Sexual Harassment/Slander???

[gilhicks]

What is the name of your state? TEXAS

I was employed by a business in which I was not happy and made this expressly known to my superiors, Director & GM (I was an Asst Mgr). In the weeks to follow they started "conducting" investigations into various allegations against me. Work was trying to get employees to state that they had been hanging out with me outside of work and fraternizing with me on a personal level, which is completely unfounded and false. This leads to the real problem: an employee received a picturemail on her phone of a man's penis in which she felt it appropriate to show to me, I don't know why. I made light of the situation and made a crack "that is no present I would ever want to receive." I returned to phone to the owner which was then passed to another employee, however, when I walked by a few other employees I stated to myself but aloud "that was a horrible gift to get" to which they inquired what it was. I told them if they wanted to know they would have to check the phone owner's cell. Three weeks later I was suspended from work and just recently I was released from my position for allegedly distributing pornographic images. They said they received statements from people who were highly offended but that I would not be eligible to see them. I gave my statement just as what I stated above and that is all the defense I was given for myself. I am now unemployed and was wondering if they are justified in the firing (TX is employment at will state I know) and if this is considered either slander or libel, being that they claim to have statements about me doing such things but I have not seen them.

Sorry this is so long but I got a lot of time on my hands now !!!

 

[seniorjudge]

What is the name of your state? TEXAS

I was employed by a business in which I was not happy and made this expressly known to my superiors, Director & GM (I was an Asst Mgr). In the weeks to follow they started "conducting" investigations into various allegations against me. Work was trying to get employees to state that they had been hanging out with me outside of work and fraternizing with me on a personal level, which is completely unfounded and false. This leads to the real problem: an employee received a picturemail on her phone of a man's penis in which she felt it appropriate to show to me, I don't know why. I made light of the situation and made a crack "that is no present I would ever want to receive." I returned to phone to the owner which was then passed to another employee, however, when I walked by a few other employees I stated to myself but aloud "that was a horrible gift to get" to which they inquired what it was. I told them if they wanted to know they would have to check the phone owner's cell. Three weeks later I was suspended from work and just recently I was released from my position for allegedly distributing pornographic images. They said they received statements from people who were highly offended but that I would not be eligible to see them. I gave my statement just as what I stated above and that is all the defense I was given for myself. I am now unemployed and was wondering if they are justified in the firing (TX is employment at will state I know) and if this is considered either slander or libel, being that they claim to have statements about me doing such things but I have not seen them.

Sorry this is so long but I got a lot of time on my hands now !!!

https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?p=884061#post884061


There are thousands of posts similar to yours so I have prepared a standard answer:

Get a lawyer.

Invest $20K and three years.

Sue the bad people for defamation.

If you win, expect them to keep doing it.

If you lose, expect them to keep doing it.


Stand by for other opinions.

 

[magic55]

IF you break it up in paragraphs some of us might consider reading it.

 

[gilhicks]

I was employed by a business in which I was not happy and made this expressly known to my superiors, Director & GM (I was an Asst Mgr). In the weeks to follow they started "conducting" investigations into various allegations against me. Work was trying to get employees to state that they had been hanging out with me outside of work and fraternizing with me on a personal level, which is completely unfounded and false.

This leads to the real problem: an employee received a picturemail on her phone of a man's penis in which she felt it appropriate to show to me, I don't know why. I made light of the situation and made a crack "that is no present I would ever want to receive." I returned to phone to the owner which was then passed to another employee, however, when I walked by a few other employees I stated to myself but aloud "that was a horrible gift to get" to which they inquired what it was. I told them if they wanted to know they would have to check the phone owner's cell.

Three weeks later I was suspended from work and just recently I was released from my position for allegedly distributing pornographic images. They said they received statements from people who were highly offended but that I would not be eligible to see them. I gave my statement just as what I stated above and that is all the defense I was given for myself.

I am now unemployed and was wondering if they are justified in the firing (TX is employment at will state I know) and if this is considered either slander or libel, being that they claim to have statements about me doing such things but I have not seen them.


Better?

 

[weenor]

Even if it were slander, there is a qualified privilege for employers and employees in which things can be said during the course of an investigation.

 

[magic55]

Yes much easier to read. Weenor is right. Unfortunately you dont have much of a case.
Best of luck,
-Magic

 

[gilhicks]

Do I have a right to view the statements used against me?