Hi everyone, thank you for your input.
I have been working for a pool company that is owned by a friend of a very close (mutual) family friend. Two weeks ago on Friday, my boss couldn't pay me for a week already worked because they didn't have any checks and said that they should come in on Saturday. The weekend came and went and no check. On Monday I asked for my check as was told once again they still don't have checks. When I replied to the text I said I really need my check for my bills and other obvious or unimportant reasons, it doesn't matter because its owed to me and already late. I got a reply via text message saying I am not going to pay you. I then replied saying I already worked for that check and you cannot refuse to pay someone for work that's already been done.
Later that afternoon I walked outside my house and they had come to my house and took the company truck with no word or warning and never said I was fired or anything. I had some equipment from the truck in my house because I was working on them and going through my client cards. When they got home with the truck they sent me a text saying "your lucky I didn't call the cops for stealing my property" which was ridiculous because I was never asked for it and I never refused to give it back because I didn't even know they were gonna do that. Well because they took the truck with no warning they realized I still had some stuff with me and accused me of being a thief and had the cops show up at my house at 11pm demanding I give it back.
I showed the cop the text from me saying its all here and ready for you to pick up and he agreed that I didn't refuse to give it back and told me I was fine and did nothing wrong. Because my boss is a spiteful and big mouthed person , I told them they need to keep my private personal and medical information confidential because I didn't want them to do what I knew they would if I didn't say anything.
To spite me and disregard my request to keep my information private, my boss told our mutual friends and family as well as my family that I don't live with everything about me and my medical conditions and accused me of being a liar and a thief which wasn't even true in the slightest. I'm sure they just wanted their story to be heard before mine and to make them look good and like I was just horrible when it was the other way around. Our friends were also clients of mine for vehicle repair and now they won't be using me for business anymore. On top of that, now I have been embarrassed and stressed out because now I look like a liar and a crazy person and they also told everyone I should be watched so I don't hurt myself which is ridiculous. I would never hurt myself and I don't even know why that was said other than to make me look even worse and them look better.
My question is, can they do this? As an employer, don't they have an obligation to keep my private information private? Especially when it was not of public concern.
I have been working for a pool company that is owned by a friend of a very close (mutual) family friend. Two weeks ago on Friday, my boss couldn't pay me for a week already worked because they didn't have any checks and said that they should come in on Saturday. The weekend came and went and no check. On Monday I asked for my check as was told once again they still don't have checks. When I replied to the text I said I really need my check for my bills and other obvious or unimportant reasons, it doesn't matter because its owed to me and already late. I got a reply via text message saying I am not going to pay you. I then replied saying I already worked for that check and you cannot refuse to pay someone for work that's already been done.
Later that afternoon I walked outside my house and they had come to my house and took the company truck with no word or warning and never said I was fired or anything. I had some equipment from the truck in my house because I was working on them and going through my client cards. When they got home with the truck they sent me a text saying "your lucky I didn't call the cops for stealing my property" which was ridiculous because I was never asked for it and I never refused to give it back because I didn't even know they were gonna do that. Well because they took the truck with no warning they realized I still had some stuff with me and accused me of being a thief and had the cops show up at my house at 11pm demanding I give it back.
I showed the cop the text from me saying its all here and ready for you to pick up and he agreed that I didn't refuse to give it back and told me I was fine and did nothing wrong. Because my boss is a spiteful and big mouthed person , I told them they need to keep my private personal and medical information confidential because I didn't want them to do what I knew they would if I didn't say anything.
To spite me and disregard my request to keep my information private, my boss told our mutual friends and family as well as my family that I don't live with everything about me and my medical conditions and accused me of being a liar and a thief which wasn't even true in the slightest. I'm sure they just wanted their story to be heard before mine and to make them look good and like I was just horrible when it was the other way around. Our friends were also clients of mine for vehicle repair and now they won't be using me for business anymore. On top of that, now I have been embarrassed and stressed out because now I look like a liar and a crazy person and they also told everyone I should be watched so I don't hurt myself which is ridiculous. I would never hurt myself and I don't even know why that was said other than to make me look even worse and them look better.
My question is, can they do this? As an employer, don't they have an obligation to keep my private information private? Especially when it was not of public concern.