Posting for a friend.
She has worked for her company for several years and was promoted to team manager a couple of years back. She then had to take a period of several months off sick.
She returned under a new manager (previous manager sacked during absence) and with a new team. There were some issues with the new manager, she was very critical of the way my friend had managed her previous team despite the fact that the team worked incredibly well, meeting targets and she'd won internal awards etc.
My friend describes the place as having a lot of office politics and one where you're only valued if your face fits. They seem to be getting rid of a lot of staff (under the guise of resignations) when others have walked back into old jobs after leaving, without interviews. People being promoted above others more deserving, etc.
She was just starting to find her feet with her new team. She was aware that there was a meeting between one staff member (who is apparently known for being difficult) and her manager and was asked a few questions after about some new processes. The following day, she was told a formal complaint had been lodged against her and she was being suspended on full pay pending an investigation. She has no idea what could have formed the basis of a complaint or even who the complaint is from but is speculating that it is from this staff member.
My friend thinks the staff member was encouraged to submit a formal complaint. She has not been told what the complaint is about but will be told next week and then a meeting will be held two days later. All she's been told is that she cannot be in contact with any colleagues. She's naturally really worried about this.
Should my friend have been told the basis of the allegations? What should she do now?