AITAH for getting a new nurse fired for accusing me of having an affair with my FATHER
The story involves a 27-year-old female hospital social worker (OP) and her 51-year-old father, who works as a charge nurse at the same small hospital.
The conflict began when the OP and her father shared a brief, affectionate farewell, including a hug, in the hallway near the nurses' station.
A new nurse nearby misinterpreted this interaction, assuming the OP and her father were romantically involved. This new nurse then spread this rumor to other staff members.
The OP, angered by the gossip, bypassed addressing the issue directly with the nurse and instead escalated the matter immediately to Human Resources, leading to an investigation and the subsequent termination of the new nurse.
The OP now questions if her decision to involve HR was correct, given the severe consequence for the new employee.
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The OP is standing by her belief that reporting the severe workplace gossip to HR was necessary to maintain professional standards, despite the fact that the gossip originated from a misunderstanding about her relationship with her father.
Her mother, however, feels the OP acted too harshly, suggesting direct communication would have been better and pointing out the hardship faced by the now-terminated nurse, who is a single mother.
The central question remains whether the professional necessity of stopping damaging workplace rumors justifies an action that results in immediate job loss for a probationary employee who acted out of a clear, albeit incorrect, assumption.
Was reporting to HR the only appropriate course of action, or should the OP have first attempted a less severe form of conflict resolution?