To be irked by this employee?

[Inkywinkyspider]

I run my own business and today found a member of staff visibly upset. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that another member of staff had told her I'd said something that implied I thought she wasn't pulling her weight.
I said nothing of the kind and in fact, this employee is highly dedicated and extremely productive so I would never have said it. She accepted my explanation and we concluded that the other person was being provocative and trying to make trouble but she also asked me to not let them know she had been upset by it.
But, this provocative (lying) employee needs dealing with, how do I do it without causing repercussions for the other employee? For the record, the provocative employee has a history of low grade 'issues' none of them terribly significant in themselves but even before this I did not trust her.

Why would there be possible repercussions? You are the boss, you need to make it crystal clear that you will not tolerate any fall out between the two employees as a result of your discussion. If there is the employee gets a warning. Also you don't know anything as fact so tread carefully.

Are you all 8? Or do you have to have your GSCE homework in soon?

"but she also asked me to not let them know she had been upset by it". Your response should have been, "I need to deal with this professionally, this is a business".

I am not 8 but it does feel like I am the teacher dealing with a class of juniors most of the time!
I had a similar problem with an employee lying recently. When I asked her why she lied she stormed off and never returned again- FFs!
The hardworking employee is delicate right now as she has just had a relative dx with just a few weeks to live so I really want to make sure there isn't even a conversation about it between them.

Great response there pinky. Give yourself a pat on the back for that one

mmm, now how is the person who has had the finger pointed at normally, do they have a tendency to over step their job description.

Because when someone asks for the person they have mentioned as upsetting them not to be approached, it could be that they have put a bit of a spin on what happened.

Mrs. T is correct you should of said I will talk to them about it,

You do need in a none confrontational way find out the other side of the story,

The other employee may of called this person out on some sort of slacking, and followed up with, You don't want Inky to think you are slacking, and that got turned into for your benefit, Inky thinks you are a slacker,

Have a meeting with the other employee, go through appraisal of their work and job description, listen carefully to any concerns, reiterate very carefully what you want from them.

Then keep a far more careful eye and ear on what is going on.

I won't have anyone I do not trust explicitly working for me.

I was just about to say get the other side of the story, advice above is spot on !

I'm assuming you have a written procedure for dealing with issues with staff? And contracts with your employees that stipulate good conduct? If not, you really need to get that sorted out.

And if you do, you really need to deal with it professionally, dispassionately and promptly. Bending over backwards to accommodate staff spats will only make it worse, and encourage a bickering atmosphere.

Good advice here so far. I agree, I think you have to speak to your other employee about it. You can't be "having secrets" with some employees that they won't "let" you tell others about! You need to get to the bottom of the situation yourself if you can.

Your exact words in the op were that hardworking employee didn't want the other one to know she'd been upset by what was said, so that's totally workaroundable - you can raise the fact that you know they had words without saying that one party was upset by those words.

Ive been in.the same situation in the past few weeks.I agree find out both sides of the story,things arent always what they seem.you have to deal with it,you have to get to the bottom of it.It isnt professional to not deal with something because you think that there will be a back lash,make sure there isnt.

and what are you going to do when the employeedeniessaying anything of the sort?

Oh dear. You're one of those bosses aren't you? Manages like it's a friendship group rather than a business. Treats the employees favourably or disfavourably dependent on whether you like them or not.

One of the big problems with this type of employer is that they are so easily manipulated. You've not even tried to gain the other side of this story. The employee that you favour - you have just taken her story as read and you've already decided to disbelieve the other employee.

What message does this send to the first employee? That every time she has words with a fellow employee she can just come and complain to you, wind you up and let you go and you'll settle her scores for her?

Has it not red flagged you that the other employee called her lazy? ARe you sure she is not one of the employees who's wonderful when you're around but slacks off when you're not there? If she knew she was a diligent employee why would she be upset? Are you sure that this wasn't a result of her constantly passing on titbits you have told her and being given a taste of her own medicine?

Be careful. You are in danger here of all your employees knowing that the real boss is your favoured employee as she can manipulate you to do her will.

Wellif they deny they deny,at least if they did theyll know that you do get told things that go on when youre not there.no loss made.