Work made me take the blame when it wasn’t my fault

[madamovaries]

I have a job which involves significant public scrutiny. There was a screw up at work where a male colleague messed up - I did nothing wrong, as my employer has repeatedly stated - and for complicated reasons, I’ve been made to take the public flak for it. I asked the company repeatedly to make clear it wasn’t my error but they refused. My (nice) colleagues are shocked and don’t understand why this man has been protected at my expense.

It has had a big knock-on effect on my ability to do my job as everyone I deal with keeps raising it with me and some people are even refusing to work with me. Over something I didn’t even do! The bosses keep saying it will blow over but it hasn’t at all.

It has also affected my health. I got sick with the stress, then caught covid. I also had a miscarriage which I don’t know was related obviously but has broken my heart.

I don’t really want to leave the job right now as I’d need to be somewhere else a while to qualify for mat leave pay, but should I just cut my losses and go elsewhere (another employer has thankfully been trying to poach me). I guess that would help restore my confidence which is at absolute rock bottom.

Aibu to feel my employer has failed in its duty of care?

Without knowing all the details, I'd be taking the new job, no question about it, and suing the current for sexism if that's what it is (and sexism payouts have no cap, as far as I'm aware) and/or bullying. Either way, keep note of all your correspondence and seek legal advice asap. That's shocking.

I hope you've stored those messages in a safe place, OP. I agree with the others - you need good legal advice on this one.

I'd speak to a solicitor - this could be regarded as constructive dismissal. Print all the evidence and sneak them out of the building too.

Yes resign and go elsewhere. Although little point alleging constructive dismissal if you’re going into another job as no loss. If you think there’s discrimination (protecting male employee) that might be a stronger argument. They sound awful, get out!

People like that forget that one day they may be in front of you hat in hand wanting something. Then you can stick it to them.

@Iamthewombat

When I read the first couple of paragraphs, I thought, “oh, Priti Patel is on Mumsnet”.

But seriously, if the role involves public scrutiny, and presumably public censure, you need to insist that your employer makes the position clear. The problems are obviously not blowing over, are they? Have you explained the circumstances to the colleagues who are refusing to work with you? What does your employer have to say about that?

That makes no sense. The OP is being blamed for something she didn't do, not being protected for something she did.

I'm struggling to see that i would ever take the blame for someone else's fuck up! Is this a really ridiculously well paid job? Surely you're a well educated person then?

Why did you agree to it?

Legal advice, I think

Sounds very odd unless you’re his manager or otherwise responsible for him or leading the project in question

@CoastalWave

I'm struggling to see that i would ever take the blame for someone else's fuck up! Is this a really ridiculously well paid job? Surely you're a well educated person then?

Why did you agree to it?

The OP says "complicated reasons".

Well stuff "reasons" and drop the man in it!

The reason you were the scapegoat is because he's a man and you're woman, equality doesn't exist in the corporate world. If you were also a man you probably wouldn't have got blamed either. I'd honestly look into getting a solicitor as this is defimation of your character.

Exactly!! I wouldn't have agreed in the first place - would have made them fire me and then sue the crap out of them.

You need union and/or legal representation now. You should never "allow" yourself to be blamed for something you were not directly responsible for. Document any interactions between yourself and management. If other people are reusing to work with you as a consequence you must surely realise that whatever this is it will cast a shadow over any future employment opportunities you may have. Even the one trying to poach you
I may be slightly too suspicious here, but the fact that you are pregnant also rings alarm bells. Definitely don't change jobs now.
Yes your employers have failed in their obligations to you and probably by trying to make you a scapegoat have possibly broken the law

Union.

Remember, HR is for the interests of companies. Unions are for workers.

Sue their asses :-). And go to the new place with a big pay off to cover your mat leave

I wonder if you could go for constructive dismissal.

Makes me think of the government and the way people are forced to resign for little cause but Boris is immune.

The Sweary Woman of Whitehall comes to mind. Sorry, must be tough for you.

How is the ‘male colleague’ handling things?
This is outrageous.

Blow the whistle on them. What's so special about the guy they're protecting??

Can you email to everyone within the company, and everyone outside who know about this, with a copy of the letter absolving you from responsibility?

Are you nhs or similar @madamovaries as this is the sort of thing that happens with middle managers who are not fit for purpose...

I may be slightly too suspicious here, but the fact that you are pregnant also rings alarm bells.

Why are people saying the op is pregnant? She is not pregnant - as stated in the OP. Why bother to give advice if you cannot even be bothered to read the OP?

I suspect the OP is part of a team dealing with a client or internal team. This team needs the respect of the client/team. OP is going on mat leave. If people are reassured that the personable responsible for the fuck up is no longer there and involved with the project, they will be happy there won't be a repeat.

I've seen it when people have left companies. A fuck up is discovered and Jo who left last week is obviously responsible, it's very convenient.

OP - I've been in a similar situation. Not responsible for an error but I was blamed as the person the client dealt with. I had finished my shift and gone home by the time the error occurred. Somehow my name was the one that remained attached to the issue. I was more senior than the person who did it but I was nothing to do with them - they were employed by a different company that covered days while my company covered nights. It got as far as an investigation by the professional standards body of my profession. Don't let it go - it will bug you forever. Make sure everyone knows it wasn't your fault.

Why are people saying the op is pregnant? She is not pregnant - as stated in the OP. Why bother to give advice if you cannot even be bothered to read the OP?

In the opening post OP says that after this initially happened she miscarried. Which suggrsts that she was pregnant at the time it all kicked off.

OP is going on mat leave.

For goodness sake read the OP.