Work Ethics & a Slanderer

[Youngcatholic]

What is a Catholic required to do morally in a professional situation if a coworker slanders your reputation behind your back? I had this happen recently. I confronted the person directly, never got a true apology, though the person admitted to what was said.

Am I morally required to work with this person? (I am in a job where working with others is important to job performance). Or, can I try to avoid working with this particular individual if I want to, given the situation. She happens to be a department head, but I could avoid her if I really wanted to.

Please help, as it is really bothering me.

 

[YinYangMom]

Youngcatholic:

What is a Catholic required to do morally in a professional situation if a coworker slanders your reputation behind your back? I had this happen recently. I confronted the person directly, never got a true apology, though the person admitted to what was said.

Am I morally required to work with this person? (I am in a job where working with others is important to job performance). Or, can I try to avoid working with this particular individual if I want to, given the situation. She happens to be a department head, but I could avoid her if I really wanted to.

Please help, as it is really bothering me.

You keep working with her.
You keep being Catholic.
You pray for her.

The thing about talk behind one’s back is, it looks worse on the person doing the talking than on the one they’re trying to damage.

If you are a pleasant co-worker to those around you, especially with her,
If you do your job well,
If you don’t swear, lose your temper or patience, show up on time, offer to help others even if it isn’t your area of responsibility, get your projects handled on schedule and accurately,
then those around you will know your work ethic and they would be unlikely to buy into any gossip which would suggest you to be uncharitable or rude.
This makes the listener more suspect of the motives of the slanderer.

Just keep being the best person you can be, a witness to Christ on earth, and pray for those who envy you so much they’d slander you.

 

[Genesis315]

Part of being a professional is not letting these things get in the way.

She was obviously not being a professional. You, on the other hand, need to take the high road and be professional working with her and the rest of your co-workers.