Mistreatment At Work

[dennilson]

My Son was accused maliciously at work of drug dealing. He was brought in by the Manager and informed that several people had made this accusation. He denied this and stated it could be a prank. However the manager suspended him on full pay to investigate the matter, searched him his locker and vehicle etc. A week later they called him back for an interview informing him that the rumours were not true and malicious and stated he could come back to work, but was informed, he would be given a different job, which he does not want, away from his colleagues, to prevent any stigma being attached to him. It all appears manufactured with a view to getting rid of certain members of staff. My son is distraught, and we do not know which way to approach it. He is not in the Union and we don't have a lot of money to fund legal advice. Could anyone out there advise. Many thanks

[boxtops]

I suggest he contacts ACAS via their website straight away for free impartial advice. What sort of place does he work - is there an HR department? This sort of accusation should be confirmed in writing anyway, it can't just be verbal. He needs proper legal advice. He also needs written confirmation that this disproved allegation is not on his personnel record and wouldn't show up if he left and applied for a reference to this company.

[VHG]

You don't know that the people who made the suggestion about his drug dealing did it to try to get him out of their department for some reason.

So if they don't want him in their department then it makes sense for him to work in another department.

After he has done that for a while he may find his "old" department has cleared out some of the trouble makers and may be looking for staff and he can go back and work there.

I think he should go back to work for this other department, keep his nose clean, and see what happens.

No point in causing a fuss and getting a reputation as a trouble maker.

Your son may be totally innocent but whoever made the suggestion he was drug dealing must have done it for a reason (and your son may not admit to you what that reason was).

[Peter Pedant]

The first thing to do is wait and see.
He has a job, he has been paid and the employer can redeploy him I would have thought at will. Hence he has no loss and so no come back.

BUT

a little later, he could ask for written confirmation that he has been exonerated - he missed a chance to ask for that at his reinstatement meeting.

and the other thing is: he can lawfully ask for any documents with his name on ( as they are his data) that relates to the episode under the Data Protection Act.

but you know, he may want his job ( until he gets another one ) in which case just carry on and keep your head down.

How do you know the accusation was malicious ?
and at his reinstatement interview, did they say they were unfounded AND malciious ? It may be worth getting a letter if they did