I am looking for anothers female take on this - even better if you are HR type! As I am trying to be impartial, but also actually concerned as it would really ruin our lives basically.
My partner works in a small firm. In the last yr they have a new employee (Female). Before that it was just the 4 of them (3 male + Owners wife).
She is also recently taken on as a director of the company - so she is sort of their boss.
Basically OH has said that he is really concerned that she is trying to get them into trouble. And obviously all accusations she makes HAVE to be taken at face value and investigated as per workplace policy/the law.
She made claims against OH colleague about untoward behavior, however she was unaware that this was actually witnessed by the cleaner - who confirmed that she was not being truthful.
The company owner basically forced colleague and this director to go to counselling with the vicar from the local church (all kinds of inappropriate tbh), where she made accusations and colleague again managed to disprove them.
She is constantly making out that OH and colleague are being inappropriate to her - not so much sexually, just that they are dismissive/don't believe in her abilities or authority, and it is always because she is female, not because she is wrong/her behaviour etc.
OH tries to not talk to her now unless completely necessary as she has been trying to manipulate him on numerous occasions - she will be all sweet and like infantilizes herself and then if he disagrees with her she completely loses it - has had actual stampy foot tantrums (she is mid 30s!).
The latest is that she is saying the colleague used an inappropriate term towards her. Now I cannot see how this term would come up at all in an engineering based conversation. Also it would be so out of character for the guy, and also, she is gay - they both know this - and the term is something that you would maybe use to try and smooze/seduce a female - so it wouldn't work!
It is now to the point that neither OH or the the other guy want to be alone with her - it is a small office in a rolelr door unit - so not even visible from outside - nae windows at all!
Even more worrying is that OH might have to go away on business with her to a foreign country - where if she did accuse him he would be in serious, serious trouble.
They are actually debating asking to have CCTV on and recording in the office at all times as they feel she is trying to pin an allegation of sexual misconduct on either of them - and they say its their word against hers, but of course they would be at a disadvantage.
I feel like a gender traitor being concerned for them over her. But I KNOW them. They have worked with a few other females there with 0 issues. Even the owners wife thinks she is up to something, but the owner doesn't see it.
Its actually causing my OH to have massive anxiety attacks as he is so scared of losing his job if she really comes up with something convincing against him. As an accusation of SA or inappropriate conduct would literally ruin his career. He is trying to WFH as much as he can to avoid actually being around her - If he has to go in to manual stuff she cannot do (HSE lifting limits) they will make sure that the roller door is up so everyone can see in the shed.
The boss's wife has even tried to make sure she is in when they are so that there is a witness - but she cant be there all the time.
I've had him crying and hyperventilating on the days he has had to go in. It's insane.
I have said that he NEEDS to go to the doctor and have it noted as to WHY he has this anxiety. They did have a medical in relation to a past project (oh sort of hurt himself when on it so was to cover back), and he mentioned this but its just in the report in passing.
Does anyone have any advise??? (Other than leave as we are working on that but if that cant happen soon)