I don't know if I understand this correctly, but if I had work related information in a notebook at work, that I collected through work, I might assume your boss has a right to it?

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"If men could only know each other, they would neither idolize nor hate" Elbert Hubbard

well, I thought of that, but they are my notes I got on my own through hard work and my contacts I brought to the company, so doesn't that mean they are my property? He never gave me anything to work with and through my own contacts I got him deals with Saks 5th Ave, Las Vegas and Miami. My work with my contacts. I feel that this means I should have my notes and my cards. The new girl should just work off of my old emails and what I already have down on the work computer (I mean all of the info on an excel sheet).

If you brought it to the company, then I agree they are yours.
I'd fight for the business cards too, did you have them in a book? The last job I left, I took all the cards out, and left the empty book! lol

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"If men could only know each other, they would neither idolize nor hate" Elbert Hubbard

You should be really really happy to be out of this work environment. I had a similar situation and got laid off a few years ago and believe me, it was the best thing ever (although it felt horrible for a while). You absolutely have the right to your personal notes and effects from the office. If he wanted to make a claim to keep the notes, he could have made a copy and let you keep the originals. It is unprofessional and unacceptable that he took your things without asking or notifying you.

Best of luck in the future!

Nothing you do within a company is ever yours. Design work, contacts, notes, nothing. I started up the interior design division at an architecture firm and basically had to steal my notes and contacts to be able to take them with me. I've never had anyone LET me take anything. That's just the way it is. You are working for them, not yourself.

Hmmmm, I have no clue as I've never had a job that entailed this...but I wish you luck in getting everything resolved and finding a better job!

I really think that this guy is a nut case, sadly enough there are a lot of bosses out there like this. While I was at Nordstrom of all places, selling fashion jewelry, I had some notes from school and some personal notes in my drawer there b/c I would do my work on breaks. WELL my boss who hated me because of jealousy or whatever her problem was(maybe I was too nice for her?), anyways she went through my drawer and wrote my review saying that I had personal material in my drawer that I should keep at home. She also commented on my notes and what I had written down! It was the most violating thing ever!
I don't really feel as though your boss should have the right to any of your personal property, but psycho bosses have no moral character and don't care about anything but the business(which I think is sad, when people become less important than money or success). I think you definitely should get your personal clients information back...especially if you worked to get those clients. Who knows you could start your own business(hypothetically) and that information is what you acquired through your hard work, no matter who was paying you for what. I'll ask my b/f about it because he's in law, but they don't own YOU while you work somewhere and therefore I don't think that they automatically have the right to your personal information. Either way, he should have asked you to go through your stuff. Unless the information is only pertinent to that company, they don't have the right to take your personal notes/info to "train the next employee to fill your position". That's just a lazy way for him to not have to have a set structure to train them so he's using your stuff.
Anyways, I'll check with my b/f but I'm so sorry that this happened to you!

You could probably have YOUR notes, but any business cards, rolodex etc... acquired while you work for a company belong to the company unless otherwise stipulated.

My boss fired another salesperson last year and she tried to take her stuff with her. She was not permitted to take anything. Esp since we have to sign non-compete contracts when we are hired.

Personal effects only is pretty standard. Too bad you didn't take all that stuff home with you beforehand!

Thank you Tnkrbelli. I agree with you. I mean I brought my contacts to the company and I got THEIR business cards from them, so why can't I have them? I mean what if I did want to go into my own business? My old boss (the devil, LOL) is sending me in the mail my contact lists but I am afraid he is going to make copies of it. I will know though b/c he would have to un staple them to do so. I am just so mad over the whole thing. And the worst part was that he laid me off on a Saturday, so I couldn't be at my computer at work to erase personal files, etc. He is just being an A*s about it. Pardon my french. But thank you all for the good advice. You all have been such a help. This is all just a big headache.

So he did it!!! He copied my personal contact list!!!! OMG I am sooo mad and I emailed him about it and he hasn't answered me back. What should I do???

Okay, I know this sucks, but if your personal contact list was made during business hours you were working then its not your personal contact list it is the companys contact list!!! The best thing to do if you KNOW you are about to leave is to make copies of everything so you can take them with you as someone mentioned previously.

BUt if you set up these contacts, they are going to be more than willing to work with you, more so that your ***hole boss so why even worry about it? That's up to them to chose who they want to work with. Call them and tell them you are no longer with him and you might contact them in the future or however you would want to pursue a relationship with them. But don't lose touch because you are right that they are very valuable contacts.

He might contact them as well and they might work with both of you but then you've just increased business for them, anyway. IMO you are lucky he gave your list back to you. I would not pursue it further. What do you expect him to do if he's a d***? Cut your losses and move on because you did a great job there!

Also, try as much as possible not to badmouth because from personal experience people react to you a lot better when you don't. They start to draw up and get uncomfortable, whereas if you either stay neutral on the topic of your last employer if he comes up or if they know him or if you say something positive about the rest of the staff being great ther, people relax and really like that.

Helpful when you are trying to set up your own business and contacts. Sorry if this is too much info but I've had a terrible, terrible boss like yours and I've also established my own business so I've worked all of these ropes.

Just badmouth to all of us! We'll listen!

Thank you redegg for all of your advice. It was my contact list that I brought from my last company. Just to make things clear. And you are right, I will not bad mouth him to anyone but you guys and my friends and family, lol. That would make me seem bad if I did. Huh, what a mess.

Aaah. Makes it more maddening! Good luck!

Yeah, I talked to Cliff(my b/f/lawyerman) and he said that the employer is generally entitled to the work(such as client lists) that you did while on the clock at their business. Yucky isn't it!?!!! But you should still get your stuff back, he can have the work-related crap but you should get all of your personal notes back. I just hate when that happens, but I guess it just makes us appreciate really good bosses or it makes us strive to be better ones for others. Talk to ya lata bella!

Thanks Tnkrbelli for looking that up with your bf. There is nothing i can do now. I mean I emailed him about copying my contact list and he never responded, so I am not going to go further with it. Because I still want my commission on the huge commercial sales I landed. I don't want to mess things up. But he still even has my high heels! hahahahaha. Oh gosh. Thank you all for your advice

Kbella I would be upset too. Your ex-boss sounds like a mean person with no heart.

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Anger dwells only in the bosom of Fools
Albert Einstein

yes Fancy04, he has no heart. He is the Devil, hahahahaha. He promised me commission on my sales that I was closing before I got laid off, but so far he hasn't emailed me about what has happened with them, so today I am going to email him about what is happening with them. I want my commission and he promised me I would get it, so I have to keep up to speed with it. This is all so aggravating. Once I get my commission, I will not have to speak with him ever again. I can't wait!!