Dear Kally,
I think I am in a strange position that perhaps you have not dealt with before. I don’t mind hearing what your readers have to say and maybe give me an idea or two on how to proceed my next step.
It is horrible to have this problem and even worse to have to seek anyone’s advice but I can’t see how I can get out of this unscathed.
I work at a used car dealership and we have around 20 odd staff. I used to report to two different bosses, let’s call them Bill and Peter. All is fine until I slept with Peter and continued my affair with him on the sly for 6 months until his wife found out about us and made him stop coming to office and leave the operations side to Bill. No one in the office knows and that was four years ago. Now I’m a much more mature woman, recently got engaged to the most wonderful man on earth.
For the past few months, Bill’s wife have been coming into the office almost everyday, something she rarely does in the past. And she has been giving me this obnoxious glare every time she passes my desk. It might be also because I have been recently promoted as executive assistant to Bill. I know Bill’s wife and Peter’s wife are best friends, I suspect that she might be told of my past affair with Peter. It is making me super uncomfortable but I kept brushing my feelings aside because I really love my job.
However, earlier this month, I’m asked to shift my desk to end of the corridor and it doesn’t make sense since I need to work closely with Bill. I’ll have to walk a few minutes before I get to his office for him to sign a document. Last week, there was rumors that Bill is looking for another executive assistant. I know there are not enough work for two of me. I can’t help but felt that I am going to be replaced.
I love my job and I do well in my job. What are my options?
Worried Sick,
Lori W
Dear Lori,
You must be feeling terrible right now. I’m sorry that you are paying a mistake you made 4 years ago. Besides, having an affair has absolutely nothing to do with your performance at work.
You must have done well in your work, as you said, to be recently promoted to executive assistant. I can see your passion in your job to have endured the harassment from Bill’s wife day in, day out. That must have been really hard on you.
I don’t suppose you have a HR personal in your workplace so my advice is for you to seek external legal advice on wrongful termination. Please make sure you are protected and you have evidence that you have been doing well in your performance, anything from appraisal to compliment emails or letters from your bosses or customers.
Once you have covered your legal grounds, approach Bill and ask him to clarify the ongoings like the glare and the rumors. For all you know, it might be a misunderstanding and all from your imagination blown out of proportion before you take any legal action.
However, if your boss does take the route of terminating without giving you a good legitimate reason (sacking you because his wife dislike you is not a legitimate reason), you can proceed to pursue this legally.
I wish you well in your next step. Take care.
Regards,
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