Sharing an opinion on employee family member

[BR36]

Hi, looking for some guidance on how to manage an odd situation at work.

One of our supervisors was chatting to a team member and realised that he knew the team members mother in law to be. She used to work for us and had a poor reputation for sleeping around with guys at work. Supervisor referred to her with a mildly derogatory name which she’s now found out about. She hasn’t worked with us for many years but has contacted one of our senior managers and asked to come in to challenge the supervisor about it.

The comments made by the supervisor were true (not speculation) and many people know of her previous reputation.

Two questions, could the supervisor be open to disciplinary action having referred to a member of the public and secondly, would you allow this ‘lady’ to come into the workplace to challenge him face to face?

[atticus]

You have previously said that you have HR people.

The lady's request may of course be refused.

[BR36]

Yes, we have HR people, however, our current one is straight out of uni and doesn’t really know.

[ULA]

I have know that action is taken against an employee as a result of behaviour that for example a client of a company has complained about an employee and disciplinary action has been taken. However this would not usually be done on the basis of a face-to-face meeting between accuser and accused but via an investigation conducted by HR or a senior manager of the company and witness statements being taken.

There is also the point to consider as to whether the team member raises a complaint/grievance about what was said regarding their future mother-in-law. If this happens then an investigation will need to be undertaken but whether this would result in any formal disciplinary action being taken I would not like to say.

[BR36]

Thank you, it doesn’t appear that the team member wants to raise a complaint, it is the ‘mother in law’ who wishes to pursue it. She has no link to the company other than through the team member so, whilst the supervisor was perhaps a bit loose lipped with his opinions, he hadn’t upset a customer for example.

[ULA]

Good that the team member does not want to raise a complaint/grievance.

Hopefully the incident will pass over but maybe the supervisor given their position should be more careful about voicing opinions that may cause an issue.

If anything further does happen then just come back to this thread to ask any further questions.

[BR36]

Thank you, yes, totally agree with your comments about the supervisor keeping his opinions to himself……he has been told. I guess the only outstanding question would be, would the company need to take the matter further if the MIL sent on a letter of complaint