So mad at someone I work with. Stuck in a catch 22

I get called into the COO's office with the floor manager. The COO says to me that someone overheard me say something to employees last night. I was quoted saying "4 people are getting fired"

I sat their in utter shock.

I Never said that!

So now I am sitting in the office defending myself by saying I never said that. But guess what someone did hear me say it. But I didnt, I was on the phones. Well are you saying that person is incorrect. I said yes.

I then recapped my entire evening of what I did from 6pm - 7pm.

I get into a huge amount of trouble over something I never said.

This evening I was talking to 3 of my collegues and they flipped out. They said you didnt say it. And they told me who did say it. So now I am stuck in an ethical delima. They cant go to the COO and tell him who actually said it because it goes back to the gossiping and rumors that he's trying to prevent. I cant go to the COO and tell him what happened because then it falls back to well how do I know this and why was this being discussed.

The 3 collegues want to go to bat for me and they cant because it falls back to "gossiping"

So the truth of the matter is the person who assumed it was me overheard someone else say it and said it was me because he thought I was the was the one standing by the desks and did not know I went to my own desk because he sits behind a 6 foot cubical wall that we all joke by saying please dont feed the animals.

So now what do I do?? Do I just forget everything and it's over and done with??

Do I talk to my immediate boss when she returns from vacation and tell her what the truth really is but it could open a can of other worms??

I am completely stuck. I can fight till I am blue in the face about this but the truth of the matter comes down to my word against his word and he's the golden rat because he'll rat anyone out for anything. He even overheard 2 peoples personal conversation which had absolutly nothing to do with work and ran to the director of operations with the information. I have 3 people who will defend me and are furious but exactly what is that going to do???

Re: So mad at someone I work with. Stuck in a catch 22

I would straighten it out even if it does mean "gossiping". I mean which is worse -- your boss thinking you said something you didn't or him knowing that you spoke to your co-workers in order to straighten the mess out?

I would tell him that you have 3 people that can vouch for you that you did not say it but you rather not drag them into this if it's not necessary.

Good luck - this situation stinks!

Re: So mad at someone I work with. Stuck in a catch 22

Thank you

I hate office politics

Re: So mad at someone I work with. Stuck in a catch 22

Frankly.... the most I would do was explain this to your immediate supervisor (the floor manager?)... and have that person go to bat for you against the COO.

Gotta respect the chain of command in this case.


But I definitely don't envy your situation. I hate office politics. Good luck!