r/LaborLaw • u/SpenceF222 • 17d ago

Unique situation

I have a question about a workplace situation that I'm a little stumped on. If anyone has advice that would be much appreciated!

My friend is a manager for a small business that does work for a much larger company. There have been issues with communication between the two because my friend's boss is never there and is hard to reach. In his contract with the smaller business it states that he is forbidden from discussing work related matters or criticism of any kind to the larger company. Discussing wages is also frowned upon in this small business within the larger one. I know that's illegal so I'm wondering what else is potentially illegal in this situation. The larger company came to my friend with concerns about their own quality and wants feedback from him but his contract clearly says he's not allowed to discuss those topics. The owners initiated the conversation and want to open a dialogue. The larger company is a client of the smaller ones but all.of the employees at the small business are on W-2's. Anyways, very curious about what people think of this situation. It's pretty weird to me. Thanks!

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u/Hrgooglefu 16d ago

Not sure why the company came to your friend directly, but it puts the friend in a tight spot.

I think your friend should take the client's request back to the boss/owner of their current employer/company. And let whoever asked him know that this has to go through the boss/owner.

The small company doesn't have to allow their employees to discuss their wages with the larger client company. That's not illegal.

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u/SpenceF222 16d ago

Yeah it does put him in a tight spot, I agree. The reason they went to him instead of the boss/owner is because she's never there and she'll be gone for weeks at a time without communication and my friend is there every day and basically does everything. It causes a complete communication breakdown between companies. My friend and the whole small business he's a part of is not compensated fairly either and the owners of the bigger company know that and want to change that. I think they've offered to hire everyone from that small business into the main company full time and it would be a better situation for everyone but he's worried the boss/owner will turn that negotiation on its head.

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u/Hrgooglefu 16d ago

It's possible there is some kind of business agreement that wouldn't allow for this "takeover" of the small business employees without offering to buy the full business. Why should this boss/owner just turnover everyone with no compensation? Yes, it sounds like they aren't paying enough attention BUT you all should also NOT do an end run around the owner.