Legal Question in Sexual Harassment in Virginia

Sexual Harrasment

I have been falsley accused of Sexual harrasment at my job. I am the supervisor of a small office and sent a text mess. to another employee. It was suppose to have an attachment ( we all had been sending these joke texts back and forth that day) well the title was I want you .... And that is all he got. Granted everyone else recieved the same message however he said he felt harrased and offended by it. Upper managment got involved and I did not get in trouble but now feel like I can not properly perform my job due to the threat posed by this employee making additional false accusations. I am so uncomfortable that I have not slept in two days as well as feel threatened and very scared about what might be manipulated by this employee next to try and pull something.

Is there any legal recourse for me regarding these false accusations. I feel like these allegations make me unable to do my job. I am scared and feel sick to my stomach everytime I walk in the office. It is a very hostile working enviroment.

Thank you for your opinion.


Asked on 4/10/08, 8:50 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lee Berlik BerlikLaw, LLC

Re: Sexual Harrasment

READ THIS FIRST: This communication is not intended as and should not be interpreted as legal advice. Rather, it is intended solely as a general discussion of legal principles. You should not rely on or take action based on this communication without first presenting ALL relevant details to a competent attorney in your jurisdiction and then receiving the attorney's individualized advice for you. By reading the "Response" to your question or comment, you agree that the opinion expressed is not intended to, nor does it, create any attorney-client relationship, nor does it constitute legal advice to any person reviewing such information, nor will it be considered an attorney-client privileged communication. If you do not agree, then stop reading now.

RESPONSE:

You complain of "false accusations" but your description of events indicates the accusations were truthful if misinterpreted. You are not in trouble with your boss, so you should move on and not worry about what this employee might do in the future. Speaking of what happens in the future, it would be a good idea to stop sending sexually-oriented material (whether intended as a joke or not) around the office.

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Answered on 4/10/08, 4:27 pm


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