Nervous Nelly
New Member
The work I do is very important and highly regulated. I witnessed a coworker do something illegal at work, and I questioned this person about their actions and the potential legal implications. This particular act is not only against the laws of the state I live in; it is against the various regulations required by my employer to continue to do business. I was warned by this person to keep the matter quiet. I feared for my job, so I kept my mouth shut. Over the next few months this person repeatedly tried to get me fired at work with various allegations about my work performance. The attempts didn't work. (A few months before, I brought up a situation when this person started yelling at me. Nothing was said about the way this person spoke to me, but the director told me that I was doing a great job.) This person then announced that they were leaving to take another position. I am not naïve. I thought my job might be in jeopardy because this person had been with the company considerably longer than me. I figured this was a last ditch attempt to tell the director in my company that it was either "them or me." Sure enough, I was told my position was being terminated. I wasn't provided with any reason, but I have since been told it wasn't for cause. This coworker is still working at the company and was promoted. The former boss has since been demoted.
My job is extremely specialized, and there aren't any other options for employment in my state. I've been applying, interviewing and traveling out of state for job opportunities. Naturally this is quite expensive.
My desire is to go away peacefully, but I have a price. It will take me a considerable amount of time to find comparable employment, and I want to be adequately compensated since I was not fired for cause.
I was offered 2 separate agreements if I released any and all future claims against my employer. Considering most states (including mine) are employment at-will, I didn't think I had any options, but I believe I have a wrongful termination case.
How hard would you fight for your livelihood and for what is right? Obviously if this information goes public, I could jeopardize my chances of getting hired in my field in the future. If I go away now, I'm looking at significantly less money than what I need to find similar employment in the field. Without money, how will I find comparable employment? How will I support myself? Unemployment is a small fraction of what I made and is not enough to pay my bills. Would you have the courage to play the legal game to see if they're trying to call my bluff? Can anyone help me see this objectively?
My job is extremely specialized, and there aren't any other options for employment in my state. I've been applying, interviewing and traveling out of state for job opportunities. Naturally this is quite expensive.
My desire is to go away peacefully, but I have a price. It will take me a considerable amount of time to find comparable employment, and I want to be adequately compensated since I was not fired for cause.
I was offered 2 separate agreements if I released any and all future claims against my employer. Considering most states (including mine) are employment at-will, I didn't think I had any options, but I believe I have a wrongful termination case.
How hard would you fight for your livelihood and for what is right? Obviously if this information goes public, I could jeopardize my chances of getting hired in my field in the future. If I go away now, I'm looking at significantly less money than what I need to find similar employment in the field. Without money, how will I find comparable employment? How will I support myself? Unemployment is a small fraction of what I made and is not enough to pay my bills. Would you have the courage to play the legal game to see if they're trying to call my bluff? Can anyone help me see this objectively?