I have been accused of harassment in the workplace?

Question

I have received a letter from work, stating that a fellow collegue has lodged a formal complaint of harrassment against me at work. I have been asked to attend a meeting.
I am unaware of my actions offending anyone, and feel I am now being viewed as guilty by my employer, before knowing the circumstances of the complaint, and being able to defend myself.
I think I am allowed a witness, but how do I prepare myself for an accusation of something I am unaware of?

Answer 1

I suggest you accept the meeting invitation only on the strict understanding that the meeting focuses on what you are being accused of. There should be no other subject of discussion in the meeting.

As soon as you find out the exact details of the accusation, you must adjourn the meeting to prepare your defense.

As others have said, be businesslike in your approach to this meeting. Don't under any circumstances lose your temper, admit any wrongdoing, make counter-accusations or get emotional about any of this at the initial meeting. Once you have had time to digest and analyse the accusations, you will be in a much stronger place to deal with this.

If the accusations could potentially mean you losing your job, I would strongly suggest you involve a specialist employment law attorney at the earliest opportunity.

Answer 2

Your right to be worried but you have your rights even if you are not in a Union. If your employer asks you to attend a diciplanary meeting you have no choice but to attend.
If you are in a Union notify the union as soon as you can and ask your shop steward to find out the details in order that you can defend yourself, your union official should then sit down with you and discuss the matter and attend the meeting with you.

If you have no union representative write to your line manager explaining that you will not attend the disciplanary hearing unless you are fully aware of the charge being bought against you and tell him/her you want dates, times and any other details of incidents that you are supposed to be involved in. You are entitled to be accompanied by a witness but usualy you will find it has to be another member of staff. If that is the case ask someone you trust and who is not a governors man, be wary if a Union official says he will act as a witness unless you are in that union.

Keep a diary of everything that is connected to the diciplanry along with times and dates of phone calls, conversations and generaly keep a low profile about your own thoughts on the matter. It is important that you do not allow you employer to bully you so it is a good idea to read up on this subject there are plenty of places on the net that deal with this subject. If you are approached about anything to do with the diciplanary make sure your witness hears it to. Call your witness to attend all conversations on the matter.

If you know you have not done anything wrong don't worry, but you have to be so careful nowadays, especialy where sexual harrasement is concerned.

Play it cool and you will be fine.

Good Luck

ATB Red

P.S
John K is right you are entitled to look at your personel file do this as soon as possible and take photocopies of anything that might help you.

Answer 3

I think you contact your employer and ask what the accusation is so you can prepare. If they won't give you that then you attend the meeting and find out what it is about, then ask for another meeting so you have time to gather your defense and witness if needed.

Answer 4

it sounds like the first process of a disciplinary. yes take a union rep if you have one or a close colleague. you will be told what you are supposed to have done and asked to replyif you need a few mins to discuss it ask the employer and do it out of earshot of them. hopefully there will be case to answer.
if the employer has received a letter of complaint they have to follow it up by law......good luck

Answer 5

Keep all the paperwork they give you. Attend the meeting in a coat and tie, and don't lose your cool. Don't admit to any wrongdoing.
If she makes any threats against you outside of the workplace, you have a means for a countersuit. Bring a lawyer.

Answer 6

You are allowed a witness. You are also allowed to stop/adjourn the meeting at any point to seek guidance or consultation. As soon as they tell you what you are supposed to have done, stop the meeting. You are allowed time to prepare a defence. Do not lose your temper with them. Citizens Advice Bureau can offer advice.

Answer 7

Tell them you will attend if they give you a copy of the complaint and your entire personel file before the meeting.

Answer 8

you may desire to talk to a criminal expert, first and ultimate. although, i could propose first which you already know that this is not any longer unthinkable which you will actually unfold rumors approximately himself, fantastically a sexual rumor of this sort. a guy could desire to teach off that he "have been given fortunate" with an beautiful lady, which might lead him to commence rumors, whether it may cut back his effectiveness as a supervisor. i'm no longer asserting you probably did that - i'm only asserting that it may be hassle-free for human beings to understand why somebody could commence such rumors approximately himself. in case you're easily going to be charged with sexual harassment, the indisputable fact that rumors exist heavily isn't adequate to discover which you began them. this is basic for one individual to commence rumors approximately 2 human beings. working example, individual A tells individual B that C and D slept collectively. the indisputable fact that a rumor exists isn't info which you began it. for this reason, there could desire to be somebody at your artwork who claims to have heard the rumor FROM YOU to ascertain which you to be blamed. although, in case you heard the rumor and did no longer deny it, this could count form as you spreading the rumor. in short, if human beings declare there's a rumor yet no one claims that they heard the rumor from you, you would be off the hook. If somebody claims they heard the rumor from you, you would be waiting to confront them and clarify your area of the story (in fact, which you had no awareness of this manner of rumor and positively did no longer commence it your self). of path, this is achieveable that the sexual harassment allegation incorporates extra advantageous than the allegation of rumor-beginning or rumor-spreading. in case you have engaged in any habit to make a subordinate sense uncomfortable (leering, irrelevant touching, humorous tale-telling, unwelcome sexual banter, etc.) then you will could desire to handle those subject concerns besides.

Answer 9

So....that was you, huh? It would be hard to prepare without any details.

Answer 10

go in to your boss and ask to see the evidence if it your word against them say she or he mad advance at you and you said stay away that why they lied about it.