A recent business litigation case in West Palm Beach, Florida, highlights the difficulties that workers can have when the terms of their employment are not in line with the employment agreement that they originally signed. The case pits one worker against the debt-collection agency with whom he has been employed for 10 years. The employee has filed suit against his employer, alleging breach of contract.
The complaint outlines an employment arrangement in which the worker was expected to host his married boss and various prostitutes within his home. The employee alleges this happened at least five times. In addition, the boss harassed the man by means of verbal abuse, threats and intimidation, the complaint says. The defendant also apparently intruded into the worker’s personal life by calling at all hours and making derogatory comments about the worker’s mother.
In addition, the complaint alleges that the boss gained access to the man’s social media accounts and monitored his communications. A GPS device was also allegedly installed on the man’s phone in order to track his movements outside of working hours. The employee’s lawsuit also claims that the company cut the worker’s commissions by as much as 50 percent in order to increase profits.
The worker is asking the court to release him from his existing employment contract, including a non-compete clause. He is also seeking damages for breach of contract. While this example of a workplace conflict may not be indicative of the majority of such Florida cases, it does demonstrate that there are a wide range of issues that can cause a working relationship to become unbearable. Workers who feel that their employment contracts are not being adequately followed should know that there are avenues of legal recourse available to them, should they decide to take action in the matter.
Source: Courthouse News Service, “Worker Says His Home Became a Brothel,” Terry O. Roen, Sept. 27, 2012