What to do if you’ve been betrayed?

“I’ve Been Betrayed. What to Do When a Former Business Associate or Employee Double Crosses You.”

Betrayal from a former associate or employee can come in many forms, whether it involves leaking your private data or selling critical information to another source. When this happens, it can be simple to react on instinct and try to take them down. Is this the right action? What do you do if a former business associate or employee double-crosses you?

There are several routes you can take if you are dealing with the betrayal of someone who used to be your employee. Each depends on the situation, so you must consider your options before acting for the best results.

Talk to Them

It is simple to react negatively right away, as mentioned above. It is less easy to slow down and take the time to talk to the person, rather than taking expensive action right away.

In our modern world, it is easy to send your employee or associate a text, call, or email if you want to talk to them. You can handle the conversation from there and take further action depending on where it goes.

Talking is a surprisingly strong form of communication that many forget about in high-stress times. It does not work in all betrayal cases, but it rarely hurts to attempt.

De-escalate the Issue

Another thing you can do is de-escalate the issue before it gets out of control. Talk to all parties involved, try to get your data back, and see if the damage is not reparable. Why did they act out in this way? Is there anything you could have done to prevent it? If so, can you fix that now, or is it too late?

If this occurrence seems like a one-time deal that will not happen again, try to de-escalate it as best as you can. Avoiding as much confrontation as possible will help both parties when all is said and done.

Act

If no de-escalation tactics work, or if the situation dives too far into legal error to be fixed with a talk, you may need to take legal action. You might initiate a legal battle, such as a lawsuit or another case. Note that these can cost a significant amount of time and money, so ensure it is worth it to take this route instead of the other suggested.

As always, there are two sides to every story. Keep this in mind as you go against your former employee. Have they ruined you enough to warrant you a winning case? Are you fully confident in your actions? If you are, you can proceed. If you are not, be careful.

In Closing

Sometimes, betrayals by former employees warrant legal action. This can happen if they steal valuable information or cheat the company in some capacity. In other cases, employee betrayal can just hurt. It is not fun to deal with a business associate or employee that does not want to be on your side anymore.

If you find yourself in this situation, ensure you analyze all possibilities before making a final choice. You’ll find yourself on the other side in no time at all.

Contact Our Coral Springs Business Law Attorney for More Information

Attorney Matthew Fornaro represents business owners and companies throughout Florida. Our legal team can help you with your startup, answer questions about employee matters, or assist you with business litigation. If you have a question about business law matters, we are here to help.

Call 954-324-3651 or contact us online to schedule an appointment or for more information about our business law services.