29-year-old architect rejects requests for her project files and designs after being laid off and rehired as a contractor by the same firm: ‘They’re saying I’ll “burn bridges” in the industry’

After four years at a small architecture firm, getting fired only to be brought back as a contractor feels more like patching holes than getting a fresh start. Now the company wants access to all your old files and also the new ones you created after you left. They try to claim everything as company property, even projects you did for outside clients once you were freelancing. Instead of respecting your boundaries, they accuse you of holding work captive.

This type of move is all too common in business. Companies often act like every idea or file you ever touched belongs to them, even after they let you go. When they need help later, they expect you to hand everything over, no questions asked. Loyalty is pressured with threats about so-called bridges and future jobs, but what they really want is to get as much free value as possible.

Like what you see? Follow our WhatsApp channel for more.

Author image for Etai Eshet Etai Eshet
Advertisement

Stay up to date by following us on Facebook!

Tags

management boss workplace-stories hr manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
Scroll Down For The Next Article

Also From FAIL Blog

‘She was still shouting at me from the apron of her driveway when I got in my car and left’: Yard sale host asks a man to move a heavy cabinet, then bargains aggressively and insists he buy it or put it back

‘She was still shouting at me from the apron of her driveway when I got in my car and left’: Yard sale host asks a man to move a heavy cabinet, then bargains aggressively and insists he buy it or put it back

Trending Now

16-year-old abruptly kicked out by father with just $20 and no support for "talking back", spends days homeless before friend shelters him, he is eventually fetched by his father, but struggles with forgiveness years later: 'I've never healed from this'

16-year-old abruptly kicked out by father with just $20 and no support for "talking back", spends days homeless before friend shelters him, he is eventually fetched by his father, but struggles with forgiveness years later: 'I've never healed from this'

01
58-year-old essential employee gets laid off 1 year before retiring, entire team quits out of loyalty, HR begs them to come back for double their original pay: 'I'll come back for 13 weeks'

58-year-old essential employee gets laid off 1 year before retiring, entire team quits out of loyalty, HR begs them to come back for double their original pay: 'I'll come back for 13 weeks'

02
HOA Karen building manager, tries to force out tenant so her friend can move into the building, tenant gets the owner involved, who fires her and doubles her rent: 'she couldn’t afford to pay the full rent'

HOA Karen building manager, tries to force out tenant so her friend can move into the building, tenant gets the owner involved, who fires her and doubles her rent: 'she couldn’t afford to pay the full rent'

03
Entitled HOA board members demand that new homeowners give up their designated space for another neighbor, homeowners refuse: 'Peg didn't like that. Not one bit'

Entitled HOA board members demand that new homeowners give up their designated space for another neighbor, homeowners refuse: 'Peg didn't like that. Not one bit'

04
Former homeschooler begs parents not to homeschool their kids: 'If you think you'll be a good teacher, you're wrong'

Former homeschooler begs parents not to homeschool their kids: 'If you think you'll be a good teacher, you're wrong'

05
58-year-old employee gets let go, the rest of the department leaves, HR begs for employee to come back 4 months later: 'That's not going to work for me'

58-year-old employee gets let go, the rest of the department leaves, HR begs for employee to come back 4 months later: 'That's not going to work for me'

06
Advertisement