+ 
Posted on 08/17/2024 9:44:43 PM PDT by Jonty30
Just a random question, but relevant for some of us older workers.
Hypothetical situation, if a business fires you or lays you off, but they realized after that you had knowledge about the business, like a combination to a safety that nobody else had, can they legally make you give it up to them?
Following.
Legally, no. Possibly yes if you were still employed by them, and only firing could be the repercussion. I would think they’d just have a professional come open it then change the combination.
Pull a Hillary. I don’t recall that. (Same thing as eff off). Just better in court.
Don’t know about the legalities, but I would give it to them (presuming I legitimately remembered it).
It’s the honorable thing to do.
It’s not about the company; it’s about your personal integrity.
Set up a business as a contractor- charge them 4 hours minimum and a very high hourly rate to open the safe.
That said, my amateur opinion is no they cannot force you to do any work as you are not their employee.
Why would you not? Spite?
I don’t think they can legally make you. If you don’t want to do it and they start putting pressure on you...tell them you also know other things about the business...that others just might want to know...
I would ask them for an honorarium...$100 bucks cash paid before you give them the numbers...but I would request that I do the opening myself.
If they get ridiculous just ignore them....they can always get a safe locksmith...
Legal questions like this are impossible to answer without a lot more info and research.
But I’m wondering, did you select the combination, or change it to one only you know?
Because then maybe I could see your employer suing you, maybe even having you arrested, for theft or damaging company property.
And we’d need to see your employment contract if there was one.
And what’s in the safe?
Is the safe your property? Does the safe contain any of your property? If the answer to both of these is no, why would you deny them the combination?
Good questions, William!
I’m a lawyer whose area of expertise is safes and safe cracking. In all my years in this profession, I’ve come to learn that all they really need to do is get a stethoscope and listen real closely as they turn the dials and they should be able to get it open.
> It’s the honorable thing to do. <
Right you are. If the employer owns the safe, give them the combination and be done with it.
One reason Western civilization is in the mess it’s in is that few people have a sense of honor anymore. It’s all about me, and not about doing the right thing.
Huzzah
If they own the safe, of course
DOD, they have the combo to any safes as they are gov property.
Not a good idea.
Yep
+
can they legally make you give them what you don’t remember??? 8^)?
I say no. You were in a relationship of mutual benefit. You negotiated what each provided to the other. They decided to end the relationship.
It appears they wish to enter into another one, short-term, where they have a particular service in mind. You can negotiate what they have to provide in exchange.
As long as the 13th Amendment is still in effect, I don’t see how you can be compelled to perform for them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.