Illegal Business Practice: Who’s Accountable?
Do you work for a shady company? Is your boss making you break the law just to keep your job?
If you are just following directions then who is liable? Could unhappy clients come after you personally for damages? In some circumstances, YES THEY COULD!
You have to know your rights and protect them, employees at companies like Safelite Glass could be in for a rock road. No stranger to complaints about their business practices, new complaints against Safelite consist of illegal dealing including insurance fraud.
Why Are They Under Fire?
I’m sure you are familiar with their ads on TV and radio, Safelite Glass repair is once again being sighted for their less than honest way of doing things. You may have noticed that the promote in their adds that most work is covered by the insurance company and will cost you nothing. Well therein lays the rub, as a third party adjuster they are supposed to assess the damage and provide the estimate to the insurance company. The problem is they make a habit of pushing for full replacement when repair would work and on top of this they recommend their own business to get the work. This is actually a conflict of interest. Simply put, the person who will get paid to do the work isn’t supposed to be able to bump up the price so they get paid for things that aren’t even necessary.
This practice of convincing customers they need a bigger more expensive job done and then referring them to their own shop is called steering and it’s illegal.
The practice has become so rampant in the company that a new class action case is being built against them. As yet they have not named specific employees but rather the company for condoning and even dictating these practices. However, management employees who are pushing these activities, and know of their questionable legality may be help jointly accountable.
Ask yourself, “would my company protect me or throw me under the bus?”
Most companies willing to operate outside the known business regulation is most likely more than willing to sacrifice you at the drop of the hat.
If you are being asked to perform your job in a manner you believe to be unethical or even illegal, you need legal counsel with the experience to help you navigate this unstable terrain.
Call United Employees Law Group today, we can help you understand your rights and how to proceed.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock/MIND AND I