been accused of having a relationship with an employee now the employee is getting talked about and insulted?

Question

I am a supervisor at a college and have been accused of having a "physical relationship" with an employee. Someone thought they saw us walk away from eachother quickly and look guilty was the exact comment. our HR did and investigation and found nothing and considered it droped. but now the female involved is having comments made about her and the person who made the accusation is still makeing up lies about it! employees are in a union and i am not so i am not even supposed to know who the people who generated the rumors are. what should be done now?

Answer 1

What I feel that there should be some sort of moral code of conduct that should be applicable to all employees irrespective of their position/seniority. This is highly necessary in any educational institute where students come for education & if the general atmosphere of the institute is no cordial to the public morality, its reputation will get effected. Any person who indulges in back bricking & rumor mongering of such a kind which actually amounts to insulting the dignity of a woman employee should be taken seriously & punished accordingly. A proper disciplinary inquiry is to be conducted & all the employees should be inquired in order to identify the real culprit who is involved in any such wrong comments about the whole incidence. This is not a issue where only you as a supervisor or the woman employee are involved here the whole institute gets effected by such rumors & such rumor mongers should be taken to task & a proper disciplinary action be taken when they are identified from the whole lot of the employees. I personally don’t suggest bringing police in this whole issue when an indoor disciplinary investigation, inquiry & action are sufficient to settle this whole issue. As far the issue of employee's union is concerned, I don't think mere investigation of any disciplinary nature will be effecting the employee's legal rights for which such unions are made, yes definitely they become active in case any legal action is taken against any employee without conducting a proper disciplinary inquiry, giving him or her proper notice to defend him or her self & giving reason for such disciplinary action against him or her after giving a proper hearing to such a person. As an administrative officer you should be aware of this.

Answer 2

Have said female who is the victim of the accusations go to HR and say the words "hostile work environment". Those legal sounding buzzwords should lite a fire under their behinds and get them to tell the person who is spreading the lies to shut their trap.

Did you have an employee handbook or documentation on conduct when you started? Most companies have them these days and make employees sign them to limit the company's liability. If there is an employee handbook, I guarantee you that they address the very scenario of running around and slandering a co-worker.

No reason to file suit or even threaten one at this juncture. Just saying that the person spreading the lies is creating a hostile work environment and making it difficult for the two of you to work will probably be sufficient. HR will most likely get the picture in a hurry.

Answer 3

the employee needs to file a harassment suit. this should not be tolerated in any workplace, but there is nothing YOU can do.. the employee needs to stand up for herself.

Answer 4

Call a meeting and clear the air. If you're not sure how to do this, let me know.

Answer 5

report the people that are starting rumours & sue em for defamation of character

Answer 6

You love them, take care of them.