Can I hold my employer liable for contracting an outside firm that is in direct competition with me that has hired a relative of the employer?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can I hold my employer liable for contracting an outside firm that is in direct competition with me that has hired a relative of the employer?
Okay – let me explain. I was hired two months ago to solely
handle a company’s PR/marketing. Stipulations in my offer
letter was that I receive a bonus dependent on if I can take
over some of the responsibilities that an outside PR firm
had been contracted to do. After one month of being there,
the firm – after much coaxing from the company’s CEO –
hired a close family member of the CEO. Since then, things
have been difficult and the CEO is most definitely trying to
hire the PR firm to take over all of my work and oust me.
Also, there are communications happening that directly
effect my job that I am not privy to between the CEO and
this family member. This seems to be a major conflict of
interest on the part of the CEO who is my direct boss.
What are my legal options in this situation?
Asked on May 5, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, New York
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
While you have an offer letter you don't appear to have an employment contract (or even union agreement) which might afford you protection in this case. Without that, as an "at will" worker, your companyy can set the conditions of employment much as it sees fit. this includes changing an employee's wages and out soucing certain, work, etc. Further, nepotism in the workplace is legal; not all employees need be treated the same or even fairly (absent some form of legally actionable discrimination).
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
No, you have no recourse, unfortunately: a company is free to change an employee's duties, to out-source employee functions, etc.--they are not bound to always do things the same way just to give you the chance to earn a bonus. And nepotism is also legal, of course--just look at our current President and his family, for example. What you describe may be unfair, but it is legal, and you cannot sue over it.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.