False advertising 1

[BRGENG]

Last year I moved back home and joined another design firm. While at my old company I was the EOR of all bridge projects. My previous employers had never designed a bridge and nobody at the office knows how to design one. I was recently told by an ex-coworker that my old firm is claiming my work as their own, which is fine for the projects I did while I was employed there. However they are claiming work I did before I joined their firm and work I did in other States. They did hire an EIT that has done a few bridge projects while working with another firm, he is not licensed and my old boss that knows nothing about bridges is signing his work.

How can you stop them from claiming my work history and isn’t it a bad idea to seal work you can’t review?

 

[IRstuff]

a> Not much you can do, unless you have specific documented proof, which I doubt...

b> Yes, it's a bad idea, but you're not there, so you don't have all the facts.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[apsix]

Just forget it, but if you do proceed make sure of the facts.

From your post;
"nobody at the office knows how to design one" &
"They did hire an EIT that has done a few bridge projects while working with another firm"

Both statements can't be right.

 

[Ron]

Well, actually what they are doing is against the law in most states in the US. Check your state's engineering law...there's usually a prohibition against overstating your qualifications, either individually or as an engineering business or claiming the work of another as your own. It's a bit harder to prove for an engineering business.

 

[IRstuff]

Food for lawsuit fight...

The work taken credit for, ostensibly was performed by the OP when employed by the company; therefore, the company owns it, and can claim that "they" did it. If they claim that someone in the company other than the OP did the work, that would be a different matter.

In a typical relevant experience blurb, "We performed this, that, and the other on the Blah Bridge in 2004," is correct and valid, since it leaves open the question of whether they could do the same work now.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[ImminentCollapse]

Depending on who their clients are, I think the lack of direct experience will show quickly and come back to bite them.

They can't claim the work you did prior to joining them though, that is clear and probably worth a letter to them and maybe your Board. But you have to be certain (with proof other than second-hand ex-coworker accounts).

IC

 

[TDAA]

The company did the work, even though you did it for them. If that was not the case, then a company's experience and longevity would be limited to its longest standing employee.

On a slight tangent:

What about advertising papers written by "our professionals", when the people do not work there any more (did at the time of the writing)?

To me it says that they are included in the talent pool that you would get if you hired them.

 

[mauricestoker]

I would not worry about it on a hearsay basis. "Told by an ex co-worker" would probably get you laughed at without mercy.

With proposals I am used to seeing, or asking, which current staff member you propose to use had what experience/role on the projects you have listed? If none of the proposed staffing has relevant experience on the projects claimed, the company may claim the prior experience, but reveal that they have not retained the knowledge and experience. Not much different than the "bait and switch" clowns who claim to be placing magnificent engineers on the job, then trying to send out newbies and history majors. They get caught and hopefully severely punished.

 

[BRGENG]

They posted my projects from another firm on their website. Not just second hand news.

 

[photoengineer]

Care to post a link?

Cedar Bluff Engineering

http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com

 

[JAE]

On that I'd call the board and file a complaint - that's pretty extreme using your projects from before you were even with that firm. Wow.

 

[apsix]

Perhaps it's more appropriate to let the 'other firm' know what's happening and let them fight the battle.

 

[IRstuff]

I think that would be a horrible idea. If you complain to the state board, I don't think they'll have as good a lawsuit as they would if you went to their customer. The latter would most likely result in a defamation or slander lawsuit, which you would be in the right with, but would probably cost you a truckload of money to defend.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[hokie66]

IRstuff,
I don't think apsix is suggesting going to the offending firm's customer. He means the previous firm he worked for, whose work is being claimed as tbe offender's own.

 

[photoengineer]

Frankly, I'd let the whole thing drop. You don't pull in new work through websites anyway, you pull in new work through personal contacts and connections. Spend your time getting new work rather than worrying about a competitor's website content.

Cedar Bluff Engineering

http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com

 

[BRGENG]

Luckily I left on good terms so I just dropped my old boss an email about it. They said it was an oversite on the marketing group and it was removed immediately.

Thanks for the views.

 

[apsix]

Good move, sanity prevails.

 

[EEinTexas]

Maybe your boss took a crash course in Bridge Design so he feels comfortable signing them. If not the contractors will see the difference in quality of plans and you won’t have to worry much about them doing bridges, it will take care of itself.

 

[MortenA]

"crash course" - a term that should be used with caution in civil engineering

Best regards

Morten