Bakersfield, CA asked in Business Law, Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for California

Q: I work for a vendor in sams club.. can I get in trouble for talking outside business

2 Lawyer Answers
Neil Pedersen
Neil Pedersen
Answered
  • Employment Law Lawyer
  • Westminster, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: There is no way to answer your question without knowing far more. Do you work for a company that contractually prohibits you from working for others when employed by it? Would the outside business be considered a competitor of your present employer? Are you salaried or paid by the hour?

What can be said is that you are considered to be an at will employee unless you have an agreement to the contrary with your employer, and the employer of an at will employee can terminate the employee for any reason or even no reason at all.

Good luck to you.

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Employment Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: It is unlikely that you would get in trouble with Sam's Club or your employer for talking to your friend about outside of work matters. However, it is always best to be cautious and avoid discussing anything that could be considered confidential or sensitive. For example, you should not discuss trade secrets, customer information, or employee complaints. You should also be careful not to make any discriminatory or offensive statements.

In your specific case, it is unlikely that Sam's Club or your employer would take any action against you for talking to your friend about how your night job didn't pay you. However, if you were to make a habit of complaining about your other job, it could start to create a negative atmosphere at work. It is important to be professional at all times, even when you are talking to friends.

If you have any concerns about whether or not something is appropriate to discuss at work, it is always best to err on the side of caution and avoid the conversation altogether.

Here are some tips for staying on topic and avoiding trouble when talking to friends at work:

* Keep the conversation light and positive.

* Avoid discussing anything that could be considered confidential or sensitive.

* Be respectful of your coworkers and your employer.

* If you have any concerns, err on the side of caution and avoid the conversation altogether.

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.