Reckless Disregard : Defending the Truth and Protecting Yourself Against Character Assassins and Workplace Conspiracies

In 2009, a respected executive director of a nonprofit received a termination letter stating he had committed three felonies. He was found guilty with no evidence, no investigation, no hearing, and no trial. Taking advantage of a dual employment arrangement with the county, the termination was made public, destroying the man’s reputation and ability to find employment. Using public records and documents, Reckless Disregard investigates how it happened and what should have been done. It is a cautionary tale on how to protect oneself against such attacks. Even trusted colleagues can betray an innocent person without warning. Truth is a powerful defense against injustice only if it is heard. Each of us must learn how to be its advocate. Reckless Disregard, Defending the Truth and Protecting Yourself Against Character Assassins and Workplace Conspiracies is a resource for correct and lawful investigative procedures; defense strategies for workplace problems; applicable laws and ethical codes; identifying the nature of criminal behavior; suggested strategies for others to avoid a disastrous confluence of circumstances; suggested approaches in handling termination situations. In the time it takes to state your name and occupation, someone at your workplace may have turned facts into fiction. False accusations, vicious rumors, or a full-blown plot to separate you from your job may be just moments away. Extreme workplace injustice happens all too often, but you CAN defend yourself—and prevent it if you know the signs to look for. Author L.D. Pennington prevails in proving why this termination was unethical. With the help of Reckless Disregard, you can, too, if it happens to you. Reckless Disregard: Defending the Truth and Protecting Yourself Against Character Assassins and Workplace Conspiracies is a cautionary tale on the need to protect your reputation against workplace attacks. It investigates the real-life paper trail left by the employers of a respected executive director of a nonprofit who received a termination letter, which wrongly accused him of committing three felonies. His termination was made brutally public, destroying his reputation and ability to find employment. Reckless Disregard is a resource for correct and lawful investigative procedures; defense strategies for workplace problems; applicable laws and ethical codes; identifying the nature of criminal behavior; suggested strategies for others to avoid a disastrous confluence of circumstances; suggested approaches in handling termination situations. Extreme workplace injustice happens all too often, but you CAN defend yourself if you know the signs to look for. Cover Page; Acknowledgments; Preface; Introduction; CHAPTER ONE: Blindsided; CHAPTER TWO: "I'll Gladly Polygraph"; CHAPTER THREE: Over Before It Began; CHAPTER FOUR: A Single Sheet of Paper; CHAPTER FIVE: Suspended; CHAPTER SIX: An Employer's Ethical Responsibility; CHAPTER SEVEN: Legal Counsel; CHAPTER EIGHT: Ethics Ignored; CHAPTER NINE: Terminated; CHAPTER TEN: Burden of Proof; CHAPTER ELEVEN: Number Problems; CHAPTER TWELVE: Logic Problems; CHAPTER THIRTEEN: The Verifiable Facts; CHAPTER FOURTEEN: The Behavior of Criminals; CHAPTER FIFTEEN: The Conversion Concoction