Legal Question in Employment Law in California

I recently resigned from a NATO contracting job in Afghanistan. We live in dorm style housing units and my Boss entered my room without permission and went through my email's and Facebook messages. He discovered that I was having an affair with a coworker. The next day he brought me into his office and told my coworker and myself what he had done. He relieved me from my additional duties but did not fire me from my primary work function. He threatened to use this information to bar me from getting an additional security job I was applying for. I resigned that day to try and protect my future. He (my boss) has a history of flying off the handle and intimidating personnel. Is what he did illegal? What are my options?


Asked on 3/04/14, 5:07 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

Well....

If this had happened in the US, you may have had grounds for legal action for 'privacy' violations. You may want to ask legal experts in Afghanistan what the laws are there, where the action occurred. Theoretically, if this is a US company, you might be able to file a federal lawsuit here, if you can show you have valid legal grounds and causes of action under US law over which the federal court has jurisdiction. Keep in mind that if you assert US law governing employment and termination, you may find the rule that applies to you is that, unless an employee is civil service, in a union, or has a written employment contract, they are an 'at will' employee that can be disciplined or terminated any time for any reason, with or without �cause�, explanation or notice. Here I would assume you are under contract, so read the terms to see what protections if any it gives you. Specifically check the 'at will' issue, and the grounds for firing for cause such as 'misconduct' and for 'fraternization violation' or morals clause.

Read more
Answered on 3/04/14, 11:34 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Labor and Employment Law questions and answers in California