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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be raging about this??! What can I do??

139 replies

Summerseat · 01/03/2023 19:10

Posted on other topics not many replies so posting on here.

Left a job 5 weeks ago that I had for 15 years, perfect work history, glowing references.

There has been a lot of thefts In my workplace over a period of time, it transpires that within the last 5 weeks there has been a talk/rumour that is was me. Staff have been told there is direct evidence it was me & witness statements. I have had NO idea about any of this. I haven't been approached in any formal capacity about these claims..yet everyone thinks its me. This is a big organisation, think one of the biggest employers in the country.

My name is being dragged through the dirt & it appears I can do fuck all about, people can say what they like however damaging it is.

The only sign I knew something was wrong is that one by one People I've known for 15 years have been blocking me.

My reputation, friendships & mental health are down the toilet. AIBU to think this shouldn't be allowed to happen?

OP posts:
LetThemEatTurnips · 01/03/2023 19:39

I'd seek legal advice, they can't as an organisation attribute a criminal act to you with no evidence it was you. This is slander, it is not acceptable.

Dizzydebbie88 · 01/03/2023 19:39

Summerseat · 01/03/2023 19:37

It was being investigated. We were all of this. They were looking at everything & even installed CCTV

Then the CCTV would show it wasn't you ?

Original poster
Summerseat · 01/03/2023 19:40

I haven't gone to HR yet. I've emailed my previous line manager to say what's come to my attention, she's told me to raise a grievance through HR, which I'm fully prepared to do. Just wondered if anyone had any further advice before I did. I'm very willing to hire a solicitor if I have to.

OP posts:
trulyunruly01 · 01/03/2023 19:42

I'd be asking my solicitor to send a letter to the head of HR asking if they are the instigators and what evidence they have. If they are oblivious then hopefully they will go in steaming to know who has placed them in this position. Otherwise they can share their 'evidence' which you can then refute point-by-point. And your friend can pass it out that you are vigorously working to disprove their lies.
Is your friend willing to send you an email detailing how these rumours have circulated at your former workplace.

Original poster
Summerseat · 01/03/2023 19:42

They have installed CCTV but I've been told the evidence is in the form of witness statements NOT CCTV.

OP posts:
ConcordeOoter · 01/03/2023 19:43

Get any evidence together that you can, and seek decent legal advice. If they are good there are ways to rattle the cage of a company doing this kind of reputational damage wilfully.

They can also shit up the real thief very effectively by kicking up the right kind of stink with the right words (whether you will pursue ot or not).

shewhomustbeEbayed · 01/03/2023 19:43

I worked with someone years ago who turned out to be a thief, we were student nurses and she’d always wait for new nurses to come to a ward where she was on placement before stealing ( from the patients )

Original poster
Summerseat · 01/03/2023 19:44

'Apparently' the police are involved. This is what I'm being told. One friend finally told me what was being said, then on pushing other friends I've got further information.

OP posts:
Brazilianadventure · 01/03/2023 19:46

@Summerseat start by doing a subject access request. Your previous employer should have a contact for the Data Protection Officer.

Email them and make an SAR by asking for copies of all correspondence, including emails, texts and messages etc. with your name. Explain you want this information up to the current date as you have been told since you left some employees have been spreading incorrect information about you.

Once you have this you can then decide what to do.

Original poster
Summerseat · 01/03/2023 19:47

@Brazilianadventure thank you so much. This is the sort of advice I wanted. I will, thank you again.

OP posts:
Dizzydebbie88 · 01/03/2023 19:47

Brazilianadventure · 01/03/2023 19:46

@Summerseat start by doing a subject access request. Your previous employer should have a contact for the Data Protection Officer.

Email them and make an SAR by asking for copies of all correspondence, including emails, texts and messages etc. with your name. Explain you want this information up to the current date as you have been told since you left some employees have been spreading incorrect information about you.

Once you have this you can then decide what to do.

I agree.

I would also get some legal advice OP.

I am sorry you're having to deal with this.

Brazilianadventure · 01/03/2023 19:47

@Summerseat cross posted - definitely ask for the witness statements. They won’t supply them but it will make them aware you know.

Brazilianadventure · 01/03/2023 19:50

@Summerseat another thought - whilst it is still relatively fresh in your mind write a timeline of anything you remember including days when you were on leave, sick, working from home, working in a different location.

If you have an idea of what is being investigated add to the timeline any evidence you have to refute the allegations.

Original poster
Summerseat · 01/03/2023 19:51

@Brazilianadventure where would I be able to get this from? HR? Do they have to provide it to me or can they refuse?

OP posts:
ConcordeOoter · 01/03/2023 19:52

A SAR could be limited in what it achieves in these circumstances.

It may be very helpful to you, to get legal advice on this asap, and present them with what evidence you already have (if any). A professional will be able to size up what you are facing and any action it is important to take, and ask questions in the right ways.

Original poster
Summerseat · 01/03/2023 19:53

I have also heard that they have pinpointed the thefts to be happening on night shift. I worked 5 nights a week, so.i was there alot

OP posts:
toodlesofoodles · 01/03/2023 19:53

You need to seek legal advice asap, check your home insurance as many of the policies have it included.

SAR is a good suggestion, but you need legal advice as to what to do with the information you get from the SAR.

ACAS might be able to help, I know you've left and unions don't usually touch anything that started before you joined but they might be able to give blanket advice.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, it sounds horrific Sad

LetThemEatTurnips · 01/03/2023 19:54

If you're willing and can afford legal advice, do that. It'll likely get resolved faster.

Winederlust · 01/03/2023 19:55

Brazilianadventure · 01/03/2023 19:46

@Summerseat start by doing a subject access request. Your previous employer should have a contact for the Data Protection Officer.

Email them and make an SAR by asking for copies of all correspondence, including emails, texts and messages etc. with your name. Explain you want this information up to the current date as you have been told since you left some employees have been spreading incorrect information about you.

Once you have this you can then decide what to do.

Just be aware that to comply with a SAR they only have to list what they hold, they don't need to provide you with actual copies of docs.

toodlesofoodles · 01/03/2023 19:55

Also, if you were there so much can you think of any instances of when someone else was behaving in a suspicious manner? If it's being investigated that might help the investigation if you can give times and dates.

ConcordeOoter · 01/03/2023 19:55

If you can't afford legal advice, it may be worth seeing if your local Citizen's Advice Bureau can hook you up with some for free.

Singularity82 · 01/03/2023 19:58

Awful op. You’ve had some good advice here, I hope you get your name cleared.

ConcordeOoter · 01/03/2023 19:59

Just be aware that to comply with a SAR they only have to list what they hold, they don't need to provide you with actual copies of docs.

And that a company can withhold the relevant material on at least 2 bases, more if the police are/become involved or "are going to be contacted".

Brazilianadventure · 01/03/2023 20:01

@Summerseat make it all part of your SAR and send to DPO and cc HR in. Also ask for CCTV, absence records, even swipe doors data etc.

If they are a decent employer they should send what they are legally allowed to. Once you get it then review it; what you are looking for is dates and times thefts occurred and ideally that you were on leave or nowhere near the location.

You could separately write to HR and advise them you understand they are investigating allegations made against you and you wanted to know why they hadn’t contacted you. Then ask for details of the allegations.

You may need legal advice at some point so check out your house insurance for legal cover.

Remember this is a public forum and you don’t know who is giving advice. You cannot and must not share full details but that makes giving specific advice difficult. That is where a legal professional comes in.

MissyB1 · 01/03/2023 20:02

I suspected right from the first post that this is the NHS? Am I right? It sounds exactly like the kind of behaviour that goes on there.