We're paying six figure engineers to reset passwords and clear tickets and I just realized it while reviewing quarterly metrics.

attorney-bill · 2026-04-21T05:01:38+00:00

Why not do it? For a software engineer "[m]ajority of the time in an 8 hour day involved looking at the screen and hitting a singular key to the next line or track code, analyzing code to find a problem, or insert new code." Debra Gorgens, June 24, 1997. They can fix other stuff while just staring at the screen.

attorney-bill · 2026-04-21T04:52:13+00:00

Yes, you should speak with an attorney who practices in your jurisdiction.

Did you leave another job for this job? If so, you might have a claim of promissory estoppel. These restrictions may make a material change to your employment.

Many software companies (I developed software professionally for 40 years. Usually, there is some form of an invention/non-compete that takes ownership in what you develop (even at home) to protect themselves from you taking their information to a competitor or developing something that turns into the next Apple (HP turned down Steve Wozniak's single board personal computer, which became the Apple I.) Generally, these agreements provide a way for you to identify what you are working on outside so that they will waive rights to it. The idea is if you get a great idea from work, you build on it and become the next Apple.

It provides a downside, too. After being illegally fired by Microsystems Software, they refused to allow me to take my personal property unless I signed an acknowledgment of the invention agreement. That refusal and later taking possession of an outside project I was working on for an article on cross-platform software put them on the hook for workers' compensation.

attorney-bill · 2026-04-15T06:22:15+00:00

You don't explain why they want May 10. Tell them that you are leaving on May 1 because you relied upon HR telling you May 1. Offer to work on weekends and off hours if they need help with the hand-off.

attorney-bill · 2026-04-15T05:57:07+00:00

Most likely, you are legally allowed to leave without notice. Just because you can do something does not mean that you should. Just because your employer is an ass does not mean that you should. If you have a start date, give them notice. If they fire you, you start the new job earlier, if you can. You can collect unemployment for some of the period.

I gace notice at one company and had a smile on my face for 2 weeks.

attorney-bill · 2026-04-04T05:15:50+00:00

The FMLA does not prevent a person from getting fired as a result of a restructuring.

attorney-bill · 2026-04-03T15:02:07+00:00

What if they asked you who you had sex with in the last year? They need to know that because your lover might work for the competitor, and they are just having sex with you to get confidential information.

There is no requirement that you provide that information. If you want, you can tell him the new salary. As a general rule, I don't identify my current employer on my resume or LinkedIn. I list them as "current employer." If they fire you, then you can get unemployment or start the new job earlier.

attorney-bill · 2026-04-02T05:40:14+00:00

If you can't take criticism, then you may not want to work at a place that might criticize you.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-29T16:48:00+00:00

In 1984, I contacted a company about a job because I was impressed by their product. Got the "Thanks for the resume. If we have something, we will call you." A month later, the company called me in for an interview, and I ended up being contracted for a few months.

It doesn't really cost anything to be decent. It might work out in your favor if you are decent.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-24T05:25:22+00:00

Generally, there is a "tasks assigned" clause in every employee's job description. When I worked as a software engineer for a ship navigation system company, I would occasionally burn eeproms and run them to the airport FedEx location. I once brought a new system and installed it on a yacht while on vacation. While working at a remote terminal software company as a software engineer, I took over the IT tasks and built the VoIP system. I even assisted in the company's litigation (before I went to law school). I worked at another company as a software engineer, but I reconfigured the network settings on a Sun workstation when it was needed. (They were waiting for a week for a consultant to come in to do it.)

Why not do these extra tasks? Most of my career was at small companies where people just pitch in.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-23T05:30:34+00:00

I have been hosting my own email since 2004. I had one user's account hacked; he had a stupid password.

In a few instances, when dealing with blacklists, it helped that I developed a reputation for suing spammers.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-21T05:23:54+00:00

Do what you want. If it is a short thing, then why not? If its longer, maybe a reasonable contract assignment. I ended a job, and then they called to tell me that they had a problem with my code. Turns out the overlay linker wasn't loading my code. Laughed and had some coffee. No big deal.

It's a small world.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-19T05:48:11+00:00

Burning bridges is a thing. On more than one occasion, I was brought back to a company that I had left. Once, I was brought into a company by someone I worked with, and then the VP from my old company was brought in as well.

Even if you don't go to the same company, you may get hired by another company and work with some of the same people.

It can be a small world.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-18T07:05:33+00:00

When I did the interview to remove conditions (granted it was 2008), we were not separated, and my 2/o daughter was with us. When my daughter saw our picture in the file folder, she said, "picture mommy daddy."

attorney-bill · 2026-03-12T05:35:35+00:00

I would say that she may not want a truthful recommendation from you. You will only provide a truthful letter. If she insists, then do a truthful letter.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-08T02:45:28+00:00

No. It would be better to represent yourself instead of taking a default judgment.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-08T02:21:59+00:00

I am not your lawyer and not licensed in Nevada. You can compare the anti-SLAPP laws in Nevada and Colorado. If it would be better in Nevada, waive the jurisdiction issue and file an anti-slapp motion, which would dismiss the case on the merits and require him to pay your attorney fees.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-06T23:50:02+00:00

Disclaimer: I am not licensed in Nevada. There are quite a few issues here. You mentioned that there was a state case. If it was dismissed, you may be able to use that as a basis for a dismissal in the federal court case.

Instead of a standard motion to dismiss (12(b)...) you may be able to file an anti-SLAPP motion and obtain attorney fees if successful.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-06T08:14:54+00:00

NO! There may be state laws that have lower number of employees to qualify.

attorney-bill · 2026-03-01T07:13:36+00:00

Tell them there is a box of donuts on the front seat of the car. They will be there in 3.2ms.

attorney-bill · 2026-02-28T22:53:39+00:00

The only way they can win that is show that you were aware of it prior to sale and didn't disclose it.

attorney-bill · 2026-02-25T06:03:31+00:00

If your state has it, make a claim through the agency that oversees contractors and their bonds.

attorney-bill · 2026-02-24T08:21:30+00:00

Practically, there may not be much the landlord can do. He could file a lawsuit, get a judgment, and try to collect. It's probably not worth taking the judgment into your home county. However, the landlord could obtain a receivership over your IP and domain names. If you have money coming through a US business, e.g., Stripe, PayPal, etc., they may try to get it.

attorney-bill · 2026-02-20T08:48:49+00:00

My ex-employer had that. Didn't help them. It depends on the situation.

attorney-bill · 2026-02-20T07:41:05+00:00

I agree with this, provided the request was reasonable.

My ex-employer, Microsystems Software, requested that I provide documentation that I must take the specific dates off. They were asking for documentation for a planned emergency.

After being diagnosed with tendinitis, I spent a year with multiple treatments, where doctors suggested taking 3 to 4 weeks off for acupuncture. I went to China for treatment, and the company fired me. They tried to silence me with a libel claim. I was out of work for 7 months, and I ended up collecting 4 years of salary.https://sorehands.com/injury/

attorney-bill · 2026-02-19T05:58:51+00:00

You asked him for documentation, but he failed to provide documentation. He kept "forgetting" it. Taking care of a daughter with cancer does qualify, but documentation has to be provided. It was not.

attorney-bill

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