One of my co-workers has been suspended and is under investigation. I don't know why, and I really don't have the foggiest idea. I have never had a problem with her, but we rarely work on the same projects. This whole experience has made me appreciate my office, though, for the following reasons:
1. I found out when my boss pulled me aside, said the basics of above, and then asked there be no speculation, to avoid gossip. Not that's a concern with me anyway - I'm so out of the loop.
2. My division head came by the next day to make sure I was okay. I have no idea why I wouldn't be, but yes, I'm fine - sweet of him to make sure.
3. My boss asked someone to put together a "We Miss You" card for her, which everyone has signed and will be sent to her.
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
Odd. Glad you are getting the support, though. If they really do miss her and would be glad to have her back, I hope that it's not too serious.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
My boss would not tell anyone, trying very hard to keep the professional secret, and yet mysteriously all kinds of gossip would be spreading all over the place, usually made up on spot, until people would meet her for beer in the evening, and everyone would get drunk and b**** about the management who put her in such situation, and about the Portuguese people in general.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I love the "no gossip" policy. Take it as a point of pride that you are out of the loop. It means that you are not a gossip.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I'd love to claim it as a virtue, but it's more that I like working with everyone, but do not wish to socialize with anyone there. We don't have a lot in common.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
The "no gossip or speculation" request is pretty much what a former bishop of mine did when a young lady moved back into our ward after having a baby while at BYU. (And not marrying the father, for VERY good reasons.)
I can't say it worked perfectly, but it certainly reduced gossip, and most people were careful to treat her with respect, until they realised that she was still the same person, if a little older and wiser and more mature, and that her daughter was absolutely adorable. Then people pretty much relaxed and treated her normally. (We became very good friends, despite her having been one of my tormentors in elementary and high school. She'd grown up a lot since then.)
I hope everything works out okay, since you have never had a problem with said co-worker. Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
So, your boss told you about a situation that you were unaware of and told you not to gossip about it? Wouldn't it have been easier if everyone were just told she was on personal leave, or sick leave, or not said anything at all? Why mention she was suspended and under investigation? It seems like gossip itself, to me.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Maybe the boss assumed that word would get around and thought it would be best to preempt any gossip.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
That is exactly it, Jon Boy.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
How would word get around? If the bosses who placed her under suspension didn't tell anyone anything, no one would know anything, period.
My guess is that one of the bosses is a gossip, and this pre-emptive stuff is all damage control.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
quote:1. I found out when my boss pulled me aside, said the basics of above, and then asked there be no speculation, to avoid gossip. Not that's a concern with me anyway - I'm so out of the loop.
Just as long as your boss doesn't find out about your online gossip Posted by Chreese Sroup (Member # 8248) on :
rofl Taal
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
She may be gone for a while. My office does lots of rallying and dinners and things for people who are really sick, so if they said she was sick, there would be food schedules and get well cards and possibly an excursion. If they she was on vacation, we'd know they were lying, because everyone talks about their vacations. I'm really proud of the way they've handled it - I'm certainly still in the dark.
Taal: This isn't gossip. Y'all'll never meet her, and if you did, you couldn't identify her because there isn't enough information. It's precisely because Hatrack is so removed from most of my real life that I can talk about it.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I think this is cool that your office handled it this way, Kat, except there is one part I can't wrap my mind around:
quote:One of my co-workers has been suspended and is under investigation. . My boss asked someone to put together a "We Miss You" card for her, which everyone has signed and will be sent to her.
It just seems in my brain like those two things don't go together. I mean -- the only employee in my office we ever had "suspended and under investigation" (which ended up for being for stealing from the company) -- the LAST thing we would have done is sent him a card saying "we miss you"! After all, he was a thief. So I can't figure out why a boss would say "we miss you" to someone who is suspended, as opposed to someone who is just on a leave for personal or health reasons.
Okay -- now that sounds like gossip. I will quit, because it wasn't intended that way.
Farmgirl
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I agree that it's weird, Farmgirl. That was the moment I realized just how warm and fuzzy my boss really is.
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This isn't gossip. Y'all'll never meet her, and if you did, you couldn't identify her because there isn't enough information. It's precisely because Hatrack is so removed from most of my real life that I can talk about it.