Slander or Gossip?

suzysue_2

I was informed by a third party that my name has been linked to drug taking.
The setting was a training centre where a refresher course on drugs was being undertaken by various professionals such as social workers, etc.

Apparently, a conversation had developed between a few women discussing drug related problems within their community and who was taking which particular drug.

This conversation continued outside to where the third party heard my name and that I was taking drugs, the phrase used was, "she's always on wizz". My place of work was also discussed, I work in a primary school.

Now, I haven't slept all night with worrying about the implications that could arise from the gossip/slanderous remarks and I have no clue what to do next if anything?

The third party kept quite as she doesn't really 'know' me but is in no doubt about the content of the conversation.

Any advice will be very much appreciated and apologises if I have posted this in the wrong place.

siamesecats

suzysue wrote:

I was informed by a third party that my name has been linked to drug taking.
The setting was a training centre where a refresher course on drugs was being undertaken by various professionals such as social workers, etc.

Apparently, a conversation had developed between a few women discussing drug related problems within their community and who was taking which particular drug.

This conversation continued outside to where the third party heard my name and that I was taking drugs, the phrase used was, "she's always on wizz". My place of work was also discussed, I work in a primary school.

Now, I haven't slept all night with worrying about the implications that could arise from the gossip/slanderous remarks and I have no clue what to do next if anything?

The third party kept quite as she doesn't really 'know' me but is in no doubt about the content of the conversation.

Any advice will be very much appreciated and apologises if I have posted this in the wrong place.

sticks and stones will break your bones but names will never hurt you.roll you eyes hold up your head and ignore.:A

recovering_spendaholic

siamesecats wrote:

sticks and stones will break your bones but names will never hurt you.roll you eyes hold up your head and ignore.:A

I am afraid that I don't agree. If you work in a Primary School then gossip like this can end your career. If it were me I would immediately seek a formal retraction and possibly take legal action against whoever made the original statement. But maybe I am overreacting......

misty

I think it is serious especially considering your job. I would ask the third party if she would agree to make a statement about what she heard. I would also see a solicitor about what you could do. If these people are discussing you and making untrue (and I'm assuming they are untrue) allegations or even just indiscreet gossip it could have an effect on your job or possible promotion. They need challenging about what they have said. I also think if you are proactive about it - you will feel less helpless. Good luck - they have shown a lack of professionalism if nothing else.

suzysue_2

Thank you for your comments.
My OH agrees with you siamesecats, I should simply ignore it and stop worrying, I drove him mad constantly sighing last night.

However I feel so upset that I feel I have to do something, but how?
The third party has no idea who the gossiper is or how to find out who she is?
There were many different organisations attending the course.

I really am going slightly mad by this, actually wish the information wasn't passed on to me.

suzysue_2

Misty
They certainly did show a complete lack of professionalism. I will have to contact the third party again and ask if she will support me if I intend to take this further.
I was so preoccupied and shocked by this last night that I accidently hit the excellerator instead of the brakes and smacked straight into my friends Jeep.

The allegations are complete fiction.

tawnyowls

I don't think you should ignore it either - this kind of gossip in your profession could have serious consequences, and it's best to nip it in the bud asap. Firstly, I think you need to contact your head, and explain the situation, so if it comes to their ears, they'll know what it's about, and you won't be put in the position of having to defend yourself against direct allegations.

As for finding out who it was, I think you should ask your head to contact the training centre, get a list of all the attendees, and have a letter sent to them informing them that it has come to the head's attention that untrue allegations (no need to go into details) were made by someone at this course, asking them to report any information, and warning them that any further allegations of this nature could result in legal action. With luck, someone will identify the culprit, but if not, the threat should at least shut their mouths.

suzysue_2

tawnyowls.
That seems very sound advice to me, I will speak to my head asap.
x

Debt_Free_Chick

I'm not convinced that gossip alone could lose your job. It would be a brave and stupid employer that dismissed on the basis of gossip with no investigation and no opportunity for you to respond.

I would simply ignore it. It's just gossip and nothing more. If the gossip gets to your employer then they will deal with it and I have no doubt that they will ignore it too, unless they have other grounds to suspect there might be something more to it. Even then, they are going to talk to you first. I think there's a difference between gossip and a direct allegation and I'm sure Heads are used to it.

If your name was not mentioned within the training course itself, then I would take no further action with regards to contacting the course leader. I would have thought any course leader taking a drug related course would be sufficiently well trained and/or experienced to deal with situations where specific names are mentioned. They ought to be well aware of the consequences of ill-founded allegations.

If your name was mentioned, then I would have a quiet word about your concerns with the course leader first. It seems a little premature to make threats of legal action, when you don't know what was said and by whom.

In any event, any lawyer will tell you not to threaten legal action unless you have every intention of carrying it through and you are confident you will win. Without knowing who was responsible, you have no-one to take legal action against. Personally, I wouldn't make empty threats.

I think you should ignore it .... for now and see how things develop. If, indeed, they do. The whole matter might just go no further.

HTH

RibenaBerry_2

I agree with Tawnyowl. Talk to the head. Then try to forget about it.

If you've been to the Head and asked for support then, if the rumours do ever get back to the school, their first thought will be "oh goodness, that's the awful gossip Suzysue told us about" not, "oh my god, one of our staff might be on drugs". By being really upfront with the school, you've cut off that interval of suspicion between the time they hear and the time that they can speak to you.

alzeebub

You didn't actually say whether the gossip was true or not...

so just in case it is... stop taking speed!

Problem solved