Backstory: I started working at a firm as a Social Media Manager in March. When hired, I was promised health insurance and a 401k with a 100% employee match within three months of working there.
I accepted the role and started. I was never given a formal job offer, signed an NDA, non-compete, non-solicitation, or contract. Once I started, it was disclosed to me that the company didn’t have a group policy and for the first three months I didn’t have health insurance. (Resulting in paying a lot for my meds) They finally told me that the other couple employees who were on insurance had it through the marketplace and he was paying for it. Like literally asked for my login on marketplace.gov and setting up the payment. (This feels not legal.) Throughout my time, I was also never given any sort of retirement. On top of all of this, I was commuting an hour to and from work three days a week with the other two being remote.
I will say, I had a pretty horrible year with family issues and sickness and my bosses were flexible with sick leave / working remote if I needed to go home, but I never missed a deadline or shirked any of my responsibilities. My fiancé was offered a job in his very niche profession that is an hour away from our home the opposite way around October. I disclosed this to my bosses and told them that we would likely be moving to where he is working and asked if they would be open to be working 4 days remote and 1 day in person. They are super obsessed with employees being in the office for camaraderie etc etc etc. They definitely didn’t like the idea but said they would be willing to try it.
Obviously part of my job was forming relationships with our current clients because I was communicating with them on a daily basis about their social pages. I got really close to one of our clients and she become almost like a mentor to me. (Seasoned business woman, etc)
During my end of year review, I was completely blindsided and my bosses basically told me that I wasn’t in the office enough and that it was hard to cut a check when they felt I wasn’t “present” They also told me that they didn’t think the role could be done 4 days remote 1 day in person. During all of this, I also was about to run out of insurance and could not get my boss to agree to help me select a new plan and pay for it. (It felt like at this time it was clear to both parties that this wasn’t a good fit.) On Dec. 23rd I was ready to quit with nothing else lined up bc I was so upset / over feeling like I was pulling teeth to get insurance and that all of my hard work wasn’t appreciated. (Even though all of my clients sang my praises and all texted me thanks for all your hard work, our social is the best it’s ever looked, etc etc etc)
I didn’t end up resigning Dec. 23rd but began actively applying. Then one of my clients called me and told me that she was hiring a marketing director and wanted me in the role. She offered a 20k raise, 4 days remote, travel reimbursements, and a $550 a month health insurance stipend.
I submitted by resignation last Friday and told my employer that I wanted to work with them on my end date since I was the only person who did my role. I offered a two weeks notice a one month notice and they emailed back saying although they were saddened to see me leave, they weren’t surprised it happened and said this week would be my last week. (Which stunned me and my coworkers)
Fast forward to today, we have a meeting at 2PM to go over all my duties and responsibilities and they bring in a photographer that we contract out and tell me in the meeting he will be doing my job. (WILD)
THEN my boss pulls me into the office and has me sign an exit document. Nothing concerning, basically just saying I’ll return all property, everything I made while employed with them is their property, etc. I sign with no issues and then he pulls out a non solicitation agreement. Saying I’m not allowed to have any relations with my current coworkers or start my own business and solicit their current clients. I tell him I need to look it over and if I feel comfortable signing I will do so.
He then starts trying to tell me “well really it just means this” and I tell him that I’ve been offered a position at (clients company) as marketing director and haven’t officially accepted bc I expected to be with them until at least the end of the month – but that I need to go over the agreement before I sign.
We exit the meeting and then he & my other boss are sitting in their offices ferociously texting each other. I just got up and left.
So here’s my question, do I legally have to sign???? And can they come after me in anyway?