Hr meeting over a comment

[HRHooha]

(Not racist discrimination et cetera in any way.) If you went into the meeting and pretended to just not remember the comment, as it's only a first level meeting, where could they go from that?

But they don't know I remember. But I'm not going to self incriminate. I'll say I apologise if I did so but I've no memory of saying.

Depends if there were witnesses who have given statements etc. But you will likely not know or be told that at this stage.

You could do a bit of fishing - "sorry when was this, several weeks ago? I honestly cant recall at this stage, can you remind me of the context etc"

Depends what the comment was though. When you said it did others agree or grumble about the policy with you? Or do you think you were overheard? Do you have form for moaning about things openly?

As pp's say hard evidence isnt needed but balance of probabilities also has to be reached fairly and based on something reasonably credible, it cant just be "well theres no evidence but op has ginger hair and in my experience red heads are usually very opinionated" type thing.

Okay, let me say again it is nothing to do with any discriminatory thing at all. Or about a person

It's just saying something about something we do at work that I don't agree with.

It's a bit childish really. If you said it, just own up.

If it’s as benign as you say, why would someone complain?

No form. Several decades in this kind of job

@JollyGreenSleeves that's weird isn't it. I think about team mentality that kind of thing.
singing from same hymn sheet

Is it a professional environment or a family run business where rules are made up as they go along?

So why not just say - I'm afraid I don't agree with this policy because... ? There's nothing wrong with questioning the system if it improves it?

Tbh OP, I think you’d have more respect for yourself if you owned up

Yeah, it does matter which policy it was and what you said- definitely.

Colleagues will almost ALWAYS throw each other under the bus if it furthers their career or gets them arse licking credits with senior management.

How long in this post? If under two years with this approach I would just get rid of you.

By the sounds of things you remember perfectly well.

Are you one of these disgenuous people who make unpleasant remarks and pride yourself on "telling it like it is"?

HR generally don't hold meetings just for criticism of policy so I reckon there's quite a backstory here.

Yes I do remember and no I'm not

Do you know what guys, there's really no point in personal attacks on this thread!
There's no backstory- I said something that I didn't think was a problem. Someone found it a problem. I'm not going to tell them that I definitely remember saying it.

Professional, no they don't mention a policy

From my experience it's quite normal for people to say they don't recall saying anything so the OP isn't an outlier in that respect.

@Riaanna way over two years

Well as you’re avoiding telling us what you’re being pulled up for all we can tell you is you’d look a complete fool for pretending you have no recollection. You clearly do have and there are witnesses to it. Would you actually deny saying it in the meeting?
“I can’t recall saying that”
”we have witnesses who said you did”
”they’re liars then” or “ok I must have said it then”
You end up having to work with colleagues who will no longer have your back, or being possibly sanctioned anyway because they know you said it. On the other hand, acknowledging you did say it but on reflection now see it wasn’t appropriate sounds far better.

You'll make a name for yourself as a liar as well as not being a team player.

Seems like a pretty good strategy to me!

Even if I did tell you what I said, outside of this professional context, you wouldn't understand it

How would I make a name for myself? @SlagPit
It's a confidential meeting

If it’s in health or social care you could mention closed cultures and how dangerous it is if no one questions policies from time to time.