unfounded work alligations, my rights?

Flyonthewall

DandelionPatrol wrote: »

And if you take it up with the school, I suggest a very mild letter enclosing a photograph of yourself

Dear <School>

I am employed by <Employer> as <role> at <School>. On <date> I was questioned concerning a complaint against me from <member of school staff> and it was clarified that the complaint was against another person.

I would advise you that

• <member of school staff> has known me for 18 years
• this is the second time that <member of school staff> has wrongly accused me.

For the avoidance of any further confusion, I enclose a photograph of myself. I would be grateful if you would show <member of school staff> this photograph and advise them that my name is <mighty hammers> in order to aid <member of school staff> not to repeat earlier mistakes.


Yours sincerely


<mighty hammers>

Including a photo and stating about showing it could be taken completely the wrong way and is in no way professional. They've known each other 18 years so saying that could be seen as the OP making fun of the situation or even coming across as insulting the person who named them. Personally I wouldn't include that.

mighty_hammers wrote: »

both, have been this year by same person, about 8 months apart.

Did anything happen at the start of the year that could have caused this or any other issues?

If not, it's odd. Maybe the other person is easily confused or having a bad year or something. As I said before, if it happens again the bosses won't be happy anyway. All you can is keep doing your job and if you deal with the person at any point just keep it professional.

vegasvisitor

I agree, while the photo idea is quite humorous, it's liable to be taken as being cheeky. I would assume they are aware you aren't impressed anyway.

DandelionPatrol

lesley74 wrote: »

I agree, while the photo idea is quite humorous, it's liable to be taken as being cheeky. I would assume they are aware you aren't impressed anyway.

OP would not be sending the photo to their own employer, so even if it is cheeky it is of no consequence.

Given the circumstances - knowing someone for 18 years and 2 events of mistaken identity, I don't even see it as cheeky. The real and genuine problem is that the trouble maker is not correctly identifying someone as OP. Now that could be malice, but it could be that the y just don't really know OP's name. Now this does happen even over 18 years. A photo is a quite appropriate way of making a clarification.

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Including a photo and stating about showing it could be taken completely the wrong way and is in no way professional. They've known each other 18 years so saying that could be seen as the OP making fun of the situation or even coming across as insulting the person who named them. Personally I wouldn't include that.

I don't see it as the least bit unprofessional. It would be a genuine attempt to eliminate future confusion. As I just pointed out, even at 18 years, the other person may not know OP's name, but only if there is no malice. And if there is malice, then such a letter would close of future repeats.

Without the photo, the letter to the school loses its point - you either need to argue not to send the photo or suggest an alternative letter.

Flyonthewall

DandelionPatrol wrote: »

I don't see it as the least bit unprofessional. It would be a genuine attempt to eliminate future confusion. As I just pointed out, even at 18 years, the other person may not know OP's name, but only if there is no malice. And if there is malice, then such a letter would close of future repeats.

Without the photo, the letter to the school loses its point - you either need to argue not to send the photo or suggest an alternative letter.

It comes across as making fun of it and possibly insulting, like I said. I can't imagine the school actually showing the picture. If taken the wrong way they may well have a word with the OP about it though.

I wouldn't write any letters. What's the point? You come across as implying the other person is stupid to not know you after 18 years and even add a photo so it can be pointed out to them as if they're a child who needs someone to point to a picture and go "this is <name>".

Chances are they were told of their mistake considering they did interview the actual person involved. They'd have surely spoken to the member of staff who made the claim and told them the outcome.

The previous issue was resolved. If it happens again - and it may not - I doubt the school will be happy at another false claim. At that point something more can be done.

DandelionPatrol

Flyonthewall wrote: »

If it happens again - and it may not - I doubt the school will be happy at another false claim. At that point something more can be done.

That could equally well have been said after the first time. And if OP did not send the letter and if it happened again, you would no doubt urge similar inaction.

Twice is enough.

stevemLS

I'm afraid I agree and think you would look a bit of a knob if you sent a photograph.

I have no issue with you sending a letter but think it should say something like:

Dear xxxxx

As you know I was recently interviewed in relation to a complaint which had been made against me by xxxxx

It was established that the complaint was in fact against another person and I had no involvement whatsoever in the matter.

I do find it puzzling that xxxxxx should mistake me for the other person given that we have worked together for 18 years. It is even more concerning that this is the second occasion recently on which this has happened.

However it arose it is inevitably a distressing process to be told you are subject of a complaint of this nature and then to be questioned for approaching half an hour over the matter.

Both the school (and my employer) [isn't clear whether OP is directly employed] owe a positive duty to protect my health and welfare and this repeated baseless accusation is detrimental to my welfare.

I should be grateful if you would take such steps as you consider appropriate to ensure there is no further repetition.

DandelionPatrol

stevemLS wrote: »

I'm afraid I agree and think you would look a bit of a knob if you sent a photograph.

I have no issue with you sending a letter but think it should say something like:

Dear xxxxx

As you know I was recently interviewed in relation to a complaint which had been made against me by xxxxx

It was established that the complaint was in fact against another person and I had no involvement whatsoever in the matter.

I do find it puzzling that xxxxxx should mistake me for the other person given that we have worked together for 18 years. It is even more concerning that this is the second occasion recently on which this has happened.

However it arose it is inevitably a distressing process to be told you are subject of a complaint of this nature and then to be questioned for approaching half an hour over the matter.

Both the school (and my employer) [isn't clear whether OP is directly employed] owe a positive duty to protect my health and welfare and this repeated baseless accusation is detrimental to my welfare.

I should be grateful if you would take such steps as you consider appropriate to ensure there is no further repetition.

I think you would look more of a knob - and a pathetic knob at that for admitting that a half hour interview is detrimental to your welfare. Indeed, if the school [who are not the employer AIUI] passed this on to the person making allegations, I would fully expect OP to receive more of the same and worse. It still leaves the door ajar for the person to make the same 'mistake' again

The advantage of the photo letter is that you remove the excuse for more of the same at a stroke without appearing put down by what happened.

Flyonthewall

DandelionPatrol wrote: »

That could equally well have been said after the first time. And if OP did not send the letter and if it happened again, you would no doubt urge similar inaction.

Twice is enough.

Possibly, but we don't know. It may not have been and we've no idea what actually happened in either event.

There could also be a numerous reasons why they've said the wrong name, most of which would be genuine mistakes.

If it happened again I'd go for a more direct approach, not send a letter with a photo. Regardless of how many times it happens the letter still sounds like they're making fun of it all.

The school could arrange a meeting between the two to discuss it. That way the matter can be resolved quickly, calmly, professionally and both parties can have their say.

stevemLS wrote: »

I'm afraid I agree and think you would look a bit of a knob if you sent a photograph.

I have no issue with you sending a letter but think it should say something like:

Dear xxxxx

As you know I was recently interviewed in relation to a complaint which had been made against me by xxxxx

It was established that the complaint was in fact against another person and I had no involvement whatsoever in the matter.

I do find it puzzling that xxxxxx should mistake me for the other person given that we have worked together for 18 years. It is even more concerning that this is the second occasion recently on which this has happened.

However it arose it is inevitably a distressing process to be told you are subject of a complaint of this nature and then to be questioned for approaching half an hour over the matter.

Both the school (and my employer) [isn't clear whether OP is directly employed] owe a positive duty to protect my health and welfare and this repeated baseless accusation is detrimental to my welfare.

I should be grateful if you would take such steps as you consider appropriate to ensure there is no further repetition.

If you have to send a letter I agree that this letter sounds much better. It raises the concern, informs the school of how they feel about the issue and leaves it up to the school to take suitable action.

stevemLS

Well it plainly has caused distress otherwise OP wouldn't be pursuing it.

Flyonthewall

DandelionPatrol wrote: »

I think you would look more of a knob - and a pathetic knob at that for admitting that a half hour interview is detrimental to your welfare.

If you feel stressed and confused then half an hour, along with added worry after, is a long time. Not everyone deals well with such situations.

I'd much rather admit that the half an hour interview had been really stressful for me than come across as an idiot wanting to have my photo shown to someone.

Indeed, if the school [who are not the employer AIUI] passed this on to the person making allegations, I would fully expect OP to receive more of the same and worse. It still leaves the door ajar for the person to make the same 'mistake' again

The advantage of the photo letter is that you remove the excuse for more of the same at a stroke without appearing put down by what happened.

I would not expect them to pass on the letter. It raises a personal concern that should not be directly shown to the other member of staff. The health of another member of staff is not for them to know.

Instead the school should take on board what the letter says and find out the reason for the mistake and make sure the person realises their mistake.