False Harassment Claims at Work: How Can We Protect Ourselves After Being Falsely Accused?

I was wondering if anyone knows what kind of actions I can take against someone who filed false harassment charges against me and several co-workers. The investigation by the accuser's company has stated that the charges cannot be substantiated, but she is now returning to the work area. We have all been attacked and made to look extremely bad, even though the claim was a blatant lie.

Hi Frankie, Sorry to hear that, but there is probably not much you can do in such circumstances. I am from India and know little about working in transnational organizations. However, if you know those are false charges, just try to keep your work performance good. (I was wondering, do you have a good chance of promotion?)

Building Rapport and Strategy

Why don't you guys talk informally with other people (probably at lunch, car lot, or in a refreshment bar)? Believe me, it will help. Try to build rapport with your management, coworkers, peers, and friends and practice a little public relations. Talk to people, try to understand the undercurrents. Sit together with friends and decide on a strategy to tackle her. Concentrate on more unexpected situations and be prepared. Meditate, play, and listen to your favorite music. Leave the rest to God. You will feel relaxed. :) I shall be happy if you smile after that.

Handling False Harassment Charges

This is a formula for disaster—bringing back an individual who has inflamed nearly everyone in the work area with unsubstantiated charges of harassment.

My best advice is for you and your co-workers to ignore the individual. Perhaps he or she will get the message and go away. Any other course, such as retaliation or retribution, can be seen as harassment and would validate the earlier claims.

I have a question. I sent my friend an email telling her that a pic she posted on a site was uncalled for and asking her to take it off. I also asked her why she posted a pic like that. She then wrote back and started going off on me when all I did was ask her a question. She began yelling and cussing at me. This made me mad, so I wrote her back. I then informed her that I am stopping the emails because she is trying to escalate the situation unnecessarily. Now she is threatening to charge me with harassment. Can she do that? If I went to court, what could happen to me? If anyone can help me, please do. Thanks.

Kris

How can you be the one that was harassing her when all you did was request (civilly I hope), that the pic be removed?
I'm not an attorney, but I believe that you have a better case against her for invasion of privacy and public humiliation (if the pic was embarrassing or shows you in a poor light, and it had a wide distribution.).
You didn't make it clear - is the picture on a “private” site, or a commercial site, like Google, Yahoo, or other .com (I.e. outyourfriend.com)? If it is on a commercial site, contact the administrator and demand that the picture be removed. If it is a private site, contact a competent IT attorney for advice. You can get a reference from the State Bar Association.
Bill Kuzmin
PALADIN Human Resource Consulting
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