approximately one to two months....with no actual start-up date given.
One week after the client's announcement, I was called into my boss' office and told that due to the client delays, they could no longer afford to pay my salary and that my employment was being terminated. I was then offered 2 weeks severance, only if I signed a 7 page separation agreement waiving my rights to take any legal action against the company. I never signed the separation agreement.
Meanwhile, during my 3 months of employment, 5 new employees with similar responsibilities were hired after my start date to work on other accounts at the agency, and 2 more new hires where scheduled to start in a couple of weeks. My employment was the only one that was terminated.
What recourse do I have for my former employers lies and deception?
I was the only African-American male at the company of 25 employees and I was the only one terminated. At no time did my employers state that my employment was contingent on the signing of a long-term agreement with a client. If I had known this information I would have never accepted the opportunity.
At the new agency I was hired at a starting salary of $95,000 per year, plus full benefits, which was $12, 500 more per year then my previous salary at the larger agency.
Approximately two months into the job, I learned directly from the new client, while on a conference call with them and my boss, that there was actually no long-term agreement in place and that no final decision had been made on whether we would be their agency of record. The client went on to say that the current agreement was just a temporary one for initial work, and that there were no guarantees in place for more work going forward.
After that client call ended, my boss seemed very uncomfortable. It was obvious to me that I was not supposed to know that a long-term agreement between the client and the agency had not been signed.
When I questioned my boss about this new revelation, she avoided the question and took me to lunch and reassured me that we would definitely win the account and that there was nothing to worry about.
Approximately one month later, the client abruptly announced they would have to delay the launch of the initial work we were currently working on, and that I was managing, for approximately one to two months....with no actual start-up date given.
One week after the client's announcement, I was called into my boss' office and told that due to the client delays, they could no longer afford to pay my salary and that my employment was being terminated. I was then offered 2 weeks severance, only if I signed a 7 page separation agreement waiving my rights to take any legal action against the company. I never signed the separation agreement.
Meanwhile, during my 3 months of employment, 5 new employees with similar responsibilities were hired after my start date to work on other accounts at the agency, and 2 more new hires where scheduled to start in a couple of weeks. My employment was the only one that was terminated.
What recourse do I have for my former employers lies and deception?
I was the only African-American male at the company of 25 employees and I was the only one terminated. At no time did my employers state that my employment was contingent on the signing of a long-term agreement with a client. If I had known this information I would have never accepted the opportunity.
