Somerset, NJ asked in Employment Law for New Jersey

Q: Am I obligated to perform work for an ex-employer that they say I left unfinished?

I left my previous employer about a month ago, amid extreme frustration with the 55-hour workload we were expected to shoehorn into 40 hours and work culture that gave zero useful feedback. Still, before I left, I did my best to make sure I was leaving no loose ends for my co-workers. It was a good-faith effort, and I left with a clean conscience.

Still, I recently got a call from this previous employer claiming I had left incomplete some paperwork dating to January and earlier, and they expressed an expectation I would take care of these now.

My feeling is that if there is any paperwork I failed to complete, the time to address it was when it was due, or at least before I clocked out on my last day — not three or four weeks later.

What am I obligated to do for them at this point? What can they reasonably ask? If I can and do take care of this paperwork at this late date, am I entitled to compensation as a contractor?

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Paula M. Dillon
PREMIUM
Answered

A: You are not obligated to do anything further based on the information you have provided. If they want to pay you to complete something, and you want to do it, then that is fine. Otherwise, they can't force you to work without compensating you.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.