Does this constitute a hostile work environment?

[esanders]

What is the name of your state? ga. i work for a private ambulance service. my partner, whom is africian american, made a false statement to my supervisor claiming that i made a racial slur against him. i really don't know how to protect myself now. i feel that his statement(s) have damaged my character and really don't know what to do. they investigated the complaint and gave me a shift off. Nothing came of the investigation, so I remain working with him which is difficult to say the least. they refuse to seperate us and a supervisor advised me that " you both just need to get to know each other." what can i do? i can't afford to quit this job. i was absolutely shocked that this complaint was lodged. i am a very diversified individual.

 

[cbg]

No, that does not constitute a hostile environment. From your post, I assume that this was a one-off situation rather than a host of complaints. For a hostile working environment, there needs to be a "pattern of behavior". A single instance, confirmed or unconfirmed, is not enough.

It would be a stretch for you in any case, since you are the one who was reported to have made the statement (I understand it was false - I'm not accusing you). I'm not saying that if he was constantly accusing you of false racial statements that you couldn't make a case eventually, but in the circumstances you've described it isn't going to fly.