Hey there, so I've found myself in hot water, and I could use some advice from the hive mind. Last week I was suspended without a warning. I’m not allowed to go to my office until the situation is somehow resolved. I know what it’s about, and I need your feedback on how to proceed. It's all related to a friend I recommended for a job at my department. I thought she'd be a great fit, considering she was going through a rough patch and needed support. She aced the interview and completed the company training, but her work performance has been less than stellar. I mean, she's a good marketer, but her methods are a bit questionable, to say the least. She spends a lot of time flirting with colleagues, and her campaign suggestions are a bit too frivolous for our company's image (my personal opinion). Specifically, I didn’t like that she was being too friendly with other interns, giving them hugs in front of the clients. I tried to have a candid conversation with her outside of work about toning it down a bit, especially in front of clients. I even texted her about it. Now, I'm worried that she's using those messages as evidence of harassment. There wasn’t anything inappropriate in those messages - for a friend. Of course, I didn’t expect that it might become a public matter. I would have chosen other words if I were sending it to a colleague.
I'm torn about what to do next. Should I try to explain myself and clear the air, or should I just wait and see how things unfold? I’ve never been in a similar situation before, I'm nervous. No, frankly speaking, I'm terrified. If I lose my job over it, I'll be the biggest fool. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
