Legal Question in Sexual Harassment in California
My employer is mandating me to sign a release agreement
The CEO of our company asked me to come clean about a few particular events that took place in our LA sales office. One of these events included the day were a photo copy of my picture with the message �Gay Assistant� written next to it, was found taped on my supervisors computer monitor. I immediately trashed the picture. I didn�t make a big deal of it at the time; however, there were witnesses to this event.
One of the witnesses happens to be currently living in the home of the CEO of this TV Company. She reported this and other events after she quit her job a few months afterwards. Ever since I affirmed this particular event, the CEO of the company has been frequently calling me at home and at work, and is requiring me to sign an agreement releasing the TV station from any liabilities or damage I may latter claim.
The CEO also told me that I must sign this agreement as well as cash a check for $100 dollars. The CEO wants me to do this immediately. I don�t think I should sign anything, however, I�m afraid I will lose my job. I�m also afraid the CEO will tell my immediate supervisors about various confidential information I have shared with him regarding my opinions on how they manage the company. Can anyone help?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: My employer is mandating me to sign a release agreement
Your employer is trying to coerce you into signing a release agreement waiving any claims against the company. Acceptance of the $100 is called consideration, which is necessary to make the contract binding. However, it is illegal for an employer to force an employee to enter into such an agreement, and agreements which are coerced are voidable. But sometimes the coercion is hard to prove. You should talk to someone you trust in the company and tell them the situation. Preferably, it would be someone in Human Resources who could advise you. If you don't think you have anyone to help you within, contact a local attorney to write a letter to the company on your behalf.
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