Help in LA
01-25-2006, 09:28 AM
My boyfriend works for a local architecture firm in Louisiana. He has been working for them for 5 years. About 4 months ago at dinner one night my boyfriend said that he had something he needed to get off of his chest about work. He had been very stale in his position for over a year. His boss has promised him several large projects to manage but nothing ever really came about. He told me that recently his boss (one of the firm’s principles) asked him to take a State architectural licensing exam, for him. He told my boyfriend that if he did this, he would get a promotion to work on a huge upcoming project and a raise (he has still not received any extra money) with this promotion. The principle told him he did not have time to take the state test, which was required, so that they could permit a project in that state for another one of their large clients. He has shared with me that there have been many more incidents like this (quid pro quo) that have been illegal with this form that he is aware of.
I asked him how he could take a test for him and he told me that they do their testing online, so his boss just set it up and he used his log-in and password to complete the test. I was completely shocked that he would EVER do something like this. He has felt a lot of pressure by them because there are not a lot of large employers like them in this area and, he feels, they pay him well. His boss has constantly asked him about our personal life and baited him with promises of promotions and raises since we have been together.
About 3 1/2 months ago they gave him the huge project. The catch (again) was that he would have to commute to New Orleans and beyond (almost 2 hours) everyday if he stayed living here. They told him they wanted him to pack up and move to be closer to the project and so that he could “focus” more. At first, my boyfriend told them that he wanted to stay here because he was living with me and he felt he could still do the project.
About 3 weeks into the project, my boyfriend came home from work and told me that he HAS to move out, but he couldn’t talk about it right then (He was escorted by a Sheriff’s officer). He called me after the police left and told me that his boss demanded that he move out. They said he would have to move out from me, or they would fire him. He had been working 16 hour days and even both Saturdays and Sundays, so he was getting his work done. They also took away the company car he had.
He is the main financial provider in the house, so he felt like his hands were completely tied. Two days later, I get a certified letter in the mail from the company's attorney stating that I cannot call him during his work hours (which again are 16 hour days), see him during work hours, go to any project or job site that they are working on (the entire city plus about 300 miles), go to their office, call the office, or have anyone else do any of these things. Basically that I cannot even see or talk to my boyfriend. I called him that night and asked him about it. He called his boss to find out what was going on. His boss said that he had the company atty. draft it up because they wanted him “focused on this project” and he felt I was too much of a distraction to him. My boyfriend told me not to worry about the letter and he has called me during work hours, emailed me from his company email and we have seen each other since the letter came. I do not know if his work is aware of this.
I do not know if he told his boss that I knew about the whole licensing test situation, and maybe this is why they are going to such extreme measures. I would like to report his employer, because this is obviously serious but I am afraid that this may affect my boyfriend’s license as well. Is there anything we can do? I called the AIA and spoke with some people there, but they informed me that I could not report the state test situation confidentially, to them. I am also afraid that they may come back on me if they found out and they already sent this letter to me.
I just feel like someone has to bring some justice to this situation.
I asked him how he could take a test for him and he told me that they do their testing online, so his boss just set it up and he used his log-in and password to complete the test. I was completely shocked that he would EVER do something like this. He has felt a lot of pressure by them because there are not a lot of large employers like them in this area and, he feels, they pay him well. His boss has constantly asked him about our personal life and baited him with promises of promotions and raises since we have been together.
About 3 1/2 months ago they gave him the huge project. The catch (again) was that he would have to commute to New Orleans and beyond (almost 2 hours) everyday if he stayed living here. They told him they wanted him to pack up and move to be closer to the project and so that he could “focus” more. At first, my boyfriend told them that he wanted to stay here because he was living with me and he felt he could still do the project.
About 3 weeks into the project, my boyfriend came home from work and told me that he HAS to move out, but he couldn’t talk about it right then (He was escorted by a Sheriff’s officer). He called me after the police left and told me that his boss demanded that he move out. They said he would have to move out from me, or they would fire him. He had been working 16 hour days and even both Saturdays and Sundays, so he was getting his work done. They also took away the company car he had.
He is the main financial provider in the house, so he felt like his hands were completely tied. Two days later, I get a certified letter in the mail from the company's attorney stating that I cannot call him during his work hours (which again are 16 hour days), see him during work hours, go to any project or job site that they are working on (the entire city plus about 300 miles), go to their office, call the office, or have anyone else do any of these things. Basically that I cannot even see or talk to my boyfriend. I called him that night and asked him about it. He called his boss to find out what was going on. His boss said that he had the company atty. draft it up because they wanted him “focused on this project” and he felt I was too much of a distraction to him. My boyfriend told me not to worry about the letter and he has called me during work hours, emailed me from his company email and we have seen each other since the letter came. I do not know if his work is aware of this.
I do not know if he told his boss that I knew about the whole licensing test situation, and maybe this is why they are going to such extreme measures. I would like to report his employer, because this is obviously serious but I am afraid that this may affect my boyfriend’s license as well. Is there anything we can do? I called the AIA and spoke with some people there, but they informed me that I could not report the state test situation confidentially, to them. I am also afraid that they may come back on me if they found out and they already sent this letter to me.
I just feel like someone has to bring some justice to this situation.
