Release letter for secondary work permit

[Terry B.]

I resigned from a job last May and obtained a new job at the same time. I continued to work for the old employer for another month until I had wrapped everything up that I was responsible for. My new employer is my primary work permit, pays insurance, is listed on my ARC, etc.

When things wrapped up for the old employer they would not give me a release letter. As I didn't care to add another work permit and have been rather busy, I didn't push the issue any more than requesting a release letter each month. Zero hours have been worked since the first part of June. Zero compensation has been received. Things have been cordial - they simply have hope that I will return and work for them which is not going to happen.

In the past several weeks, I have found that the former employer is using my name and personal details to sell courses for their organization. I am listed as their primary instructor on their webpage, on a webpage for an affiliated organization in China (using my bio with another person's picture) and now on the webpage for a course through a local university they are cooperating with. This feels wrong and I have again requested a release letter and to stop selling courses using my name though have been met with zero response.

Is there a course of action that I can take here? I have been informed that a person cannot be "denied" a release letter but it actually getting it out of them has proven difficult.

[Satellite TV]

Take it up with the CLA

[beach_bum]

I resigned from a job last May and obtained a new job at the same time. I continued to work for the old employer for another month until I had wrapped everything up that I was responsible for. My new employer is my primary work permit, pays insurance, is listed on my ARC, etc.

When things wrapped up for the old employer they would not give me a release letter. As I didn't care to add another work permit and have been rather busy, I didn't push the issue any more than requesting a release letter each month. Zero hours have been worked since the first part of June. Zero compensation has been received. Things have been cordial - they simply have hope that I will return and work for them which is not going to happen.

In the past several weeks, I have found that the former employer is using my name and personal details to sell courses for their organization. I am listed as their primary instructor on their webpage, on a webpage for an affiliated organization in China (using my bio with another person's picture) and now on the webpage for a course through a local university they are cooperating with. This feels wrong and I have again requested a release letter and to stop selling courses using my name though have been met with zero response.

Is there a course of action that I can take here? I have been informed that a person cannot be "denied" a release letter but it actually getting it out of them has proven difficult.

You seemingly have two separate issues. The first is you believe you still have a work permit at your former place of employment. The second is their continuing to use your name in advertising etc.

It's just my opinion, but I really don't think you have any residual attachments at all to the former school. If in doubt, you could visit the NIA and ask to see where you are currently entitled to work. You will probably not see their name listed as current employers. I would bet that the other school cancelled your work permit long ago. No letter is needed to be given to you for that to have happened.

As for the second thing, I wouldn't bother with it. I still see people I know left years ago in ads for schools. It means nothing and isn't worth pursuing.