Is it illegal for my former boss to tell other employees and customers I was fired and why without my consent?
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Is it illegal for my former boss to tell other employees and customers I was fired and why without my consent?
Asked on December 7, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, New Hampshire
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
No, it is not illegal. Unless you had a confidentiality or nondisclosure agreement (such as part of a separation agreeement) which prevented this, the company is free to tell *anyone* that you were fired--and why you were fired--and does not need your consent. If the company is making untrue factual statements (e.g. that you stole, when you didn't) about you, that might give you grounds to sue them for defamation. Note, however, that opinions are not something you could sue over, so the employer may say, for example, "We fired John/Jane Doe because he/she was the worst employee ever"--since that is an opinion, you could not do anything about it.
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