Follow-Up on Bad Boss, “Mr. Jones”

I shared a client’s story about her horrible boss, Mr. Jones, a few months ago. I just received an update, and I thought you might be intrigued: 

I took your advice about Mr. Jones and began aggressively looking for a new job in my off hours. So far, nothing has panned out. As for Mr. Jones, he’s only gotten worse. A few weeks ago, he asked me to write terms and conditions for our website. I told him that I was not an attorney and did not think it wise for me to draft legal content. I told him he should consult his lawyer for counsel and ensure the business is protected from liability. 

A few days after this incident, he Slacked me a link to a competitor’s website and told me to copy and paste their terms and conditions and disclaimers onto our website. I refused and advised him that the competitor’s information was probably their intellectual property and that it would be, at minimum, unethical to do this. He was unhappy with me and found someone else to do it.

Two weeks later, I received an unexpected meeting invitation from HR. You know where this is going. I got on the call, and they told me, “Today is your last day.” I was immediately locked out of all company systems and could not even say goodbye to my colleagues. 

This is a relief. Now, I can put more effort into seeking employment elsewhere without Mr. Jones’s micromanagement. I will be sure to do a better job of assessing the culture before accepting any future offers! One thing that troubles me is that Mr. Jones had me sign a non-compete agreement when I joined. I am afraid that this is going to limit my ability to find new employment. What do you suggest? 

Here is my response:

Congratulations on sticking to your principles. There is no right way to do the wrong thing, and copying another company’s website content is most definitely the WRONG THING to do. This is a case in which I advise you to seek counsel from an employment law attorney. If you refused to do something illegal and your boss retaliated against you, that is illegal. I don’t know if that happened here, but the timing of your termination seems suspicious. I cannot say for certain that what Mr. Jones asked you to do was illegal, but it certainly wasn’t ethical. An employment law attorney will be able to clarify this for you. 

As for your non-compete agreement—these are notoriously difficult to enforce. But again, that agreement should be reviewed by an attorney for proper legal advice on the matter. Also, please have the attorney review your severance agreement BEFORE you sign and return it. 

So, everyone’s take on Mr. Jones was correct. He is a Class A Jerk and is irredeemable. I am happy that this client is freed from the bondage of his inane micromanagement and can now focus on finding a better match for herself, but I’m disheartened that this kind of nonsense and abuse of power is still commonplace! Finally, and as always, if you think you have been targeted and retaliated against, please seek legal counsel to guide you. Do not say anything, sign anything, or email your employer until you have done so.