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Despite me not providing care to my friend. My care provider employer has threatened me with being dismissed unless I refrain from seeing our friend. My friend has not been informed of this action.Is this legal?

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No, this is not legal. To try to prevent you from seeing a friend.
HOWEVER, most states are now "right to hire and right to fire" which means that your employer can FIRE YOU if only because she doesn't like your hair style.

How in the world, may I ask, would your employer know about your visiting your friends?
That seems exceptionally abnormal.
I am 82 and none of my employers over a lifetime were ever even aware of who my friends ARE?
So I am puzzled?
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BurntCaregiver Oct 27, 2024
That would be a 'Right To work' state, Alva. If the OP is in a state that does not have those laws, go straight to the state's Labor Department and retain the services of a lawyer who specialized in civil liberties and workers' rights.

If it is a 'Right To Work' state, well I'd say move to a state that isn't one.
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My guess is that there is more to this story than just the bald facts we have, and that it is about information 'shared as friends' between the worker and the client/ resident that is outside the usual worker-resident relationship. The employer may not want ‘gossip’ about worker issues being circulated among the residents. It certainly would be 'something in common' to talk about if you are both in the same place. If it hasn’t actually happened, that’s probably what the employer is concerned about. It only 'doesn't make sense' if your friend has no contact with other 'clients', so couldn't spread 'in-house' information. Perhaps you can deal with this upfront?
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AlvaDeer Oct 27, 2024
That is my guess as well, because it is completely abnormal for ANY employer to know ANYTHING about your personal life and friendships, Margaret. There is something here we aren't being told.

OP should definitely do some research on his/her own state's employment and labor laws online.
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This is impossible to comment on without more details. Your employer and you employee in what capacities? Your friend likewise?
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Did you sign a contract? If so, what does the contract say about such relationships? Since your relationship is long-standing you surely must have texts, emails, photos, social media posts, etc., that prove a pre-existing relationship? This is separate than their threats being legal or not but it would be an easy way to get them off your back.
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I think your employer is way off. As long as you are not caring for this client and are not a threat that you will be taking the client away from the agency, being friends has nothing to do with it. Call your County Labor Board and see what they say. There are non-compete clauses in contracts, but this is not competing.
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