Hello,
Four of my coworkers have been accused of stealing Liquor by the AGM of the hotel because the liquor cost was too high. He blames our department with no proof to back it up and it has caused undue stress to all involved. We are in the process of talking to HR and filing a complaint of Deformation of Character. He out and out said to the banquet manager that our dept is stealing and is the cause of the liquor cost to be so high. He has no proof of this and it is not true so there will be no proof but has told four managers that this is his conclusion. He never even went to the GM or HR to report this but in the mean time we all have been looked upon like thieves. The rumors are going around the hotel and have caused all of us stress .I am a 19 year employee and the others are 10 year employees and I was just wondering if we hire an attorney, where do we stand. We still will be going through Corporate on this but just want to know about hiring an attorney.

Thank You
Yvette

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Originally Posted by ylevan

Hello,
Four of my coworkers have been accused of stealing Liquor by the AGM of the hotel because the liquor cost was too high. He blames our department with no proof to back it up and it has caused undue stress to all involved. We are in the process of talking to HR and filing a complaint of Deformation of Character. He out and out said to the banquet manager that our dept is stealing and is the cause of the liquor cost to be so high. He has no proof of this and it is not true so there will be no proof but has told four managers that this is his conclusion. He never even went to the GM or HR to report this but in the mean time we all have been looked upon like thieves. The rumors are going around the hotel and have caused all of us stress .I am a 19 year employee and the others are 10 year employees and I was just wondering if we hire an attorney, where do we stand. We still will be going through Corporate on this but just want to know about hiring an attorney.

Thank You
Yvette

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I'm quoting myself here:

"Briefly - Generally in law libel refers to permanent/written statements and slander refers to non-permanent/spoken statements. Defamation (of character) covers both categories.

You must be damaged - and prove damages - in order to recover. The statements (either written or spoken) must be false but presented as though they were true and be beyond offensive, derogatory or insulting. Such statement must rise to a level which actually harms a person’s reputation. In general the person making the statement must either know it isn’t true or make the statement without attempting to verify if it is true.

The defense to defamation is that the information was not presented as the truth (which covers gossip), that the information was never secret (privileged) and was always public."

Hello Evette:

Evidently they don't think you're stealing TOO much, because you still have your jobs.

Judy is right. WAIT till you have damages, if you ever do, before you see a lawyer. Damages are MEASURABLE in dollars and cents - not just a hit on your reputation.

Yes, this manager is out of line... Ok. Lot's of those type are.

excon