Legal Question in Employment Law in California
Convicted by the grapevine
I was being sexually harrassed by a Sr VP at work - initially ignoring and avoiding him, later found out he was married and I then (stupidly) confronted him letting him know I was extremely angry. Without my knowing it, he reported me to HR saying I sexually harrassed him! Neither he nor the firm told me this happened. A year later it came out and I was able to provide enough facts that the firm knew he was lying. He was fired. Six months later, I was fired - told it was due to a firm buy-out. Now I'm finding that my reputation has been destroyed. It's been circulated through the grapevine that I accused him of sexual harrassment and caused his termination. Our industry is closely knit country-wide and now I'm now unable to get a job. (previously I was making a six digit income.) I told that firm's HR that this was happening - they denied any knowledge and stated no references had been given re: me.
Is the firm responsible for the gossip of their employees and for letting this information get into the grapevine to begin with? What can I do?
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Convicted by the grapevine
You may have a good case. They can not defame you like that. Are you in Southern Cal?
Re: Convicted by the grapevine
Sounds like the grapevine is only telling the truth, and you can't prove slander without a false statement. You probably also can't prove who is saying what, and no one is about to admit to it. You are probably out of luck
Re: Convicted by the grapevine
-The California Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits retaliation for making a complaint of sexual harassment. You may also have a case of defamation. If you want to discuss your case further, please contact me at 805/641-6600 or e-mail me at [email protected].
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