Slanderous Accusations - What Can I Do?!

I-Owe-You

I'm looking for any advise if anyone can help me please?

I work in the public sector...and in recent weeks we were asked to fill out a supposedly confidential questionnaire regarding our experiences and thoughts about being at work, and the way in which our department is run.

I was honest in my response, and admittedly was not particularly positive about the organisation. Critising the many unnecessary middle managers employed, internal office politics, annoying red tape and job titles to bypass before getting anything done, and highlighted without identifying myself that from my experiences, it has just not particularly been a pleasant place to work. (they did ask for my opinion!)

I have had many problems, my main gripe being that I am disabled and required specialist equipment to do my job properly due to my disability. This is a large organisation (NHS) and openly displays on all its publications the positive about disability two ticks logo. I had nothing but problems in obtaining this specialist equipment over a period of 8 months, despite my employers being aware of my disabilities when I applied for the position. (I did not mention this in the questionnaire as I did not want to be identified)

Anyway, today, out of no where I was pulled into the office with my manger who has stated he had received emails from "other staff" but could not tell me who - accusing me of being out of the office and away from my desk for up to 3 hours on 2 occasions last week.
This is absolute rubbish!!!! I was absolutely livid that I have been slandered in this way. I have, thankfully emails that had been sent throughout the day from my work email account to show that I was in fact in work (barr one hour for lunch between 12-1pm) and would have evidence in the form of other colleagues from my interaction with them in the office when I was supposedly AWOL.

My question is: Can I just been accused like that when they have (& have not produced) no evidence to back these slanderous allegations up?? I am concerned that the management are unhappy with the comments received in this questionnaire, and have worked out that they have come from me.
I am the only one working as an administrator, who is female and within a certain age range in my department - questions that were on this questionnaire and makes me easily identifiable, despite it supposedly being confidential.

To address this further my Union are also wanting me to put in a formal grievance for an official hearing regarding the problems concerning the length of time obtaining my disability equipment, which my employers agreed and know they were in the wrong about...management are fully aware of the possibility of this official complaint/investigation. Is this there way of punishing me? Is there anything I can do?

It is making me so ill, I am never one to use the bullying card, but I feel I am being victimised. I have had nothing but problems since starting employment there and I wish I never took the job in the first place.
To add insult to injury I have actually stayed over my working hours on many occasions in the past, and without blowing my own trumpet am always in on time in the mornings (unlike many other staff), I also undertake work way above and beyond my job description.

I would appreciate any advise on here if it can be offered? I'm desperate & extremely depressed!!!

Thank you.

mobo99

I have no amazing advise to give you, but I wish you all the best in fixing this ridiculous situation.

Dick_Van_Dyke

So an administrator openly abuses the management and thinks she shouldnt have to go through a hierachy to get things done?

Overall your post is full of padding

If they decide to take you to a discliplinary then they will need to present the evidence.

If you want to raise a grievance re equipment do so. Be aware though it is reasonable adjustments and they dont need to just give you what you want when you want.

Dont cloud these two issues with anything else such as a staff survey.

robredz

So long as the union give you full support I would pursue the grievance, and add managements recent unfounded allegations into the pot also.Even organisations that purport to be fully suppoprtive of disabled staff, can often make life hell to get you to quit, if it suits their long term purpose.

shaven-monkey

Well, your boss shouted at you. It is possible that they were shouted at because of comments from the department and wanted to take it out on someone.

If they "dragged you into the office" for a disciplinary meeting then you should have been given the option of having a union rep with you. If they demand your presence in the office again, request they wait until a union rep is available.
Boss will probably stop trying to bully you, or they'll get fired for gross misconduct. Either way - win.

jdturk

I-Owe-You wrote: »

To address this further my Union are also wanting me to put in a formal grievance for an official hearing regarding the problems concerning the length of time obtaining my disability equipment, which my employers agreed and know they were in the wrong about...management are fully aware of the possibility of this official complaint/investigation. Is this there way of punishing me? Is there anything I can do?

It is making me so ill, I am never one to use the bullying card, but I feel I am being victimised. I have had nothing but problems since starting employment there and I wish I never took the job in the first place.
To add insult to injury I have actually stayed over my working hours on many occasions in the past, and without blowing my own trumpet am always in on time in the mornings (unlike many other staff), I also undertake work way above and beyond my job description.


I would appreciate any advise on here if it can be offered? I'm desperate & extremely depressed!!!

Thank you.

I don't get the point of making a formal grievance about the equipment, management accepted it was slow so what will raising a grievance about it do bar waste more NHS money?

terra_ferma

Making malicious allegations can be a disciplinary offence, if proven.
Their allegations are very serious and could have caused you to lose your job, I expect.

If you feel that these comments were made because you are female/older/disabled it would be even worse.

However you would not have the right to know what action is taken against these people.

Regarding the 'anonymous' questionnaire: unwise move! If you attack people in that way you can expect them to retaliate. I'm not saying it's fair, but it's a fact of life, people will do what they can to protect their backside. Although to make up false allegations without evidence would be extremely stupid of them (but we've all seen worse!)

DKLS

You broke the golden rule, being honest in a staff survey, they are never anonymous and will always come back to bite you.

Its the same with those 360 reviews I had to do in the NHS, we were told they were anonymous, but in reality it took about 3 seconds to work out who had done each others reviews.

bap98189

Hang on, am I the only one who thinks you are making a mountain out of a molehill?

Your manager has apparently received Emails saying you were AWOL last week. He/she calls you into the office, asks about it, you deny it and show him evidence that you were in fact at work during the times concerned. I see no issue here, what did you expect him/her to do?

There is an issue with the false allegations made by other people, but I would hope your manager is investigating those and dealing with those concerned.

SueC_2

You were accused of being AWOL, and proved you weren't. Move on.

It took longer to get the specialist equipment than you would have liked, but you have it now. Move on.

There are enough battles to be fought in life without choosing to fight those you have already won.

jdturk

bap98189 wrote: »

Hang on, am I the only one who thinks you are making a mountain out of a molehill?

Your manager has apparently received Emails saying you were AWOL last week. He/she calls you into the office, asks about it, you deny it and show him evidence that you were in fact at work during the times concerned. I see no issue here, what did you expect him/her to do?

There is an issue with the false allegations made by other people, but I would hope your manager is investigating those and dealing with those concerned.

I agree, hence why drag this out more with a pointless grievance?