Guadalupe Frisco's Post, Converted from Anonymous Comment; I HEARD THAT HIS FAREWELL MESSAGE TO HER WOULD HAVE MELTED THE HEART OF A STATUE

Yes, some of us heard the same thing, and we heard that it was in that message that he agreed unconditionally to do what she wanted, and we heard that THEN she went and betrayed him and the message was used against him, even though he was responding to HER message.

Goody's Post, Converted from Anonymous Comment; SHE KILLED IT FOR ALL OF US

The perception on the street is we will not have another employee christmas party or picnic, and perception is reality, right. This is some of that unholy agreement where somebody thinks that Bob and Rose can’t be around each other, and you could not invite one but not the other. Everybody suffers. How selfish on her part and clueless of Rick to not agree to patching things. Bob always went to the get togethers, but everybody knows that he missed one just out of sensitivity to her wants, and then she slammed him anyway and it came to all this. The girl needs to grow up. She never got harassed by him, and the company has let this uncalled for disciplinary CRAP go on long enough.

Nostroma's Post; THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST, ANGELUS, BUT THAT ONE COULD NOT STAY AS IT WAS

Your contributions are appreciated, but that deleted one may have resulted from over-analysis of the matter.

It is possible that it went down as you theorize, but in fairness to the company it's generally believed that it wasn't as sinister as you suppose.

It was bad enough though, because the motive was FEAR, or more likely COWARDICE. Rose's allegations scared management witless.

Rose morphed into Mrs. Hyde, and changed her mind about her MUTUALLY AGREEABLE relationship with Robert, and of course went to HR or elsewhere with selective and inflated stories, including complaints that her husband – CONTROLLING husband we know - did not like her association with a male member of Intertek, but we don't think the company was just waiting for this chance to ambush. The company reacted to protect itself from embarassment, and the reaction was both cowardly and unethical. The company will call it a business decision, which demonstrates that “business ethics” is an oxymoron.

Rose can hold this over the company for who knows how long. In fact, it is believed that there is some unholy agreement between Rose and the company that keeps Robert buried to keep Rose quiet.

Business ethics.

True Robert declined a job change a couple of years ago for reasons that seemed good to him, but we think that it was truly a choice that he was offered and that management accepted it without problem.

The word always used now – a word that you used, and the proper word - is SACRIFICE, and that is just what it was. Management and the paid lawyer knew that Rose could embarrass the company with some kind of claim, even though she never could win anything in a suit. The company has reason to fear any scrutiny by authority, which is what a suit would lead to. It was easier to sacrifice the individual than to face the matter ethically.

Business ethics.

Some of your post needs to stay –

“It is right and admirable for blog members to post unfairness, and one would assume Robert is humbled knowing his situation has support.”

“Has anyone stopped to think why the company chose to wrongly banish Robert when other people who truly have committed errors are instead promoted?”

Business ethics.

Hotpig's Post, Converted from Anonymous Comment; SHE WAS ONE OF OUR OWN THAT CAUSED ALL THIS

This started out as good faith report to the compliance officer about the concern and discomfort over the unfair disciplinary action to Bob after Rose allegations. This concern has been going on for a long time especially with the women because it was one of our own that caused it, and now there is more concern, enough to finally make this public, because it's known that a real affair in the office was treated differently. This is double standard and discrimination, and the company made an unethical decision after Rose's unethical accusations.

Her allegations were intended to hurt and result in damage, not to get correction. Correction was already done and she didn't gain anything but contempt. If she was uncomfortable, it should be her problem, because he did all she wanted. They used to talk, so she should have talked to him this time, and they should have been made to work things out. Mediation not discipline ought to be the company's first reaction. The company needs to examine the facts instead of just the allegations, and deal with the matter ethically instead of just legally. Why have a hotline at all, if it's just a way to report but not a way to get fairness, and why have an ethics policy if it can't be applied right?

The company paid lawyer is not neutral and readily will sacrifice an innocent individual for a paying client. The company should have advised Bob that he had a right to employ a lawyer also instead of just counting on his company loyalty to accept what he was handed.

It does surprise me of the popular opinion Rose never filed a written complaint. For attorneys to have advised or approved of such sanctions against Robert and in favour of Rose, without having a formal written complaint complete with names, dates, times, witnesses, etc...it makes me wonder if it is easier than most think to obtain a law degree.