Manager told others I filed a complaint

[Anonymous]

I confided in my manager about something I witnessed and he told me to file an ethics complaint. I did, and then he told the manager of the people involved that I did this. I wish I’d never said anything, and am now getting pressure to withdraw the complaint. Is that possible? Wwyd?

[Anonymous]

A lot more information is needed.

Generally, anonymity isn't really possible with stuff like this.
How do you know he told the manager that you filed the complaint?
With what office did you "file the complaint"?
Most managers have an obligation to report wrong-doing, even second-hand. He/she likely had to tell.

[Anonymous]

My manager told me that he spoke to the other manager. I filed the complaint with our ethics hotline, at the direction of my manager.

[Anonymous]

Did you expect anonymity?
Did you expect your boss to have your back ?
What did you mix-read in this situation?

[Anonymous]

And who is pressuring you to withdraw it?

[Anonymous]

I'd start looking for another job, OP. It doesn't sound like a great situation or one where you have a future.

[Anonymous]

Told others or just another manager? If they just told the other manager I would guess this is protocol.

Also, your manager is covering their own back.

[Anonymous]

If you tell someone above you about something unethical/illegal, that triggers an obligation on their part. Nothing you can do about that. If they don’t say anything it can make them look bad. I have had people bring me complaints and I have had to tell them to raise their complaints through official channels, and forward the complaint up the chain myself so that I don’t look like I sat on it and did nothing. Try not to worry about it. Are you a fed?

[Anonymous]

Anyone who is pressuring you is totally inappropriate.
I would tell the people pressuring you that you withdrew it. The truth is that you can’t really “withdraw” an ethics complaint — if you reported embezzlement, for instance, they have to investigate even if you now say “oh, forget the whole thing.”

[Anonymous]

Hint that you'll withdraw it if their behavior changes and see what that gets you. Your goal is to move up, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you tell someone above you about something unethical/illegal, that triggers an obligation on their part. Nothing you can do about that. If they don’t say anything it can make them look bad. I have had people bring me complaints and I have had to tell them to raise their complaints through official channels, and forward the complaint up the chain myself so that I don’t look like I sat on it and did nothing. Try not to worry about it. Are you a fed?

That all makes sense. I get why OP is upset that they told the subject of the complaint, or their manager. That doesn't seem like appropriate protocol because it gives the subject an opportunity to destroy evidence or intimidate the complainant, before the complaint can be investigated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My manager told me that he spoke to the other manager. I filed the complaint with our ethics hotline, at the direction of my manager.

Contact ethics again and identify the persons who pressured you to withdraw the complaint. The company needs to terminate anyone pressuring someone to withdraw an ethics complaint. That may be far worse misconduct than the underlying issue.

[Anonymous]

To be honest you made a mess of this. I manage people. If a staff member came to me with an “ethics” concern I have to say report it if concerned.

Then pray you don’t. We had a women who was on marketing help host an after work party as some guy getting award at work. A big deal for guy. After over she stayed and so did he and he got handsy she went to supervisor. She got report it if u comfortable. She did. Guy was fired, he had two little kids R home. Then to make matters worse it got out it was her and back to his wife too.

She should have went straight to reporting it. Or not. But telling people then doing it was not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I confided in my manager about something I witnessed and he told me to file an ethics complaint. I did, and then he told the manager of the people involved that I did this. I wish I’d never said anything, and am now getting pressure to withdraw the complaint. Is that possible? Wwyd?

Talk to Hr and ethics about this retaliatory boss who’s making you do the dirty work / file complaints

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I confided in my manager about something I witnessed and he told me to file an ethics complaint. I did, and then he told the manager of the people involved that I did this. I wish I’d never said anything, and am now getting pressure to withdraw the complaint. Is that possible? Wwyd?

Nope. He is likely a mandatory reporter and should have reported it himself . Then let the powers that be do an investigation