Legal Question in Employment Law in Pennsylvania

Re: 3 days unpaid suspension from work

You asked about a suspension from work.

So what's your question? Can an employee be disciplined for gossiping about other employees? Can an employee be disciplined for maligning and demeaning another employee?

Count your lucky stars that you still have a job. You gossiped about another person and it isn't necessarily just a failing of your conduct at work but is also a moral failing.

What care is it to anyone that you weren't going to be at the holiday party? I'm guessing you'd just end up gossiping more about other folks anyway, and while people politely listen, most decent folk would rather not discuss gossip. There are way too many important things to think about other than what other people are doing.

And you do not know for a fact what happened after your coworkers leave the party. You do not know if they go home together or if one drove the other home for any other reason. Nor is it any concern of yours.

Here's the advice that comes from this. 1) Go to the coworker you gossiped about and apologize for being a gossipy busybody. Her conduct is none of your business unless it negatively impacts your efforts at work. 2) Keep your nose out of other people's business unless it has a negative impact on your work or the employer. And in that circumstance you should ONLY discuss it within the appropriate chain of command.

I handle corporate compliance, and my opinion such conduct could be treated much more severely than a three-day rip.

Roger