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.

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