Can my boss damage my career if I resign from my nonprofit job?

Full question:

I've been working at a nonprofit mental health organization for a little over a year. Throughout the period, my boss has treated me badly enough to make me feel a non-existing individual in occasional manner. My co-worker, who has a medical disability, is always late on her assignments; which I end up completing, and never on time for the meetings. Simply put, I have recently encountered an extreme circumstance where my co-worker told my boss about her own made-up incident. She basically told him things that I did not do or say. She and I co-coordinate a program at this agency and there had been some conflicts between us. My reaction to these complications was to have a meeting with her and talk them through. However, she arranged to have a meeting with our boss and sent me an email stating that everything happened while we were coordinating the program is all due to my mistakes and lack of understanding about the concepts. In fact, when she sent me this message, I noticed that she also made a 'cc' to our boss simultaneously. So I can only take this message as to reveal myself as the problem creator and she has advised me what to do and what not do so next. I was very shocked and lost a sense of understanding what her intentions with the incident. So, after encountering many complications and saving my words for the better; I've concluded to resign from the position. Now, when I submitted the letter, my boss called and left me a message, threatening to create a huge impact on my career as long as I stay in this field. I am so scared and shaking bad enough to vomit. This is the greatest stress for me right now because I'm in the process of applying for my graduate school. I seriously have no clue what he's going to do if I tell him I still want to leave. What are the worst things can he do? Can he really destroy my career just because I left the program? Is there anything I can do?

• Category: Civil Actions
• Subcategory: Defamation
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: California

Answer:

Slander is a type of defamation involving false statements that harm someone's reputation. For a statement to be considered slander, it must be false and communicated to a third party, causing injury to the person it concerns. In the workplace, employers have some protection from defamation claims, as they may have a privilege to discuss employee performance. Courts recognize valid claims for slander when damaging statements are made in contexts like discharge letters or performance evaluations.

Employers often defend against defamation claims by proving the statements were true or that they had a qualified privilege to make those statements. Even harsh opinions about an employee's performance may be protected if they are considered honest assessments. However, if statements are made with malice or knowledge of their falsehood, the privilege may be lost.

The essential elements of a slander claim include: 1) a defamatory statement; 2) publication to third parties; 3) knowledge or reasonable belief that the statement was false; and 4) injury resulting from the statement. Unlike libel, damages for slander usually need to be proven unless the statement is defamatory on its face, such as implying criminal behavior or suggesting a disease.

Defamation cases can be complex, and proving damages often requires demonstrating how the slander affected your reputation or career. If you believe your boss may act maliciously or falsely about your performance, it may be wise to document everything and consult with a legal professional for guidance.