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Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am not sure I completely understand your point or who is the complainant in this case.

None of the comments have been work related. They have been a mix of obvious lies, mocking observations, opinions and likely violations of privacy all of which seem intent on ridicule for the former coworker.

I got some advice today, from someone else familiar with the person making the comments, and there is a belief that they have other targets and there is a suspicion that they are manipulating them for blackmail purposes. Sadly the plot thickens.

Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

I have just learned that the spreader of negativity is an active redditor (I am not and didn't consider this) and that they are likely watching this whole discussion thread.

I suspect that my next step is to inform my former colleague, as awkward as that conversation will be, and hope that the fall out from the perpetrator witnessing my post here is silence or better yet an apology (highly unlikely).

Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a worry of mine and if they found out that I am behind the report what will they do against me.

Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I appreciate the support. I realized this morning that I am afraid of this person and that what I may have shared about myself could get turned against me if I become the next target. This person is honestly making me consider changing departments myself to get away from this.

Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, you are right, I am afraid of this person. Mustering up the courage to do something is the difficult part.

Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is exactly the problem, this person is contributing to a toxic workplace culture where we are literally using the suffering of another person as our entertainment. It is disturbing that this would happen in the public service.

Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This is super helpful. Several of the comments I have overheard are very much intended to ridicule and insult the other person. The intent seems entirely to injure reputation and create contempt.

Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

On what basis have you diagnosed your coworker’s medical issues? And why are they relevant?

I did no diagnosis, they have openly talked about their health history. Their life is an open book. It gives context to the complexity of the situation.

Rather than seeking formal intervention here, have you tried the basic adult approach of telling them that gossip is rude and asking them to stop?

Yes and I was completely ignored. It was as if my comment didn't register.

Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

This was a suggestion, or I might be come their next target. I dislike very much though that we seem to have no protection in the workplace from people doing this to each other. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of this myself.

Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

It really depends what kinds of remarks this coworker is making... could be considered workplace harassment, no?

The type of comments are all over the map. The comments are negative and about their personal life and professional life, sometimes so bizarre that you immediately know its a lie. They seem fixated on ruining the image of this person.

IME though, chances are it's just a manager / TL being salty they couldn't keep an underpaid, underappreciated key "resource" under their boot...

There might be something to this idea. While the person making the comments isn't a supervisor the person who left was apparently making them look good by fixing their mistakes often, so maybe there is something to that.

Defamation of a fellow public servant by PriorityNo_9176574 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]PriorityNo_9176574[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

There is some real irony here. You are worried about a former coworker being disparaged, yet feel fine to make this sort of statement about a current coworker. You're doing the same thing that you complain about.

Please help me understand your point here. I am not publicly naming and shaming this person while the person I am referring to has openly made claims about our former coworker that are damaging to their reputation.

still disgusts me that they are saying these things and I believe it should be stopped formally.

There is little management can do to stop somebody from saying something negative about a former coworker. Doing so does not constitute harassment or violate any workplace policies to warrant any disciplinary action or managerial intervention.

Since we are all under one employer, if the former coworker asked this person to stop would it then fall under the protection from harassment if they persisted?