Dear HR,
I have been asked by one of the Directors to give a statement about what happened last year in September. I had a discussion with him and his wife about the sexual harassment allegations against him (the director). My manager advised me to seek guidance from our group HR on the matter. When asked by this director about it, he denied it. Now, it looks like I made up a story. He told me last week, on Friday, that my manager has denied telling me to seek advice. I then told him that whatever happened last year, I take full responsibility for it and apologized for the sexual allegations. I wrote a letter of apology to him, which he acknowledged but he still insists that he wants a statement where I'm stating I'm taking full responsibility for everything that happened last year.
Please advise.
From South Africa, Johannesburg
Acknowledge(0)
Amend(0)
I have been asked by one of the Directors to give a statement about what happened last year in September. I had a discussion with him and his wife about the sexual harassment allegations against him (the director). My manager advised me to seek guidance from our group HR on the matter. When asked by this director about it, he denied it. Now, it looks like I made up a story. He told me last week, on Friday, that my manager has denied telling me to seek advice. I then told him that whatever happened last year, I take full responsibility for it and apologized for the sexual allegations. I wrote a letter of apology to him, which he acknowledged but he still insists that he wants a statement where I'm stating I'm taking full responsibility for everything that happened last year.
Please advise.
From South Africa, Johannesburg
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
What type of allegation did you make? Was it based on what you have seen or had experienced personally?
What and why is a letter of apology given?? The problem is not clear. Please write clearly about the problem and what help you require from forum members??
From India, Pune
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
3251What and why is a letter of apology given?? The problem is not clear. Please write clearly about the problem and what help you require from forum members??
From India, Pune
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
It was a case of sexual harassment that I personally experienced. I gave him a letter of apology, as I had already apologized in person, and he requested a written apology as well. Now, he is asking me to write a statement because he claims my manager never instructed me to consult with the group HR, implying that I am lying. I feel victimized for speaking up about the sexual harassment.
From South Africa, Johannesburg
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From South Africa, Johannesburg
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
It is still not clear -who did the act of harassment? One gives an apology only if her/his statement/allegations are false.
From India, Pune
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From India, Pune
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Your apology was a mistake. Giving a letter in writing was a bigger mistake. However, even now, you can take up the matter of a complaint with the internal complaints committee under the POSH act. If there is no committee formed, then you can go to the district complaints committee. Further, there is a mechanism under the act for penalizing the company for not forming the committee. You should not give any statement on this matter. You need to speak to a lawyer or an NGO specializing in sexual harassment to help with this. Otherwise, your work life will be a miserable one, and in any future background check, they will be fully qualified to show your new employer that you are a troublemaker. Your own letter is proof of that.
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear contributing members,
This is not a fit case falling within the purview of HR management or any labor laws to give our expert opinion or advice in the matter. I find the issue raised by the querist is of a personal nature and not related to Personnel Management, Industrial law, or HR Management. The matter is also unclear as stated by Mr. Rao and Mr. Banerjee. It is a civil matter to be dealt with by an advocate. If my opinion is incorrect, please correct me.
Adoni Suguresh
Labour Laws Consultant
From India, Bidar
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
This is not a fit case falling within the purview of HR management or any labor laws to give our expert opinion or advice in the matter. I find the issue raised by the querist is of a personal nature and not related to Personnel Management, Industrial law, or HR Management. The matter is also unclear as stated by Mr. Rao and Mr. Banerjee. It is a civil matter to be dealt with by an advocate. If my opinion is incorrect, please correct me.
Adoni Suguresh
Labour Laws Consultant
From India, Bidar
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
You must meet with a subject matter expert on sexual harassment before taking any action now. Do not provide any statements or put anything in writing before consulting with them. You may even consider hiring a lawyer or seeking legal advice on this matter.
From India, Gurgaon
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From India, Gurgaon
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
If sexual harassment actually happened, your apology and statement of taking full responsibility can be misused by your superiors as a tool for the future, and you can be treated as habitual of making false complaints if any incident happens in the future also. So, think at least ten times before giving any such statement.
From India, Delhi
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From India, Delhi
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hello Adoni Suguresh,
I am not sure of the way you viewed this episode.
Your line "..........as I find the matter raised by the querist is of personal nature.........." is surely TRUE/CORRECT UNTIL it remained between Letticia, the Director & his wife.
The moment the Manager & the HR guy intervened [as per Letticia's summary], it has already become an official issue. And the fact she has been asked for verbal & written apologies only escalates the issue towards officialese.
Also, though it's not clear from the posting, the situation 'seems' to have occurred within the confines of the office... which, if true, makes it another reason to become official.
@ Letticia--
While concurring with Nathrao & Saswata Banerjee on the precautions you need to take as well as the action-plan for the next step, I STILL think there are holes in the details you mentioned.
When the incident happened last September--4-5 months ago--why is this being raked up NOW?
What happened in the intervening period?
While it's surely understandable that not everyone has the guts to take a firm stand in such issues... especially when top officials are involved, it also doesn't mean that one has to meekly submit. The only consequence of such an action... like yours... would be that you have given them a stick to beat you with-- @ THEIR choice of time & place.
Consult any lawyer friend... who doesn't try to grab this as another chance to make money... OR, still better, would be to approach any NGO.
All the Best.
Rgds,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
I am not sure of the way you viewed this episode.
Your line "..........as I find the matter raised by the querist is of personal nature.........." is surely TRUE/CORRECT UNTIL it remained between Letticia, the Director & his wife.
The moment the Manager & the HR guy intervened [as per Letticia's summary], it has already become an official issue. And the fact she has been asked for verbal & written apologies only escalates the issue towards officialese.
Also, though it's not clear from the posting, the situation 'seems' to have occurred within the confines of the office... which, if true, makes it another reason to become official.
@ Letticia--
While concurring with Nathrao & Saswata Banerjee on the precautions you need to take as well as the action-plan for the next step, I STILL think there are holes in the details you mentioned.
When the incident happened last September--4-5 months ago--why is this being raked up NOW?
What happened in the intervening period?
While it's surely understandable that not everyone has the guts to take a firm stand in such issues... especially when top officials are involved, it also doesn't mean that one has to meekly submit. The only consequence of such an action... like yours... would be that you have given them a stick to beat you with-- @ THEIR choice of time & place.
Consult any lawyer friend... who doesn't try to grab this as another chance to make money... OR, still better, would be to approach any NGO.
All the Best.
Rgds,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)Engage with peers to discuss and resolve work and business challenges collaboratively - share and document your knowledge. Our AI-powered platform, features real-time fact-checking, peer reviews, and an extensive historical knowledge base. - Join & Be Part Of Our Community.
Job Work-outwork employees.docx