seeking legal advice for the wrongful termination of my employment contract

[testjade]

Hi smart people out there,

I'm seeking recommendation or legal advices for the wrongful termination of my employment contract.

I have worked for a multi-national company based in Singapore for 13 years, until about two weeks ago, that my employment contract was terminated, because  I didn't follow company policies, and not attending team meetings on time.

I was offered one month salary in lieu of notice.

I have solid proof that I indeed followed company policies on the cases charged against, and I did attend team meetings on time whenever there is no other business activities that conflict with the team meetings.

But on my side,  I seriously suspect retaliation since just one month before my termination, I reported unlawful practice of my direct supervisor to corporate lawyer.

I also believe all above reasons for dismissing me are just mock-up excuses.

I have reported my case to company's compliance division which supposedly handle such case.

I have read this board and do see similar cases coming up. Can anybody who similar experience get back to me a good lawyer?

I do find most of the law firms here in Singapore don't work for employees.

[wondering321]

Have you thought of the Ministry of Manpower? Will it help?

[marriedguy]

Why didn't you go to the senior management within the company and report his conduct first? Why go straight to a corporate lawyer? To me, you sent a clear message to the senior managers that you don't trust them.

How much money are you expecting to get taking your previous employer to court? Have you factored in the lawyers fee? The amount of time and anguish it would cause you? Are you in a small industry? If so, you may not get work in that line again.

Are you a PR or citizen? If not, they could write a hostile letter to the MOM which could compromise any chance of re-employment in Singapore.

I gather your evidence is watertight and rock solid, not the hearsay, "he said, she said" variety. I gather you have reams of paperwork including specific times and dates? Lawyers love this type of evidence. The responsibly is on you to back up your claims.

What makes you say law firms here don't work for employees? Lawyer work for clients whomever they are.

Why not just walk away?

Lastly, when going for a new job, don't bad-mouth your previous employer, it is not a good look.

[testjade]

To MarriedGuy,

Thanks for your comment.

The reason I went to corporate lawyer was very simple: the senior management, HR whom I escalated to, refused to comment on that unlawful practice by my direct supervisor.

I had no choice other than going to corporate lawyer as the last resort.

I work in a large industry.

And I'm a PR.

Your advice of not badmouthing the previous company is well taken.

[testjade]

To wondering321,

Manpower's comment, basically is, for people with monthly salary higher than xxxx, are out of their reach..... But they do help if the company doesn't pay the 1 month salary in lieu of service.

[No Honour in Valour]

Employees here have no protection. Everything is skewed in the favour of the employer. You were brave and foolish to report your supervisor, especially after the clear message from on high that there was no interest in following through on the strength of your observations about your supervisor. Live and learn. Next time you encounter this  issue or similar here, ignore it. If you feel unable to ignore it, then keep your head down and start looking for another job or consider leaving the country. Wrong, but realistic.

[Derp]

< I reported unlawful practice of my direct supervisor to corporate lawyer.
>

What laws did the person break ?

[PRO B]

I just looked this up for a friend and thought you might want to try it to see if it helps.  There is a free legal service offered by a lawyers association here for citizens and PR.  Google the Law Society of Singapore and Pro Bono.  Good luck.

[testjade]

To No Honour in Valour,

"brave and foolish", how true of me. foolish in that I might play ostrich as you said if I can see that this retaliation was on this way.


To Gerp,

Sorry can't expose too much on your question. Basically it's a so simple issue that even a fresh graduate can tell right and wrong. But the management chose to close their eyes.

To Pro B,
Pro bono is just like ManPower, who first look at your salary before deciding whether talking to you. If you exceed that limit, it's a straight-away "sorry" from them.

[Kafka]

To MarriedGuy,

Thanks for your comment.

The reason I went to corporate lawyer was very simple: the senior management, HR whom I escalated to, refused to comment on that unlawful practice by my direct supervisor.

I had no choice other than going to corporate lawyer as the last resort.

I work in a large industry.

And I'm a PR.

Your advice of not badmouthing the previous company is well taken.

Why did you go straight to Sr Mgt then HR... ? If your ex employer is a sizeable MNC, don't they have a whistleblowing mechanism in place? Although I guess in some MNC, the only purpose of WB is to add a line in the annual report about having a good corporate governance, in other MNC it is efficient... My previous employer was a giant FMCG and during my time there I have witnessed many instances whereby mid-level or senior management were investigated and dismissed...

[HQ]

If you are/were employed by a multinational, you are more likely to get results by contacting their head office rather than seeking any assistance locally in Singapore.  Corporate governance would dictate that they either investigate your claims or maybe even pay you to keep quiet!

[testjade]

To Kafka,

Indeed this company has whistleblower program. And that was the team I fell back for reporting my direct supervisor's un-ethical behavior.

And indeed the compliance people are right now investigating my case, to decide whether my dismissal is normal, and whether it links to my previous WB report to them.

But I have not much experience with the compliance people. And now I'm out of the company. Don't know how serious the compliance people will treat my case. And don't know whether this compliance people will bring any justice to me.

Since they might keep any disciplinary actions behind the door, without others knowing it.

What's your experience?


To HQ,

I've contacted my regional compliance team. Assume they are high-level enough  as corporate governance.

[Kafka]

To Kafka,

Indeed this company has whistleblower program. And that was the team I fell back for reporting my direct supervisor's un-ethical behavior.

And indeed the compliance people are right now investigating my case, to decide whether my dismissal is normal, and whether it links to my previous WB report to them.

But I have not much experience with the compliance people. And now I'm out of the company. Don't know how serious the compliance people will treat my case. And don't know whether this compliance people will bring any justice to me.

Since they might keep any disciplinary actions behind the door, without others knowing it.

What's your experience?


To HQ,

I've contacted my regional compliance team. Assume they are high-level enough  as corporate governance.

How were you identified as the source of the report ? Wasn't the WB anonymous?
At my previous employer, the whistleblowing phone line was anonymous and managed by a third-party firm. Once reported to the hotline, allegations would be forwarded to the country's Governance committee for investigation, then possibly get police/lawyers/PI in the picture... In some countries, due to lack of trust in the hotline or local cultural habits, staff would also write anonymous letters to the country CEO or even the worldwide CEO... many different ways, but that was efficient from what I can see...

Another question is who "organized" your dismissal ? the same guy you reported ? Are we taking Sr/Top mgt or middle mgt?
Sorry, more questions than answers, good luck...

[testjade]

To Kafka,

It's the same guy who initiated my dismissal. And the guy's next levels-up  (considered as senior/mid -mgmt I guess? but not the regional top ) were involved.

[Here]

Testjade - If there's no recourse for you, take heart that you did nothing wrong and you stood up for your principles.

I speak from experience in the hope that you will weigh the pros and cons.  10 years after I quit from the job ( unpleasant employer), I applied for PR in another country where I was working.  The immigration requires me to produce detailed documentation and references from every place of employment in each country I was living in.  I had to contact my previous employer for a reference.  He had "changed" and willingly offered me a reference.  If I had exchanged some harsh words with him at the time of my resignation - I doubt I would get a reference.

I didn't expect that I would have to contact that person - it's also a good thing I didn't jeopardise my situation.  Consider your future as well, when you finally proceed to redress whatever injustices there are.  All the best.