Problems with other employees at work

Hiberth

I've been at my place of work for almost four years and enjoying it and had quite a good relationship with my co-workers.  Things began to change at the end of last year.  I had a disagreement with this guy who's a real hot-head.  There were I think four in total.  Then it lead to an argument with another after he was rather rude to me.  Then this year the three other guys I've been working with haven't been helping me.  This weekend someone sent me an email with a recording on it with these people and one other talking about me in insulting terms.....from being a pervert to suspecting I might be a paedophile and an injury I had on my arm (due to some mechanical work) looked like it was due to self-harm.  So, the narrative is that I'm a perverted self-harming psychopath.  Oh yes, I also had a female's item of underwear in my work vehicle and I hang around a fairground on the weekend.  I really don't quite know what to do.  But I am thinking of telling my manager tomorrow.  I think he'll try and brush it off as being nothing a he won't want to deal with it.  But I cannot work under such circumstances.  Two of the people in the conversation are generally nice to me in my person, but they too got involved in the character assassination.  There have been other issue with a couple of these in the recent past when they had it in for another employee.  It would be nice if I could have some objective advice here.  Thanks.
PS
I don't know who sent me the recording.  It was an email from someone who clearly wished to be unknown.  But I have my suspicions.

General_Grant

Hiberth said:

I've been at my place of work for almost four years and enjoying it and had quite a good relationship with my co-workers.  Things began to change at the end of last year.  I had a disagreement with this guy who's a real hot-head.  There were I think four in total.  Then it lead to an argument with another after he was rather rude to me.  Then this year the three other guys I've been working with haven't been helping me.  This weekend someone sent me an email with a recording on it with these people and one other talking about me in insulting terms.....from being a pervert to suspecting I might be a paedophile and an injury I had on my arm (due to some mechanical work) looked like it was due to self-harm.  So, the narrative is that I'm a perverted self-harming psychopath.  Oh yes, I also had a female's item of underwear in my work vehicle and I hang around a fairground on the weekend.  I really don't quite know what to do.  But I am thinking of telling my manager tomorrow.  I think he'll try and brush it off as being nothing a he won't want to deal with it.  But I cannot work under such circumstances.  Two of the people in the conversation are generally nice to me in my person, but they too got involved in the character assassination.  There have been other issue with a couple of these in the recent past when they had it in for another employee.  It would be nice if I could have some objective advice here.  Thanks.

I wonder why they did that.  Clearly not a friend or they would have spoken up for you.  Is the email account genuine and, if so, is their voice one which is recorded?

Hiberth

The voices are recognisable to me. It's a wav file recording.  It's a small branch of a large company.  I would imagine the person sending the email didn't want to get involved through fear or whatever.....

General_Grant

The people who are normally nice to your face may just have been drawn in by group pressure.
It seems to me the person sending you the recording is trying to stir up trouble.  Don't rise to the bait.

Hiberth

Maybe so.  But he/she has only just alerted me to some pretty nasty attacks on my character.  Isn't that where the problem lies not the messeneger?

Barny1979

Out of interest, how old are these people and are they not very smart? As it seems like something you'd hear in a playground. Raise this with management.

Hiberth

Barny1979 said:

Out of interest, how old are these people and are they not very smart? As it seems like something you'd hear in a playground. Raise this with management.

They are not bright at all.  The two which are I believe the main problem are in their 30's but the other two are 40 something and 60 something.

Hiberth

Barny1979 said:

Out of interest, how old are these people and are they not very smart? As it seems like something you'd hear in a playground. Raise this with management.

What can management do?  Can they take the recording into consideration because it was obviously done without the consent of the people who's conversation it was recording?

Sea_Shell

I'd tell management more so that they are aware, not that they'll particularly DO anything at this stage.

Rise above it.   Approach management, with a "just so you are aware"...

At least this way, if it escalates, it's already been noted.

Barny1979

Hiberth said:

Barny1979 said:

Out of interest, how old are these people and are they not very smart? As it seems like something you'd hear in a playground. Raise this with management.

What can management do?  Can they take the recording into consideration because it was obviously done without the consent of the people who's conversation it was recording?

Well I'd expect something could be done about using a phone whilst at work, people gossiping about others when not working, HR should be involved too.

Hiberth

But it's not simple gossip.  These are malicious accusations or at least suggestions.