Accused of being drunk

[ForCraftyKhakiGuide]

For the past few weeks I've been suffering with dental pain. I needed to have my wisdom teeth removed and also one other wobbly tooth that has been causing me problems. I had the day off yesterday and in the afternoon had my wisdom teeth removed and also the wobbly tooth. I also have a dental plate where I have 2 front false teeth on. I'm 59 btw if that's relevant

I was meant to be in work today, but I was in a lot of pain last night and feeling really unwell, so I called work last night and said I wouldn't be in tomorrow. I rarely have time off work, so I didn't think it would be a problem. Obviously, when I called, my mouth was still numb, the anaesthetic was still wearing off, I had taken strong painkillers and wasn't wearing my dental plate, so my speech was clearly not going to sound normal.

Since then, I have had some messages from colleagues/friends who have told me that the senior that took my call has told everyone that I was 'smashed' (i.e. drunk) and that's why I was calling in sick.

The senior member of staff in question, knew about my dental appointment today, as she had noticed that I'd just been eating soup all week and I told her that I was in a bit of pain, but was having extractions on Friday. She was sympathetic at the time, but I assume when she took the call from me, she probably had forgotten.

I'm obviously annoyed and mortified about this, and I'm worried that my Manager will hear about this and think I called in sick to work because I was drunk.

Should I go to my Manager directly on Monday, or just take the senior member of staff aside and speak to her directly about it. If so, what should I say? I have emails/texts from dentist to prove that I had an appointment for extractions yesterday.

How dare she OP. She shouldn't be discussing you with other staff. I'd report her.

I’d be absolutely livid and contact my union and make sure the gossipy bitch is formally reminded of professional conduct

I would go straight to HR on Monday morning.

Even if you were ‘smashed’, the senior has absolutely no business discussing the reasons why anyone is phoning in sick with that persons colleagues.

Completely unprofessional.

That is incredibly unprofessional - honestly I’d put a complaint in. She should in no way be doing that!

Go through your manager, she didn’t have the decency to contact you separately to discuss her thoughts so I wouldn’t be bothered going straight to management.

Absolutely take it formally, leave no room for misunderstanding - straight to HR with a time line, appointments and statements with what has been told to you.

Some people should not be managers.

My thoughts exactly. She should be Informed her behavior is unacceptable and gossiping about other employees is a disciplinary especially if it is confidential or untrue.

I would raise an official complaint against her. You had already told her you were having dental work done. She has slandered you in the most unprofessional way. I'd be livid.

I’d put in a complaint and not rest until she’d been fired

I was accused of being drunk one morning, with my then 5 y o kid in the house with me. The police were called, came out to see me sober and cooking breakfast. I just had slept in and opened the door half asleep. The police were really kind, told me it was straight bullying and advised me how to deal with it.

That is dreadful and you should just raise it exactly as you've heard it with your manager. Don't embellish or interpret, just send the facts and ask your manager to get HR advice about how to rectify this.

Yep, go direct to your LM.

Stress that you're really embarrassed that your colleagues may now genuinely think you have an alcohol problem, and concerned that this incident could impact your credibility at work

She's broken confidentiality and defamed your character. Basically broken every rule in the book. Go to HR, she should lose her job for this.

Take it higher, and demand an apology.

Thank you all for the advice. It's so awkward as I get on with the senior, we're not pals as such, she's 30 years my junior, but I do respect her. I'm really loath to go straight to management as I don't want to get her into trouble, but I'm also worried about if this silly rumour could get back to my manager and harm my career.

She's already told everyone. Your manager will have got to hear about it.

Even if you don't "report" her - you need to speak to your manager and let them know what's happened. You can't let this stand. Show your Dental appointment evidence and make sure that this untrue statement is not going on your record.

So you allow her to potentially damage your career, so she doesn't get into trouble. ….
No, she needs reporting

You need to report this to HR straight away! This could damage your standing massively and if you only react if that happens it will look like you’re making excuses for ‘being caught’ …

She's the one harming her career by behaving in this way. It might well be a good lesson for her to learn. Definitely speak to someone

A senior colleague has tarnished your reputation at the compny by spreading a vicious rumour with about as much truth in it as a fish riding a bicycle backwards on a motorway.

You need to make sure you are fairly represented and a union rep could do this.
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It will teach her to control the loose cannon in her mouth,

Is it possible she was joking around? I would raise it with her directly and say I don't know if you were joking but it actually really upset me that you would say that about me to colleagues when you knew I'd had dental surgery and it affected my speech. Hopefully she'll be mortified that she's upset you and apologise profusely. If not, I'd certainly consider making an official complaint to HR or her manager.

Honestly, you are being too kind and actually naive to be concerned about her getting in trouble. Its a lesson she needs to learn. Even if she knew for a fact you were drunk, she should not have discussed it with your colleagues.

I would go to HR and make a formal complaint. Maybe let your manager know beforehand but absolutely make this official and go through due process.

She has broken confidentiality rules in the workplace. She had no right whatsoever to discuss the phonecall, the details of the conversation and your personal business with ANYONE. She should also be taken to task on the spreading of slanderous lies, which could be damaging to your reputation. Don't go to your manager. From personal experience of something similar they will likely try to brush it under the carpet.
Go straight to your HR dept.

I’d go straight to your manager and say you’ve heard office gossip has said I was drunk, but it was actually due to my teeth.

Absolutely and outrageously unacceptable. You need to raise a complaint. I am in the middle of having this exact same work done and immediatel dentures fitted and it is agony. They had absolutely no right to share this with anyone, regardless. I would be raging.

This. Do not let it remain a "rumour". Escalate immediately.