Harassment and now disparaging remarks by the CFO
I live in NorthWest Tennessee. I was harassed in my job as H. R. Director by the CFO for approximately 6 weeks until I finally spoke up to her on Aug. 16, 2000. She yelled at me to get my stuff and leave right now. She sent the remainder of my things to my house by the Administrative Assistant.
All of this harassment began when I went over her head to the Clinic Administrator on July 10, 2000. I went to him several times because of this harassment and he always sided with her. He said that she had a lot going on in her personal life.
I turned in a written resignation on Aug. 8, 2000 and he talked me into staying because he said that I was a valuable asset to the organization. He went out of town for a week the following Monday and she was harassing me constantly, I couldn't do anything right. This is when we had words and she yelled at me to get my stuff and leave. I filed for unemployment,and because she didn't write down her version of what happened, we had to go for a predetermination hearing. She brought in her cousin, who also works there as the Accounting Manager, and approximately 6 memos that had been fabricated and back dated, and told lie after lie on me. I was denied unemployment.
She has refused to pay me my vacation time and I have made a charge with the TN Dept. of Labor on 9-1-00 and I haven't heard anything from that yet. I have also appealed the unemployment decision and am awaiting a hearing date.
She is now telling the other employees that I didn't know how to do my job and giving me bad references to prospective employers. This is not the first time this has happened either. This is a pattern that has been going on for quite some time now involving many employees. This is a very hostile workplace and she is retaliating against me for going to the administrator and complaining on her.
There are several of us "ex-employees" who would like to know if there is anything that can be done about this.
I am looking for an attorney to evaluate my case. I would like to know what your fees would be, and if you would take a case like this on a contingency basis. Thank You.
Answers (1)
It is unclear from your message what caused you to go to the Clinic Administrator to begin with. If the nature of the harassment was of a
personal nature (this person is just not a good one to be around) and not based on race, sex, age, disability status, religion, or national origin you probably do not have much to go on.
There are a number of excellent employment lawyers in Memphis, Tennessee (Don Donati; Carolyn Howard, etc.)
To the extent that the Clinic Administrator makes negative comments to you in the workplace to people who do not have a need to know and/or gives you bad references that are not true, you may have a claim under Tennessee common for defamation. I would, again, suggest that you consult with a local attorney.
Of course, you would also have to demonstrate some injury as a result of the
allegedly false statements.
Finally, unless your personnel policies provide that unused vacation pay is
to be paid as salary at the conclusion of employment, you probably do not have a claim for that pay. Under ennessee law, if you leave your employment your employer is required to pay you no later than the next regular payday or 21 days after you end your employment, whichever occurs first.
posted by Irwin Venick | Feb 19, 2001 4:38 PM [EST]
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