How to deal with a false rep?

[The LadyKiller]

Recently, I've picked up on some head-scratching behavior from girls I know at work. I work at a large-sized company in a slow area with a lot of similarly-aged coworkers, so most of the people we know are from our jobs.

Nevertheless, some girls who were friendly and outgoing (to an extent) towards me barely say hi. If I walk into a room with people, they have to leave. I've asked a girl or two who I know/knew well if there's a problem, they said no - though their actions scream "lie!" My buddies say they haven't heard anything, but know that I've had some difficulty lately. Quite the conundrum, right?

A possible answer: The girls believe a (clearly) false accusation made against me. One girl who used to work at the company recently filed legal action against the company saying she wasn't treated properly and made a list of guys she considered "trouble." I barely knew her, but somehow wound up on her list. Her accusations were far-fetched, crazy, and most importantly untrue. HR quickly came to the same conclusion because some of her claims made no sense and she also had no evidence. One of her "claims" was that she'd show up at work and - surprise - I'd be at work too (you don't say?).

This is all considered "confidential" and I know HR wouldn't mention it, but I have to believe word got out. Crazy girl had a few friends who still work at the company and they probably spread her message. One of her "friends" had high IL in me, but instantly stopped talking to me a month ago - around the time a suit would have been made.

I'm a model citizen at work who is mostly focused on the work-related tasks in front of me. I don't spend time hitting on girls or invading people's space. I'm respectful to supervisors and peers, so the fact a girl would start making obviously false claims against me - someone who barely knew her - makes little sense.

Enough with the legal side. How do I overcome this from a social standpoint? I didn't do anything wrong, so I don't feel a need to change. Because it's "confidential", I can't talk about it at work either. But I know (have a feeling; no proof) a handful of girls think of me as "evil" because of this. When I go out with friends, these are the girls we're going to come across.

 

[Mike32ct]

These HR investigations rarely stay confidential because if they interview "witnesses," these people end up leaking the stuff to their coworker friends.

So this girl either told her friends or some coworker was a witness who didn't keep their mouth shut.

Regardless, there is nothing you can do. You can't break the confidentiality, even if it already has leaked out

Just let it go. No matter what you do, in any workplace, you will have at least one female not talking to you on any given day.

 

[The LadyKiller]

These HR investigations rarely stay confidential because if they interview "witnesses," these people end up leaking the stuff to their coworker friends.

So this girl either told her friends or some coworker was a witness who didn't keep their mouth shut.

True points. People talk. Some of the girls - particularly ones who knew the crazy one - began behaving differently towards me even before I spoke with HR.

Regardless, there is nothing you can do. You can't break the confidentiality, even if it already has leaked out.

You're right. I won't be mentioning any of this, no reason to.

Just let it go. No matter what you do, in any workplace, you will have at least one female not talking to you on any given day.

At least? I have several acting weird. Presumably over this false claim. Besides the fact I didn't do anything, there is zero proof that would suggest wrongdoing.

It's frustrating, but I think you're right. I can't really do much. But I get the feeling some girls think I'm some sort of monster because one girl lied and said so. There are guys who cause a scene hitting on girls at work and they're not in any hot water. Just my luck haha.