Up in Flames - Workplace Solutions

Quick Tip Tues - False Allegations in the Workplace - What To Do!

September 10, 2019 Abby Bolt Season 1
Up in Flames - Workplace Solutions
Quick Tip Tues - False Allegations in the Workplace - What To Do!
Show Notes Transcript

Today I want to talk about False Allegations, sure I mention EEO but this goes for any style out there.

So let's say you opened your email or got a call from an investigator and found out you have been named as one of the accused in an EEO complaint. You read through it and you know for a fact it is false and the person who filed it is a known liar. You have no doubt that it is untrue. 

What Can Be Done?

While it may be difficult not to take an EEO allegation personally, managers should take a step back to consider their reactions in these situations. As seen in the earlier case examples, a negative change of behavior toward an employee after an EEO allegation can be perceived as retaliatory. To prevent retaliation from occurring, managers should take the following actions:

  • Avoid publicly discussing the allegation;
  • Do not share information about the EEO activity with any other managers or subordinates;
  • Be mindful not to isolate the employee;
  • Avoid reactive behavior such as denying the employee information/equipment/benefits provided to others performing similar duties;
  • Do not interfere with the EEO process;
  • Provide clear and accurate information to the EEO staff, EEO Investigator, or Judge; and
  • Do not threaten the employee, witnesses or anyone else involved in the processing of a complaint.

The reason I bring up this quick tip is I have been getting recent reports of nasty behavior by highly respected managers. I thought it would be a good time to remind everyone that right, wrong, or indifferent there is a process that needs to be followed… even if you know the allegations are false. 

So challenge yourself and those around you to do the right thing, ditch retaliatory attitudes, and embrace the process… no matter how broken it might be. 

Oh and also if you aren’t sure how to report something reach check out that #notmeapp which is linked in the show notes. It has been turning out to be really handy!

Have a tip? Email me abby@upinflames.org 

Go to AbbyBolt.com for more information on this and many other controversial subjects surrounding moral courage in the workplace and what it means to Lead with F.I.R.E.

Email me at abby@upinflames.org if you have an experience you would like to share or are in need of a resource. If I can't help, I will point you in the direction of someone who can.
 
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Abby:

Hello listeners and welcome back to another Quick Tip Tuesday.

Speaker 2:

I'm your host Abby Bolt. Today I want to talk to you about false allegations. Sure, I mentioned EEO, but this goes for any style out there. So let's say you open your email or going to call from an investigator and you found out that you've been named as one of the accused in an EEO complaint. You read through it and you know for a fact it's false and the person who filed it is a known liar. You have no doubt that it's untrue. So what can be done? Well, I pulled this directly from the EEO website, so let's see what they think. While it may be difficult not to take an EEO allegation personally, managers should take a step back to consider their reactions and these situations. A negative change of behavior towards an employee after an EEO allegation can be perceived as retaliatory. To prevent retaliation from occurring managers should take the following actions. Avoid publicly discussing the allegation. Do not share information about the EEO activity with any other managers or subordinates. Be mindful not to isolate the employee. Avoid reactive behaviors such as denying the employee information, equipment, benefits provided to others, performing similar duties. Do not interfere with the EEO process. Provide clear and accurate information to all the EEO staff, investigators or judge. And do not threaten the employee witnesses or anyone else involved in the process of a complaint. So the reason I even bring this up is because I've been getting recent reports, and I mean recent of nasty behavior by highly respected managers. I thought it'd be a good time to remind everyone that right, wrong or indifferent, there is a process that needs to be followed, even if you know the allegations are false. So challenge yourself and those around you to do the right thing. Ditch retaliatory attitudes and embrace the process no matter how broken it might be. Oh, and also if you aren't sure how to report something, reach out to me or check out the Not Me app, which is linked in

Abby:

show notes. It's been turning out to be really handy. Have a tip? Email me at upinflames.org. And you guys have a great day. Bye.