VP of HR causing slander

[ECGosselin]

What is the name of your state? NY
I have worked for my employed for a little over year, and in the past 8 months, I have had to endure constant gossip and rumors being spread about my character, trust-worthiness and personal life by two vice-presidents within the company. One of which happens to be in charge of the human resources department. Leaving me without a major outlet that is supposed to be designed to facilitate employees with issues such as these. In any event, I have made numerous complaints to my manager, who in turn has turned to the president for help several times only to be brushed aside or ignored each time. These rumors have caused so many problems that I can no longer continue my day-to-day job functions because the fellow employees I work with now treat me as if the statements they heard were true! These matters have escalated into my home life, and have caused several employees to resign from their positions because they felt that the situation was not being helped and that they were being harassed as well by the vice-presidents for not sharing their negative outlook on me. I do not know if I have a case or if there is anything I can do at all. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know this is not a matter for the EEOC since I already consulted them, but I would like to know if there is anything I can do.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I apologize for and grammar or spelling errors.

 

[fairisfair]

What is the name of your state? NY
I have worked for my employed for a little over year, and in the past 8 months, I have had to endure constant gossip and rumors being spread about my character, trust-worthiness and personal life by two vice-presidents within the company. One of which happens to be in charge of the human resources department. Leaving me without a major outlet that is supposed to be designed to facilitate employees with issues such as these. In any event, I have made numerous complaints to my manager, who in turn has turned to the president for help several times only to be brushed aside or ignored each time. These rumors have caused so many problems that I can no longer continue my day-to-day job functions because the fellow employees I work with now treat me as if the statements they heard were true! These matters have escalated into my home life, and have caused several employees to resign from their positions because they felt that the situation was not being helped and that they were being harassed as well by the vice-presidents for not sharing their negative outlook on me. I do not know if I have a case or if there is anything I can do at all. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know this is not a matter for the EEOC since I already consulted them, but I would like to know if there is anything I can do.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I apologize for and grammar or spelling errors.

Seriously, you can look for another job. Why would you want to work there anyway? Obviously, the company structure is not going to change, and you have apparently already determined that this is not a matter for EEOC. What kind of rumors are you talking about? Why would other employees quit and yet you stay? That is just weird.

 

[cbg]

Without knowing what precisely is being said and what actual damages it has caused you, it is impossible to comment.

 

[ECGosselin]

in response to cbg: The rumors range from me being "the center of negativity", that I "am the reason for employees argueing", "I cause problems everywhere I go", that "I'm dating a co-worker" ALL of which are completely false. The vice president of HR event went as far as to ask one of my co-workers if I was dating a fellow employee. These vice presidents have asked my manager to put me on final warning several times with no just cause. When my manager went to the president with the matter of me being constantly 'targeted' he brushed it aside. When she asked him for a meeting with the vice-presidents and myself to resolve the matter, he literally laughed it off. And in response to fairisfair: I LOVE what I do, just because two people make my work conditions unbearable does not mean that I should have to quit and let them treat anyone the way they deem fit.

 

[ECGosselin]

oh! and CBG I forgot! Damages wise I dont understand on what counts as damages, thats why I was hoping for help with all this on here. I don't know if this counts, but these two vice presidents are fighting vehemently to deny me a promotion that my manager would like me to have. This hatred has also denied me of core responsibilities in my job that would have furthered my career otherwise. i.e. photographing our celebrity endorsers, taking on graphic projects. As of recently they took away part of my position and gave it to another employee whose job title has absolutely NOTHING to do with that part of my work....I don't know if any of this is relevant, and if it isn't then I guess this is all a lost cause.

 

[buckbill]

If you " Love what you do" then why not go elsewhere and do it? You seem either reluctant or frightened to seek other employment with another company. In a way, you are contributing to your own "stress"! People change jobs all the time in the world we live in. Why should you be any different? What kind of work do you do? You did say the rumors of co-worker dating are false. Weather it is true or false?? Your company has reason to be concerned... Best Advice..Don't beat a dead horse! get another job!!!

 

[quincy]

You can always sue for slander, but slander suits may run as high as $100,000 to $150,000 and that refers only to legal costs and not to money paid out in a lost lawsuit. Slander is a "fleeting" defamation, meaning that, since nothing is written down, the damages you can collect in such a suit are less than in libel, which is written and therefore more permanent. You have some of the conditions necessary for a slander suit - publication (or the spreading to at least a third person) of a statement, and identification (you). The defamation may be harder to prove, because some of what you quoted sounds like "opinion" and unlikely to win you any lawsuit. You must show the words damaged you in the workplace (and if you still have your job, they haven't) or, in some circumstances, show that the words have caused emotional distress. With fault, in some states (like mine) you must show that the words were said with actual malice (with the knowledge that they were false or with a reckless disregard for the truth), or in other states (I'm not sure about New York - sorry), you must merely show that there was "negligence" (that an average person of ordinary sensibilities would be offended). Without evidence of fault, you have no suit. The last thing you must prove is "injury" - again, a difficult one for you since you still have a job. If there are no damages, none can be awarded, and there is no reason to sue.
I think your chances of winning a slander suit are slim at this point. I would try to continue to work through office channels and see if a resolution can be reached that is satisfactory. Everyone works with jerks at some point, and it makes it more difficult to enjoy the day, for sure - but at least you get to go home at night without these jerks, and they have to stay with themselves all the time

 

[ECGosselin]

thank you quincy!!

 

[cbg]

With the possible exception of "dating a co-worker" ALL of the statements you have referenced are opinion and not subject to "true" or "false". It's entirely possible that the VP honestly believes these things to be true, and under the Constitution of the US is entitled to say so, whether you agree or not, and even if she is wrong.

Unless you have been fired or demoted, you have no damages to sue for. I think quincy's assessment of "slim" is optimistic.