Suspended at work

[joe3103]

Hello, I`m new to this forum.
3 colleagues and I were precautionary suspended at work for an allegation of neglecting a patient.

In the duty roster on the ward I work it`s been put next to our names that we are `suspended,` this means that everybody from regular staff to agency staff can see this. Furthermore my wife who works at the same hospital was walking along a corridor and was approached by a member of staff to enquire how I was? This staff then informed my wife that she knew I had been suspended for neglecting a patient, this distressed my wife!

In my fact finding interview with a manager I was informed that I could not approach any of my colleagues nor have any contact with anybody relating to the investigation.
Is this not a breach of confidentiality? I am tempted to report this and contact ACAS. Any advice would be gratefully received.

[Kati]

Re: Suspended at work

[MENTION=19071]teaboy2[/MENTION] ... any advice please??

[teaboy2]

Re: Suspended at work

Stating your suspended is not a breach of confidentiality (though it shouldn't be shown on a poster for all to see). However stating the reason is a breach of confidentiality, though the problem you have is proving who let slip first! You should still however bring this up with with your direct manager.

Now as for the allegation itself, was there any wrong doing or neglect on your part, who made the complaint?

[joe3103]

Re: Suspended at work

Hello, Thanks I will contact ACAS and ask for advice as people are generally gossiping about this probably because it is there for all to see.
2 witness statements have gone in that contradict the allegation and these from staff who were actually involved.

[teaboy2]

Re: Suspended at work

Hello, Thanks I will contact ACAS and ask for advice as people are generally gossiping about this probably because it is there for all to see.
2 witness statements have gone in that contradict the allegation and these from staff who were actually involved.

If it just says suspended and not the reason why on the board/poster thingy, then theirs no breach of confidentiality but it does however undermine your position and reputation which of course is to your detriment and causes significant damage to your reputation. Hence why in general its good practice for management or employers to not discuss the reason for your absences let alone post up on a wall the fact your suspended as it leads to such damaging gossip!

But then when the allegation is found to be untrue, your exonerated and everyone will know that. But that's not always the case and in some cases, either where there is no evidence of wrong doing a person can still be dismiss purely because the employer had reasonable belief such wrong doing occurred, and in such instances the gossip sticks and thereby becomes false statements of fact i.e. libel/slander.