Nuclear Escalation

Lawsuit Lawsuit Lawsuit.

I'm not sure why some companies feel the need to throw the "L" word around, but there it is. Like eBay going after Craigslist.org, I fail to understand the need to legally assault anyone and everyone--just because you can pay lawyer's fees, doesn't mean you should.

I think it's because some people enjoy the power: I'm thinking of three specific businesses in my area that claimed (to their employees, at least) to be pursuing legal action against former co-workers. Some were people who quit, some were let go, but I think the reason the jilted take to the courts is because they see an easy win: the little guy's not a big company, and besides, he's not even employed now! He'll never make court costs. He'll beg to settle, and we'll draw up the terms. As I'd mentioned in an earlier post, telling your employees that the guy who left is getting hauled to court is good for morale: either your remaining staff think he must have been pretty bad to warrant that treatment...or they fearfully shut up and hope they're not next.

Oddly, for all the gab from management, I've yet to see any of these particular instances make the papers. I suspect it's because they never happen. Companies get stung, they react, and the bad guy may get a nasty letter from a lawyer. Hard to corroborate my sources when the alleged accused is long gone and not eager to talk about it.

Regardless of your circumstances, never burn any bridges. Even if you're moving to another state, keep your head high, do your best to remain amicable, and don't stoop to mudslinging if your employer tries to draw you in. Document everything and insist on getting things in writing (and refuse to leave the premises until they do, or you'll never get it). Most importantly, smile and wish them well. Because when you blow up, shout at people, use obscenities, or even just think you're clever because you deleted everything off the server, you open yourself up to being sued into the afterlife.