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Disgruntled ex-coworker spreading lies

Im curious to what you girls would do in this situation.

I work for a small company, there are 12 employees, including the two owners. A co-worker of mine recently quit, with no warning, in a nasty email to my bosses. She had only worked with us for less then 6 months, and was becoming increasingly angry with our bosses and other co workers.

A week after she quit, another co-worker of ours anonymously emailed our boss saying they had a "reliable" source who told them that several of us where sabotaging the company. A lot of ridiculous, embarrasing things were said. Example, inappropriately urinating in other areas besides the toilet!! Additionally, the email had said that three of my co-workers were planning on quitting at the same time, with no warning. Which is not true.

It only makes sense that the girl that quit is responsible for spreading these lies. We also have a good idea of who the anonymous person was. Our bosses immediately called us and questioned why the person would say this. We all expained how upset the ex coworker was, and how we think she is just trying to be vindictive. I'm not too sure if they believe us. Our boss was almost to the point of tears when talking to us.

We obviously are not in any kind of trouble, but it is still frustrating and embarrasing to be caught in the middle. What would you say or do in this situation? It's like being in highschool, all over again.

Re: Disgruntled ex-coworker spreading lies

  • TeamCTeamC member

    Keep your facts straight and don't out anyone without proof, or you'll look even more suspicious to your boss.  Also do not retaliate without proof.  People leave companies angry, it happens-don't stoop to her level. 

    Bottom line, just because you didn't cause this mess doesn't mean you don't need to fix it.  Your reputation is on the line here, and it sounds like the accusations are bad enough to make your boss question your rebuttal.   Without details beyond the absurdity of peeing outside the toilet (which I wouldn't even respond to), it's hard to know how to combat the lies.  If your boss doesn't believe your words, do everything you can to SHOW them your integrity.  GL, and sorry you're in the situation.

  • DON'T talk about this with any of your coworkers.  It doesn't matter if you think you can trust them or not.  Keep your head down and just do your job.  Your bosses will find out in time that no one is quitting (hopefully).  

    If your coworkers bring it up to you just say you think it's best that it's not discussed.  

    Let your bosses deal with it. 

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  • imageShell24:

    DON'T talk about this with any of your coworkers.  It doesn't matter if you think you can trust them or not.  Keep your head down and just do your job.  Your bosses will find out in time that no one is quitting (hopefully).  

    If your coworkers bring it up to you just say you think it's best that it's not discussed.  

    Let your bosses deal with it. 

    Actually, I would encourage open communication.  But really your boss should be the one doing this.  If you have concerns, discuss them with your boss.  If you are approached by another coworker about the rumors tell them that it concerns you too and suggest that you both go together to talk to the boss about what you have heard.

    Your boss was right to pull everyone together to discuss the email.  She probably should have kept her tears private but sometimes stuff happens.  Anyway, open communication goes a long way towards building relationships in the workplace then having everyone wonder what the other person is thinking and planning because no one is talking.

  • imageSunAndRain:
    imageShell24:

    DON'T talk about this with any of your coworkers.  It doesn't matter if you think you can trust them or not.  Keep your head down and just do your job.  Your bosses will find out in time that no one is quitting (hopefully).  

    If your coworkers bring it up to you just say you think it's best that it's not discussed.  

    Let your bosses deal with it. 

    Actually, I would encourage open communication.  But really your boss should be the one doing this.  If you have concerns, discuss them with your boss.  If you are approached by another coworker about the rumors tell them that it concerns you too and suggest that you both go together to talk to the boss about what you have heard.

    Your boss was right to pull everyone together to discuss the email.  She probably should have kept her tears private but sometimes stuff happens.  Anyway, open communication goes a long way towards building relationships in the workplace then having everyone wonder what the other person is thinking and planning because no one is talking.

    I respectfully disagree. Talking to your boss is one thing, and you should let her know if you have concerns and even reiterate your defense. But gossip in a small office spreads like wildfire and the bottom line is that you don't know for sure who said what. Don't get caught up in the politics. I'm not saying not to speak to your coworkers at all. Of course continue with the pleasantries but in my opinion you don't want anything you say to come back and bite you. If coworker comes to you with a concern, such as whether or nit the boss believes you, if you may get in trouble, etc. I think it's fine to say that you think everything will work out, and encourage them to speak to the boss, but that's as far as I'd take it.
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  • So far Ive just let it go and acted like its no big deal. I told her I was offended, and that none of it was true. But I also couldnt help but chuckle a little bit when she mentioned the email saying all kinds of crazy things. I'm sure that didnt help any. But to me, if I recieved an email that said ridiculous things about coworkers who had a good track record, it wouldn't be logical to think they would be capable of doing such things. Especially if the person spreading the rumor was questionable herself and all of the sudden quit with a nasty email!

    I think I will just see how it goes. I figure with time my boss will realize the email was just to be vindictive. I'm not going to say anything to the suspected coworker who sent the email, but I almost wanted to say something along the lines of "Did you hear about ALL the crazy lies that our ex coworker so and so was spreading, wow..." Hoping that she would realize that we would never do such things. If the suspicion doesn't go away, I was planning on having a conversation with my boss.

    I feel like if we don't act horribly offended, or try to defend ourselves, then our boss might see it like we actually did do these terrible things. KWIM? Obviously, my boss can be highly emotional and unfortunately spreads/allows gossip.

  • imageShell24:
    imageSunAndRain:
    imageShell24:

    DON'T talk about this with any of your coworkers.  It doesn't matter if you think you can trust them or not.  Keep your head down and just do your job.  Your bosses will find out in time that no one is quitting (hopefully).  

    If your coworkers bring it up to you just say you think it's best that it's not discussed.  

    Let your bosses deal with it. 

    Actually, I would encourage open communication.  But really your boss should be the one doing this.  If you have concerns, discuss them with your boss.  If you are approached by another coworker about the rumors tell them that it concerns you too and suggest that you both go together to talk to the boss about what you have heard.

    Your boss was right to pull everyone together to discuss the email.  She probably should have kept her tears private but sometimes stuff happens.  Anyway, open communication goes a long way towards building relationships in the workplace then having everyone wonder what the other person is thinking and planning because no one is talking.

    I respectfully disagree. Talking to your boss is one thing, and you should let her know if you have concerns and even reiterate your defense. But gossip in a small office spreads like wildfire and the bottom line is that you don't know for sure who said what. Don't get caught up in the politics. I'm not saying not to speak to your coworkers at all. Of course continue with the pleasantries but in my opinion you don't want anything you say to come back and bite you. If coworker comes to you with a concern, such as whether or nit the boss believes you, if you may get in trouble, etc. I think it's fine to say that you think everything will work out, and encourage them to speak to the boss, but that's as far as I'd take it.

    I'm not sure where the disagreement is here.  :)  Open, direct communication is the fastest way to dispel gossip.  I think we are saying the same thing :)

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