AITA for treating my coworker differently after she accused me of SA when i saved her live.
The man is described as a friendly and quiet individual who treats his coworkers like friends. A conflict began during a work lunch when a coworker started choking, prompting the OP to perform the Heimlich maneuver to save her. Immediately following the incident, the coworker nodded briefly and left without speaking.
Shortly after, the OP was called to Human Resources because the coworker filed a complaint, alleging the physical aid involved inappropriate touching due to close proximity.
The OP was suspended pending investigation, which cleared him after a week, leaving him unsure how to proceed with the coworker who now feels slighted by his resulting distance.
The central question is whether the OP was wrong (an 'a*shole') for changing his behavior toward the coworker after the complaint.
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The OP is currently in a difficult position, balancing his genuine desire to be friendly with the need to protect himself following a serious workplace complaint based on perceived inappropriateness during a life-saving action.
His current cautious distance reflects a response to the formal accusation, contrasting sharply with the coworker's expectation that he should revert to their previous level of familiarity.
The situation presents a conflict between necessary self-protection in a professional setting and the social expectations of friendship.
Is the OP justified in maintaining strict professional boundaries to mitigate future risk, or is he being overly punitive and petty by refusing to treat the coworker as he treats others, despite her attempted apology?
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