Can I legally be demoted because my store manager says that my employees don’t like me?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can I legally be demoted because my store manager says that my employees don’t like me?
I went from being an associate to a manager, then to a team lead because they got rid of our ASM position, now back to associate but with no pay change. This happened during my first evaluation and the only reason given to me was that other associates don’t like me. I find hard to believe since they come to me over other managers for issues. Is this legal?
Asked on March 15, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, New Jersey
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Unfortunately your employer can take this action; it is perfectly legal. If you are an "at will" employee (and the majority of workers are), that is if you do not have an employment contract or union agreement that prohibits this action. Basically, in an at will employment situation, an employer can hire/fire someone any reason (even a bad reason) or even no reason at all. Additionally, it can increase/decrease an employee's salary/hours, promote/demote an employee, and generally impose requirements as it sees fit. In turn, an employee can choose to work for an employer or leave. This is true unless there as been some type of workplace discrimination involved.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.