Shutterstock

When you are training a new employee, you have to spend a lot of time with them, which can lead some people to misinterpret certain actions.

What would you do if you had been training someone for a couple of weeks when she complained to HR, saying you were sexually harassing her?

That is what happened to the guy in this story, so he is now refusing to help or even talk to her in order to protect himself. He does feel bad, however, because it could end up getting her fired.

In my opinion, he is handling this situation correctly to help protect himself. Read through the full story below and see if you agree.

AITA For ignoring the co worker that reported me to HR which is leading to her likely being fired

3 weeks ago a new person got hired at my job, which was a bit odd given the job is extremely specialized and requires a certain skillset and she has none of them, but regardless me and my co workers did our best to welcome her.

It is good that they are giving her the training that she needs.

After a few days I more or less became became her mentor because she was hopelessly unprepared and unskilled for the job, but she was a nice girl and as such, I had no problem going the extra mile to help her out. She soon became friends with me and the people at work.

However, all of that stopped at the start of week 2. I got called in to my boss’ office and got told an HR complaint was filed against me for sexual harrassment.

This came out of nowhere.

I was terrified and racking my brain at what I may have done but could not come up with anything. After asking my boss what it was about multiple times, he told me the new girl had filed the complaint and it was a bit unclear.

Well, I ended up trying to think about what I may have done but again could not come up with anything, so I decided to ask her.

Flirting is a vague accusation.

She told me “I was laying it on thick the other day.” Confused, I asked her what she meant and she says I was flirting with her.

I told her I wasn’t interested in her and was only being friendly, and that I didn’t do anything weird or flirty, but she said I had been flirting since she started working there.

He really shouldn’t be talking to her at all at this point.

Again, I denied it, stating I had no clue what she was talking about and explained the fact I am in a relationship, not remotely attracted to her, and asked for specific examples.

After this, she seemed offended by me saying I am not remotely attracted to her, and I just walked off as she wasn’t answering, and asked some of my other co workers (who are mostly female) if I did anything weird.

She may have been misinterpreting his behavior.

During basically all interactions I had with new girl, at least one of my co workers was also there. They all said I acted no different then usual and were weirded out that she went to HR.

As a result, my only real idea is that she interpreted me being male + being friendly and talkative as flirting and decided to go straight to HR about it.

He is doing the right thing to protect himself.

Now, I obviously no longer wanted to deal with her out of fear of her misinterpreting stuff I did and getting fired, I like my job after all.

Well, now week 3 is over and she is on thin ice, everyone has stopped helping her, she has no idea what to do half the time, and has begged me to help her multiple times, but I have just ignored her or only answered with “I am not comfortable helping you.”

It is hard to ever trust someone again after something like this.

Last friday she came to me again asking me to please help her as she can’t afford to lose her job as she is a single mother and she realky needs this job and no one else will help her, but again I declined and walked away.

Now the day after I can’t help but feel bad though, but on the other hand, I do not want to put myself at risk.

AITA?

His first priority is to protect himself and his job, and that is what he is doing. In addition, he should talk to his manager about the situation and explain that he no longer feels comfortable working with her.

Check out what the people in the comments have to say about this situation.

She did this to herself.

He tried to help her, and this is how she thanks him.

This is what I was thinking as well.

Here is someone taking her side in this.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a bank employee who immediately resigns after being denied a bonus.

This person says he did nothing wrong.

Either her report was false and she should be fired, or it was real and she shouldn’t want to work with him. The fact that she is basically begging him to keep working with her makes this suspicious.

Regardless, he is right to keep his distance, or he would put his own job at risk.