Legal Question in Employment Law in Pennsylvania

Slander/Cohersion

A co-worker who is assistant and ''the drinking buddy'' of the Executive Vice President has asked me to team up with her in having my boss fired. She said that her boss hates, hates, hates my boss and then said that her boss, the Exec. VP of our Business Unit could really make things great for me as he is best friends with the second top Executive in the Fortune 100 company we work for. She offered to make calls to her boss at his home to make things easier for me.

After several days, I decided to ''do the right thing'' and inform my boss of her ''suggestion'' for me to help them get him fired.

Since that conversation, and my denial to participate in this unethical behavior, I have been worried about losing my job as they are best friends. I'm afraid of going to the company's HR Dept as most HR Specialists are there to protect the companies interests not the employees.

Is there anything I can do to ensure I won't lose my job as a result of my denial to participate in this ''witch hunt''?

It should also be noted that the assistant has slandered my name throughout the company. Other co-workers & some lower level managers have told me directly about these allegations which I spoke to my manager about but he did nothing.


Asked on 1/28/09, 7:29 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Roger Traversa Arjont Group (Law Office of Roger Traversa)

Re: Slander/Cohersion

You asked about a problem at work.

You should document this situation thoroughly. Also, you should enlist greater powers on your behalf. Speak with persons in both the employee assistance program and also with the company's compliance or ethics office.

This is sort of a tough area as it goes to the politics of the organization as much as to the ethics of the individuals involved. But by making the situation known you should at the least protect your job. Though you have realized one of the great problems with doing the right thing: it usually isn't easy.

If there has been slandered then that would actionable. Note that defamation actions have a very short statute of limitations.

Regards,

Roger

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Answered on 1/29/09, 11:28 am


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