My husband has been a faithful employee of the United States Government for over 20 years. He served in the Army as both enlisted and commissioned, as well as the past 2 years with the Indian Health Service as a computer technician. He is the one everyone depends on "to get the job done" and is well liked by all of his co-workers.
When my husband first started working at this facility, the Service Unit Director, we'll call her Lucy, asked him to report to her the daily activities of his supervisor, we'll call her Martha, in essence, she wanted him to spy on her. He respectfully refused stating that it was not only unethical, but would but him in a very uncomfortable position since they have a close working environment.
Shortly after this incident my husband was preparing laptop computers for the doctors in this facility, when he was approached by the supervisor of another department, we'll call her Bertha, and was told that her department was a priority and he needed to start working on her computers right away. My husband explained that he has his duties delegated by his supervisor Martha. Bertha again stated that she wanted him to work on her project immediately. My husband told her that the conversation was going downhill and asked her to leave his office. Bertha continued to give my husband difficulties after this incident. On January 1st of this year Bertha became the head of my husbands department!!
On January 20th of this year, his supervisor, Martha, was charged with DUI and placed on 4 years probation and fined $3000.00 in fines and court costs. Another employee approached my husband and asked if he had seen the court report in the newspaper about his boss. My husband said no, he didn't read the paper. This employee continued to tell him about what Martha had been charged with. Of course, this sparked his curiosity, so he looked up the article to see for himself. Most of what he was told was untrue. The next day at work when his employee started talking about the incident again, my husband told him that he did read the article ad he didn't have the facts straight as to what had happened. My husband was called to a meeting with Bertha and Martha to discuss why he was spreading rumors about his supervisor. When my husband explained that it was another employee and he was merely defending Martha, the meeting was over but the tension remained.
On March 29, 2004 he was called to a meeting with his direct supervisor Martha, and her supervisor Bertha and put on administrative leave due to allegations of pornography on his computer. The same incident occurred to a co-worker of his just a couple weeks prior to my husbands meeting, this employee case was dropped without incident It has been a month since this happened and we haven't heard a word from anyone. My husband is in contact with a Union representative that attended the meeting with him, but hasn't been told anything as far as his employer's intentions. The Union representative is told to contact the attorney for the facility if he has questions. He hasn't been "charged" with anything, and his employer is paying him, but the damage to his reputation is devastating. My husband has had a very difficult time with this whole situation. He has difficulty sleeping, has lost weight and has no desire to do anything since this happened. I also work at the same facility, and face the trauma everyday of coming face to face with the insecure women (I use this term loosely) that are trying to ruin my husband's career. As I expected, the word spread quickly through the workplace, as I walk down the hall I hear the whispering from person to person. How long can they keep him on administrative leave without bringing charges against him? Would this be grounds for defamation of character if nothing is proven? Can he sue for mental anguish? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!
When my husband first started working at this facility, the Service Unit Director, we'll call her Lucy, asked him to report to her the daily activities of his supervisor, we'll call her Martha, in essence, she wanted him to spy on her. He respectfully refused stating that it was not only unethical, but would but him in a very uncomfortable position since they have a close working environment.
Shortly after this incident my husband was preparing laptop computers for the doctors in this facility, when he was approached by the supervisor of another department, we'll call her Bertha, and was told that her department was a priority and he needed to start working on her computers right away. My husband explained that he has his duties delegated by his supervisor Martha. Bertha again stated that she wanted him to work on her project immediately. My husband told her that the conversation was going downhill and asked her to leave his office. Bertha continued to give my husband difficulties after this incident. On January 1st of this year Bertha became the head of my husbands department!!
On January 20th of this year, his supervisor, Martha, was charged with DUI and placed on 4 years probation and fined $3000.00 in fines and court costs. Another employee approached my husband and asked if he had seen the court report in the newspaper about his boss. My husband said no, he didn't read the paper. This employee continued to tell him about what Martha had been charged with. Of course, this sparked his curiosity, so he looked up the article to see for himself. Most of what he was told was untrue. The next day at work when his employee started talking about the incident again, my husband told him that he did read the article ad he didn't have the facts straight as to what had happened. My husband was called to a meeting with Bertha and Martha to discuss why he was spreading rumors about his supervisor. When my husband explained that it was another employee and he was merely defending Martha, the meeting was over but the tension remained.
On March 29, 2004 he was called to a meeting with his direct supervisor Martha, and her supervisor Bertha and put on administrative leave due to allegations of pornography on his computer. The same incident occurred to a co-worker of his just a couple weeks prior to my husbands meeting, this employee case was dropped without incident It has been a month since this happened and we haven't heard a word from anyone. My husband is in contact with a Union representative that attended the meeting with him, but hasn't been told anything as far as his employer's intentions. The Union representative is told to contact the attorney for the facility if he has questions. He hasn't been "charged" with anything, and his employer is paying him, but the damage to his reputation is devastating. My husband has had a very difficult time with this whole situation. He has difficulty sleeping, has lost weight and has no desire to do anything since this happened. I also work at the same facility, and face the trauma everyday of coming face to face with the insecure women (I use this term loosely) that are trying to ruin my husband's career. As I expected, the word spread quickly through the workplace, as I walk down the hall I hear the whispering from person to person. How long can they keep him on administrative leave without bringing charges against him? Would this be grounds for defamation of character if nothing is proven? Can he sue for mental anguish? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!
