Post # 1
Member
66 posts
Worker bee
Hi!
I was called to atend a depo soon, it’s against an important member of the company and I’m afraid of losong my job after it since”things are’t that good economically right now”
They have never had a complaint about me and I feel this could totally make me look bad infront of the whole company and they will fire me arguing there wasn’t anything else they could do since they are having financial trouble.
Any help is appreciated!!
Post # 3
Member
8353 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I can’t give you legal advice, but I have worked for several lawyers and sat in on a couple of despositions. The best advice I can offer you is to just answer each question honestly. You are not required to volunteer any additional information. Keep your answers short and to the point.
Post # 4
Member
769 posts
Busy bee
I’m assuming you’ll meet with your company’s lawyer first, right? That’s what usually happens. Or if there’s a conflict, your company probably will hire a lawyer for you. I would be shocked if they send you in there yourself. Do you work for a very small company or something?
Post # 5
Member
11325 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
your company should send a lawyer to go with you. technically they shouldn’t be able to fire you for being honest… but realistically if there are financial issues you could be downsized and not be able to prove anything. you have to tell the truth (you’ll be under oath and lying would be a BAD idea), but if i were you i’d not offer extra info.
Post # 6
Member
446 posts
Helper bee
Yes, your company should have a lawyer there with you, but please note this: the lawyer does not represent YOU, the lawyer represents the company. So basically, you cannot tell the lawyer anything in confidence that you wouldnt want the company to know.
They can’t fire you for being honest, they can fire you if your breached company procedures or something like that.
Good luck and follow the other bees advice — just be honest and just answer the question — that’s it.
Post # 7
Member
439 posts
Helper bee
Ditto everyone else who said do not lie. You could end up with a perjury charge if you lie. Perjury is a felony here, but I don’t know about everywhere else.
What you talk about really depends on who is deposing you. Is the company deposing you? Is it the side suing your company?
One thing we told our clients at the firm I worked at this summer was to be honest but brief. Do not give any additional information that isn’t requested of you. But in some situations, it is better to give additional information (like if you’re talking about what injuries you have suffered as the result of an accident or something).
Your company should provide you with an attorney to sit with you and prep you a bit beforehand. If it’s the other side deposing you, I would be really surprised if your boss would even allow you to be in there without an attorney present.
Post # 8
Member
5494 posts
Bee Keeper
ditto what everyone else said about being truthful but brief and not offering any unnecessary information.
My question is, do you have some sort of damaging information about your company? If not, what could you possibly give up that would cause them to fire you?
Post # 9
Member
4419 posts
Honey bee
There is a law called the Whistleblower law that prevents them from retaliating against you for participating in a deposition or any other fact-finding proceeding. If they let you go before or after the deposition, they have to be able to prove that their decision had nothing to do with you participation in the investigation.
Post # 10
Member
2588 posts
Sugar bee
I had to give a depo a few years ago, and I second what others have said–keep it short and simple. Do not offer any extra information. Also, it’s a fact-finder–no retaliation allowed.
Post # 11
Member
66 posts
Worker bee
Thanks alot girls!
Short and simple is always the best!
Your advice is truly appreciated. I was just a little concerned because I did hear my boss say joke (really bad taste) before she left the company, and she would tell me how uncomfortable she was, this was over a year ago.
Basically his lawyer came in a couple of weeks ago and called me to the conferenceroon to ask a couple questions, one of them, if I heard him say (insert the exact words of the joke)and I said so I answered “I DID”, after that he tried to get information about my ex-coworker, if she was married, if she had kids, etc.
The dpo is next Tuesday, so wish me good luck.And thanks again for all your help, it means a lot to me.
And happy wedding planning!
