Workplace Slander and Defamation Suits Take Off
A person's reputation in the job market has never been more important. If false statements about an employee's skills or integrity are circulated, then obtaining a new job will be next to impossible. That is one reason why workplace defamation suits are increasing. Technology is another factor fueling the fire because false statements can quickly be distributed through e-mail or networking sites like twitter, facebook, and linkedin or through on-line employee screening services. See today's article in the National Law Journal "Workplace Defamation Suits Rise," by Tresa Baldas.
Recent cases have been based on the following facts:
1. Employer submitting unfounded theft accusations to an industry wide employee screening company. These false accusations caused the employee to be blackballed from his industry.
2. Employer sending out email to 1,500 employers stating that manager was fired for violating the company expense and travel policy. Even though the statement was true, the court allowed the case to proceed because the e-mail was intended to humiliate the employee and the employee was identified by name in the e-mail.
3. Law firm sued for issuing a press release stating that a partner had been fired for "extremely inappropriate personal conduct."
We will be seeing more of these cases as employees need to protect their reputations.
