I’m currently under investigation at work after a former employee, who got fired, shared private texts with our VP, CEO, and others. These texts were just venting about management, but now I’m worried I might lose my job. I work in HR and have access to sensitive data. The former employee is accusing me of looking at her salary and disability info without cause. The company told me to keep working as usual while the investigation is ongoing. Should I get a lawyer for this situation?
That sounds rough. If you’re worried about losing your job, it might be worth consulting a lawyer just to be safe.
Wade said:
That sounds rough. If you’re worried about losing your job, it might be worth consulting a lawyer just to be safe.
Agreed. HR cases can get messy, especially if sensitive info is involved. A lawyer could help you handle it.
Wade said:
That sounds rough. If you’re worried about losing your job, it might be worth consulting a lawyer just to be safe.
Good point. But since NC is an at-will state, does that limit how much a lawyer can actually help?
@Luca
Not necessarily. A lawyer can still help if discrimination or legal violations are part of the issue.
Do you think the venting texts could be seen as a breach of company rules? That might affect the outcome.
Zephyr said:
Do you think the venting texts could be seen as a breach of company rules? That might affect the outcome.
I’m not sure, but the texts were private and more personal than professional. They weren’t meant to cause any issues.
Zephyr said:
Do you think the venting texts could be seen as a breach of company rules? That might affect the outcome.
If that’s the case, it might help your defense. A lawyer could definitely help you argue that point.
What exactly does at-will employment mean? I hear it a lot, but I’m not clear on how it works.
Shai said:
What exactly does at-will employment mean? I hear it a lot, but I’m not clear on how it works.
At-will means your employer can fire you for pretty much any reason, as long as it’s not illegal (like discrimination).
Shai said:
What exactly does at-will employment mean? I hear it a lot, but I’m not clear on how it works.
Makes sense. That makes it tough for OP unless there’s clear evidence to fight back.
Did the fired employee make any specific accusations, or is this just about the texts being shared?
Storm said:
Did the fired employee make any specific accusations, or is this just about the texts being shared?
She claims I improperly accessed her salary and disability info, but I have the same access as everyone else in HR.
Storm said:
Did the fired employee make any specific accusations, or is this just about the texts being shared?
If it’s routine access, that seems like something you could clarify easily. A lawyer might help with that too.
Does your workplace have a union? They might be able to offer support during the investigation.
Rio said:
Does your workplace have a union? They might be able to offer support during the investigation.
No, there’s no union here. I’m handling this on my own for now.
Rio said:
Does your workplace have a union? They might be able to offer support during the investigation.
That’s tough. Without a union, a lawyer might be your best option for some solid advice.