Legal Question in Business Law in Ohio

Re: Slander

This is a very tough situation for you, and one that is difficult to address adequately here. You might consider speaking to an employment lawyer in your area. Many will discuss matters with you for no charge. If you feel that you are being set up by the employer, and if the reason is because you are a member of a protected class (female, certain minority, 40 years old or over), some help may be available.

Most of us in Ohio are "employees at will," which means that we can be fired for any reason or for no reason, but not for an illegal reason. Illegal reasons include: illegal discrimination (sex/race/age), retaliation whistle blowing (you reported the employer doing something illegal), and a fuzzy category for actions that are against "public policy." If you are a member of a union, it may help you.

This sounds to me like a hostile environment. It may help to document what is happening, but do so in a notebook or something that the company can't claim as its own. Note each contact with this customer and other customers: generally what transpired, whether the customer expressed a complaint to you, etc.

Get and keep a copy of the company policies and handbook if any. If policies and procedures for discipline exist, the company has to follow them. If you have a contract, definitely get hold of that.

If this is solely the customer's doing, in addition to defamation (beware of a 1 year statute of limitations), you might be able to go after them for interference with job.

A local lawyer can talk to you about the costs and possibilities. Weigh them carefully.

Customers and employers can be tyrants. Seems to be a lot of that going around these days.

Best wishes.