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Can Somebody Outside of Your Company Demand That Your Employer Discipline You

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  • 03-05-2015, 11:52 PM
    Sinjin
    Can Somebody Outside of Your Company Demand That Your Employer Discipline You
    My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: Georgia


    I've been working for my company for 5 years now. I am the top producer for my company and have been for at least four of those 5 years. I've had no disciplinary issues to speak of pertaining to my job. I'm complimented regularly by upper management, co-workers and customers on my demeanor, work ethic, and ability to handle a higher than normal workload.

    My company works with some affiliates with whom I refer our customers to. One of which I work with on a daily basis. The owner of this affiliate...has my CEOs ear, so to speak. I refer my customers directly to this owner and she in turn passes those referrals on to her sales people. On one occasion, just after I was hired, I misquoted something to a customer, a few days after our policy had changed on this matter. The owner speaks with the customer, and instead of speaking with me goes directly to my area director, who in turn calls my manager. The owner demands I be disciplined and the area director backs her up. My manager just warns me not to cross this owner because of her close connections with upper management, and she will stop at nothing to ruin you if you get on her bad side. I was livid that this person had so much access and input to my job performance record. My manager didn't discipline me because it wasn't anything serious.

    A few years have gone by now and this owner has fired nearly everyone who was working for her, or she has driven them away. So now I am dealing directly with her again. Today I was called into my managers office to discuss something. One of my customers had complained to this owner that they were not made aware of one piece of business by me. This customer had just completed a prior transaction with us and was well aware of this detail. The owner goes directly to my CEO, again demanding disciplinary action. I was warned that disciplinary action would be taken next time.

    My question is this; what, if any, legal recourse do I have? This owner is not an employee of my company, and in my opinion should have zero knowledge or input into my employment status. I love my company overall, and do not wish to ever take this matter beyond our office walls, but I feel they are forcing my hand by allowing someone outside the company to dictate employee discipline.

    Sorry for rambling, but if felt the backstory needed to be told, plus I'm furious right now. It's all I've thought about for the past 8 hours. Thanks for your time and input. I greatly appreciate it.
  • 03-06-2015, 12:01 AM
    Disagreeable
    Re: How Much Influence or Knowledge Should Someone Outside My Company Have Over My Jo
    You can get another job. They cannot force you to stay beyond the length of any contract you might have.
  • 03-06-2015, 12:02 AM
    Dogmatique
    Re: How Much Influence or Knowledge Should Someone Outside My Company Have Over My Jo
    Your employer is allowed to discipline you for any reason or no reason at all as long as it's not because of a protected characteristic.

    If the client is knowingly making false statements, you might have some recourse but you've mentioned nothing to suggest that's the case.
  • 03-06-2015, 05:57 AM
    flyingron
    Re: How Much Influence or Knowledge Should Someone Outside My Company Have Over My Jo
    Nothing wrong here. Barring a contract or some collective bargaining agreement, you're free to quit and they're free to fire you for just about any reason. There's no obligation that a customer of a business report problems they have with you back to you rather than going to the higher ups in the company (in fact people rarely do, why should I deal with a misbehaving employee). Your employment record, by the way, is not subject to any confidentiality restrictions.
  • 03-06-2015, 06:33 AM
    Sinjin
    Re: How Much Influence or Knowledge Should Someone Outside My Company Have Over My Jo
    Quote:

    Quoting flyingron
    View Post
    Nothing wrong here. Barring a contract or some collective bargaining agreement, you're free to quit and they're free to fire you for just about any reason. There's no obligation that a customer of a business report problems they have with you back to you rather than going to the higher ups in the company (in fact people rarely do, why should I deal with a misbehaving employee). Your employment record, by the way, is not subject to any confidentiality restrictions.

    This is what I needed to know. Thanks for the replys.
  • 03-06-2015, 06:35 AM
    adjusterjack
    Re: How Much Influence or Knowledge Should Someone Outside My Company Have Over My Jo
    Quote:

    Quoting Sinjin
    View Post

    I'm furious right now. It's all I've thought about for the past 8 hours.

    Get over it or find another job.

    This is how work works. Your company's owner values the affiliate more than he values you. There's no legal recourse for that.
  • 03-06-2015, 06:53 AM
    cbg
    Re: How Much Influence or Knowledge Should Someone Outside My Company Have Over My Jo
    The direct answer to your subject heading question, btw, is, As much as the employer wants there to be.
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