Falsely accused

[Nancy_Roe]

I am a hospital employee in a higher level position. My supervisor is not the doctor that I work with, rather the administrator is the one "in charge." Anyway, things have been missing at the workplace, food, coffee, sugar. Now somehow the doctor thinks it's me. I have always keep some cleaning products in my desk that the housekeeper let's me use. The doctor went thru my desk drawers, mind you there are no shared files, etc in there. So there would be no reason for him to be in there. Anyway he found the cleaning supplies and now thinks I have stolen them and the other missing things.

He is making a huge deal out of this, yelling at me and calling me a kleptomaniac. He has notified the administration and I'm afraid they are going to fire me.

What to do? Incidentially, a while ago, we are allowed to take boxes home and we were moving my mother in law. So since I was taking boxes, a secretary told someone that they were full of food. So now I have this reputation.

Do I have any legal recourse?

 

[presutin]

Unless someone has concrete proof of what they have seen or witnessed something you have done, it is all hearsay. Administration would have to come to ask you about the items and they have not done so. There is no legal case here as it is presented. Good luck to you!

 

[Nancy_Roe]

what do you mean concrete proof? these are the type of people who would get "witnesses" to lie. also, any recourse on him looking thru my desk?

 

[presutin]

Your employer is entitled to open and close any doors, drawers, cabinets, lockers, the works. There is no such a thing as privacy in the workplace. They don't need to ASK you for permission to do that so no legal case here. Now, you don't know if they will hire witness to lie for you. That is just your speculation and if you are let go, it is because your employers can do that without a reason. In the at will environment that we are in, employers don't need to like or dislike you if they decide to let you go.

 

[Nancy_Roe]

my concern is that it is not the employer looking thru my desk, but another employee!! also, thank you for your help. I realize that if they are going to make this a witch hunt there is nothing one can do!!

 

[presutin]

File a complaint with HR to document that the doctor (and please, be absolutely certain that this is the case otherwise it will comeback to hunt you) has been rummaging into your drawer. Hope this helps and good luck to you!