Stay Calm, Cool and CollectedWhen Falsely Accused
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You are at a potential legal crossroads. While this could be just a bluff or venting of steam by someone who thinks want a man to shake in their boots a little while, it could also be the beginning of a true legal proceeding.
If it is the beginning of a legal mess, you need to keep your wits about you, so stay calm, no matter how it makes you feel. The legal system preys on holes caused by people's emotional reactions. Don't allow a hole to form because you backlash with emotion. It will only hurt your defense down the road.
Stay Collected.
Grab all the facts of the case if you can. Get a copy of the letter. If you can not get a copy, at least keep a logbook of any conversations you had with your boss about the incident. Collected means to try to understand the situation.
Stay Cool.
OK, sometimes it tough to be cool. Lawyers are great at it. LMT's are usually not. Your situation reminds me of a story I heard from a Captain back when I worked on ships. It went something like this:
Office:
Captain, we've received a report about regular use of alcohol on your ship while the ship is at sea. You know the ramifications of alcohol use aboard ship after Exxon Valdez. Do you have a response?
The Captain:
Well, I really do not know what you are talking about at this point. Maybe if you could give me some details, or who actually made the report, I could give you a better response.
Office:
We will not give the name of the person reporting the incident (in fear of retaliation). We can not give you the details of the incident because you would then figure out who reported it.
The Captain:
Well, I still can not comment at this point because I still do no know exactly what you are talking about. Was this report in regards to me drinking alcohol on the ship, one of the officers or any of the crewmembers?
Office:
Again Captain, we can not give you those kinds of details because you would easily figure out who made the report. So, do you have anything to say about this accusation?
NOW HERE IS A LITTLE COOL IN ACTION.....
The Captain:
Well, NO. I can not respond to any of this, and I will not, at least not until I have a name and the details of the incident. There are many former crewmembers who have a grudge against the captain or the ship. From their perspective they are at a power disadvantage. I am the captain; they are not. They also know accusing anyone on the ship of alcohol use will get the Coast Guard down here in no time. It can be a real headache for all of us.
I am not going to respond to a faceless accusation. It could just be someone making something up, trying to see what I will confess or half explain the actions of others. In fact, it could be you (the office) making up the accusation just to see what I will fess up to about the goings-on of the ship.
So, unless you have a name and some details, I do not have a response.........Good Day.
Unfortunately in life, we sometimes have to speak back to people the way they first speak to us. It is a little out of character for MT's to behave as such, but as male massage therapists, it might be a thing we have to do for self-preservation, at least professionally.
By the way, Captain C never heard about the drinking accusation again. Guess it was the office trying to dig up a little dirt on the old man.
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