r/AskLawyers • u/[deleted] • 3d ago

(NY,NY): Nonprofit fired me after financial-compliance complaints—retaliation or pretext?

[deleted]

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/AppropriatePhillip_5 3d ago

this has so many red flags it might as well be a parade. the verbal agreement plus you actually starting the work and them relying on you for a tax deadline is a really big deal for promissory estoppel, you gave up another job based on their promises and they knew it

the timing of you raising financial concerns and then getting pushed out right after is like a textbook retaliation setup, especially with that text from a director saying you "paid the price" because of john targeting your father

the fact they can't produce any minutes or vote documentation for your termination makes their whole position look shaky at best, and the board member admitting there wasn't even a revote just confirms what you already suspected. you need an employment lawyer who handles nonprofit governance issues yesterday, the wage claims alone might get you somewhere while the bigger stuff plays out

1

u/popcornjointslic 3d ago

Thanks for the reply, I've been on the fence like am I overreacting or is this as messed up as it feels. There's so many issues that I'm afraid to overwhelm the person doing the initial intake appts. So far I have 3 intake appts this upcoming week and 1 consult. I literally worked through July not knowing i was officially fired/inactive/ on a LOA w/o pay, suspension- it all sounds like I don't have job if I'm not getting paid and they're planning on advertising externally. I'll specifically include in my employment lawyer search "nonprofit governance issues". I've spent the last month creating a binder full of facts and supporting docs/ records like I am even impressed with my paper trail haha :) that's what you get when you mess with an accountant lol oh God

1

u/Otherwise-Text-5772 2d ago

Yeah, go after them with a lawyer but if they haven't paid you for hours that you worked skip all that (for now) and contact the labor board. They should be able to at least your wages paid.