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’

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Etai Eshet • Editor
Oct 15, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

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.

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  • AITA for refusing to share my work files after being laid off and rehired as a “contractor”?

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    via JLco Julia Amaral

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I (29F) worked for a small architecture firm for 4 years. I handled client proposals, design drafts, and managed several long-term projects.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • Two months ago, the company announced "restructuring" and I was laid off. It sucked, but I got severance and started freelancing.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • Last week, my old boss called asking if I'd consider coming back but as a contractor, not an employee.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • I agreed short-term, just to finish the projects I had started. Here's where it gets weird: they asked me to hand over all my design files from the past year, including projects I did while I was freelancing, since "they were based on ideas developed during employment." Those freelance projects have different clients and were done after my layoff.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • I refused, saying those were my intellectual property. My old boss accused me of being "vindictive" and said I was "holding company work hostage." But the truth is, I only used my own drafts and skills, not their resources or clients.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • Cheezburger Image 10563378944
    via Perfect Wave

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Now they're threatening not to renew my contract and saying I'll "burn bridges" in the industry.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • My boyfriend thinks I should just hand them over to keep peace, but it feels like they're taking advantage.
    via Odd-Sea6299

  •  Setting a clear boundary and protecting your own work is simply practical. If a company cannot respect your contribution and tries to grab more than their share, saying no is about self-respect, not drama. Knowing the difference between helping out and being taken advantage of is how you keep your work and your peace clean.

  • 000
    via JLco Julia Amaral

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • AITA for refusing to share my files?
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • Either-Kale7429 NTA, They laid you off, which ends your obligation to them. Anything you made after that is yours, full stop. They want free intellectual property, not "continuity." Protect your work, they already showed how they value you when they fired you.
    via Either-Kale7429
  • nerd_is_a_verb Your BF is an idiot. NTA. Tell them if they are accusing you of stealing that you'll sue them for defamation, so they better watch WTF they say because you don't respond to threats. ETA - to be clear, I'm referring to your freelancing work, which is clearly legally yours. ETA typo
    via nerd_is_a_verb
  • NTA. LostBab3s4490 They don't own your work after you were laid off. Period. Once they ended your employment and paid severance, that was the end of your obligation to them. Anything you created after that point especially for different clients and using your own time and tools belongs entirely to you.
    via LostBab3s4490
  • ACM915 NTA but whatever you do, don't handover those files they will use them for future products. You will not get reimbursed for that and they will let go of you immediately or terminate your so- called contract. The only reason they offered you a contract was to get a hold of your intellectual property so again don't give it to them.
    via ACM915
  • Glittering Win_9677 They brought you back as a contractor to get your work products. They will drop you again as soon as they can after getting their hands on YOUR intellectual property. I'm not saying your boyfriend has no idea what he's talking about but he apparently has never been misused by an employer and is a bit too trusting in my opinion.
    via Glittering Win_9677
  • NTA Continent3 Your company is trying to take advantage of you. Tell them to drop dead and move on. It will not get better if you give into them.
    via Continent3
  • Dnm3k News flash, they only "rehired" you to get those important files back because they know once your severance was completed, your legal obligations contractually were complete. If they would like those files and all future files, it'll be a few separate of your consultant/freelancing fees
    via Dnm3k
  • Bella-1999 No! They can't have it both ways. They have no right to work they didn't actually pay you for.
    via Bella-1999
  • Designer Vegetable652 Tell them not to worry about renewing your contract , because once youre contract is up you'll be moving on. Tell them this isn't a good fit.
    via DesignerVegetable652
  • Electrical_Tax_8805 This is a shitty employer. Responding with threats says a lot. You need to go back to free lancing because I guarantee they will be less than kind for the remainder of your tenure there.
    via Electrical_Tax_8805

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