Slander at work is quite common and frequent, despite the fact that it not only humiliates and spoils the dignity of decent people, but also negatively affects the overall reputation of the department, and sometimes even the entire organization. Such consequences appear when any rumors begin to spread in the team, and it does not matter who they concern.
To understand how to deal with defamation, it is necessary to become familiar with the characteristics of such inappropriate actions, as well as possible options for responding.
When independently analyzing a case related to slander, you need to consider:
- each case is unique and individual;
- even applying knowledge of the basics of the law cannot always give a positive result;
- the positive outcome of each situation will always depend on many factors.
Definition of the term
Slander is information that is false, aimed at destroying a person’s reputation, violating honor and dignity. It can be spread by one person or by several people.
Legislation
Citizens engaged in spreading slander are subject to punishment in accordance with Art. 128.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
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Article 128.1. Libel - Criminal Code of the Russian Federation of June 13, 1996
Information considered illegal must have the following characteristics:
- to be false;
- be transmitted to people;
- be specific.
Attention: Statements of an uncertain nature are not grounds for initiating a criminal case.
Special punishment awaits those who publicly slander government officials, according to Art. 319 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
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Article 319. Insulting a representative of authority - Criminal Code of the Russian Federation of June 13, 1996
There is no exact list of data that falls under the criteria of criminal liability in the legislation.
Consequences of Gaslighting
This kind of toxic atmosphere contributes to the emergence of multiple mental and even physical disorders. Firstly, we are talking about moral suppression, which makes a person doubt his abilities. This lowers his self-esteem and ability not only to act, but also to think. People who find themselves in such a difficult situation often fall into melancholy and depression. Their immunity decreases, which leads to severe chronic diseases.
What to do if you are slandered at work?
The employer must first combat gossip at work. He is an interested party. His task is to create a favorable working atmosphere. The dissemination of false information that discredits a business reputation can create a tense atmosphere and significantly slow down the work process.
Why do people slander people at work?
Psychologists have identified three main factors leading to the spread of false information:
- desire to move up the career ladder faster;
- personal motives;
- desire to fire an employee.
Attention: The degree of punishment for such acts depends on the severity of the offense. One of the most severe penalties follows for violations of a sexual nature. Important: If information about an actually committed act was disseminated, even if it was unprofessional, immoral, and so on, then it is not illegal.
Fighting methods
An injured citizen can fight for his rights, honor and dignity as follows:
- write a statement to the police demanding that the perpetrators be punished;
- write a statement to the management of the enterprise with a similar requirement;
- demand through the court to refute false data, as well as to recover monetary compensation from those responsible for the suffering caused.
Is it possible to reach an agreement peacefully?
It is always easier to resolve a conflict situation peacefully. To do this, you need to try to talk with the offender and reason with him.
An effective way to express your indignation without emotion in public. In fact, explain what the lie was and morally condemn the attacker.
What to do if you are slandered?
If you think that your behavior or the situation in which you find yourself could serve as a reason for gossip, simply get ahead of the unwanted interpretation. For example, if your colleagues noticed you getting out of your boss’s car, then just casually tell them how you ran into your boss at an intersection, and out of the kindness of his heart, he decided to give you a ride. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that you will ever be able to avoid becoming the object of slander. But you are quite capable of limiting its harmful effects on your well-being, position in society, and mood. As a rule, those least likely to be criticized, gossiped and slandered are truly open, self-ironic people who are not afraid to laugh at themselves.
But the point is that bullying begins, continues and ends only when the instigator wants it.
It wouldn’t hurt, of course, to talk to the slanderer himself beforehand and inform him of his intention to organize a confrontation. It is quite possible that the prospect of exposure in front of a significant person will force you to change your intentions and create a desire to fix everything as quickly as possible. This happens very often. What to come to? If No. 5 / Bayaderka wrote: they have been working with me for about five years and in your opinion suddenly changed their attitude, then 1) where did you get the information that No. 2 / Bayaderka wrote: colleagues who respected me, They think that I’m complaining about them the same way. You don’t read their thoughts, do you? No. 3 / Bayaderka wrote: I want to talk to them, because I am a person of principle and for justice!
Slanderer - employer
Unfortunately, there are cases when the head of the company himself is involved in the dissemination of negative data.
The motives for such behavior may be different. For example, a desire to demote an employee, fire him or personal hostility. The injured citizen can fight such a violation of his rights under the same article. 128.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
Trial
In cases where the manager not only discredited the employee, but also fired him or imposed a disciplinary sanction on him, this gives the victim the right to go to court. Required:
- provide evidence of slander;
- demand the cancellation of the employer’s unlawful actions (removal of the reprimand, reinstatement, etc.);
- demand compensation for worker downtime (in case of dismissal), or for a bonus not received, if such an incident took place, and so on;
- demand monetary compensation for moral damage.
Some enterprises have a Code of Ethics that provides for internal penalties for such acts.
Gaslighting in the workplace
As mentioned above, there are several types of gaslighting. Most often, friends or relatives make fun of a person. There is also romantic gaslighting. In this case, one of the partners becomes the victim. Gaslighting in the workplace is also very common. This is a form of violence, the consequences of which are the employee’s lack of confidence in his competence, experience, skill, and ability to manage people. Unfortunately, this type of violence can make a person doubt not only his professional abilities.
If an official is slandered
It happens that they try to discredit officials. Such illegal actions are subject to criminal liability.
For a police officer
An interesting fact is that quite often there are cases when, with the help of incorrect information, they try to put pressure on police officers.
This offense is punishable according to Art. 286 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, large fines or imprisonment of the offender in a correctional institution for a period of 3 to 10 years.
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Article 286. Excess of official powers - Criminal Code of the Russian Federation of June 13, 1996
Moral rapists
Some people who have been gaslighted before underestimate the complexity and danger of the situation. For example, a child is not treated very well in the yard, problems arise with classmates at school (another educational institution), or some other similar situation occurs. When this child grows up and gets a job, ridicule and other manifestations of negative attitudes from colleagues do not become a revelation to him. Now we are not talking about a bad person whom no one loves.
Unfortunately, in the modern world, very often people who are gaslighted are people who simply cannot defend themselves. These are conflict-free, kind and open (or too modest) workers who are accustomed to relying only on themselves. Ill-wishers find “pain points” and begin to influence them. It is sad to say that such people exist in our society. It is enough for one such person to appear in the team. Very soon he will gather around him colleagues who do not have their own point of view. They will all begin to attack their prey together.
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How to react to boorish colleagues
You can put a rude employee in his place using the following methods:
- ignoring is the best way when a colleague is rude in order to attract attention;
- conversation, an attempt to establish normal contact will help in conflicts with those employees who are having difficulties in their lives;
- jokes or barbs will help reduce a tense situation to nothing or create awkwardness for the rude person.
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How to stop an insolent person?
- We respond to every boorish attack with a joke. This way, your nerves will be healthier, and your authority among your colleagues will be higher. The main thing is not to cross the line in your jokes. “Below the belt” and black humor are not an option. Don't stoop to your colleague's level.
- Turn on the recorder. As soon as the boor opens his mouth, we take the recorder out of our pocket (or turn it on on the phone) and with the words “Wait, wait, I’m recording,” press the record button. There is no need to scare the boor that you will take this audio collection to the boss, write down “For history!” - demonstratively and always with a smile.
- If a boor asserts himself in this way at your expense, deprive him of this opportunity. Does he pester you during your lunch break? Eat at another time. Does it interfere with your work process? Transfer to another department or work schedule. Isn't there such a possibility? Ignore the lunges and see point 1.
- “Do you want to talk about it?” Every time they try to piss you off, turn on your inner psychiatrist. And look at your opponent with the forgiving eyes of a psychiatrist. Specialists will never contradict their violent patients. They pat them on the head, smile affectionately and agree with everything the patients say. For the particularly violent ones - a straitjacket (your phone camera will help you, and the entire series of videos on YouTube).
- Growing personally. Take care of yourself - your work, hobbies, growth. With personal growth, all boors, informers and gossips remain somewhere beyond your flight. Like ants underfoot.
Additional legal characteristics of the phenomenon
In general, Article 5.61 of the Code of Administrative Offenses is devoted to insults. The work environment in the presence of such violations is not considered in separate paragraphs.
Boorish behavior will be considered an insult if the following conditions are met:
- Failure to comply with ethical standards in words or actions.
- The presence of a desire to humiliate the dignity or honor of the victim.
- A violation presupposes the presence of a performer, an addressee. In this case, all parties to the working relationship can play one of the roles - managers, subordinates, outsiders in the form of clients or partners.
When preparing a report of an offense, it is important to determine in advance whether the oral statement was obscene. This detail plays an important role. You can insult using only literary language if the meaning of the words remains obscene.
The most important part for cases remains evidence. It is good if there are witnesses who can confirm the incident. But you can’t always count on their testimony. Especially if the culprit is a manager.
Recordings from office video cameras also help prove the case. The same applies to a voice recorder turned on during a conversation.
Ways to fight
From this day forward, start documenting everything you do. Got an idea? Write it down and approve it in writing. Something was said, done, even the smallest steps were taken - mark it. You need to document your relationships with all your abusers. Before you say or do anything, be sure to write a statement and endorse it in accordance with all the rules. This also applies to your work (at each stage). Consider deadlines and make copies of instructions. All this will be useful to you for the fight. Then ask your superior for help.
Does not help? Move on. You can reach the highest echelons of power. Every conversation or request must also be documented. If it doesn't work out for you or you don't really value the job, move to another company. There, from the first day, control the situation so that nothing like this happens again.
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Examples of Gaslighting in the Workplace
Senior lecturer in business psychology, Dr. Maria Cordovic, recommends learning to recognize gaslighting in the workplace in its most subtle forms.
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This will give you the opportunity to stop it in time. Manifestations may look like this:
- You began to doubt your own knowledge, strengths and capabilities.
- Are you experiencing symptoms of burnout?
- Self-confidence drops catastrophically.
- You cannot satisfy the demands of your colleagues, even if you did everything as they asked.
- You are not informed about the quality and timing of the work.
- Your versions of what is happening are not taken into account.
- Any doubts or concerns you voice are immediately suppressed under threat of punishment and even dismissal.
- You feel like you don't have the strength to do anything right.
- You don't get any positive feedback.
- Colleagues are aggressive and violate your boundaries.
- You have a desire to please someone, you even sacrifice your interests for this.
- They lie to you and about you, gossip, ignore you and make your life at work simply unbearable.
Awareness of the problem
The list goes on, as unscrupulous people become more sophisticated in their acts of violence every day. However, you must understand that such an attitude towards you is dangerous for you. It is useless to ignore this and think that everything will be resolved by itself. Realize that you are temporarily isolated (trapped). However, there are many ways out of it. The more time passes, the tighter the locks become. If you do nothing, then you will have to not only solve the problem with the offenders, but save your health and life. Therefore, recognize the problem and take active action.
