Defamation by Action May “Speak as Loudly as Words”

Abstract

Imagine yourself as the human resource manager in the following scenario: You have just notified one of your employees that he is going to be terminated due to a conflict of interest which the employee has repeatedly refused to resolve. In accordance with usual company practice, you instruct his immediate supervisor to accompany the employee to his office to pack up his personal belongings and escort him out the main entrance. Neither you, nor the supervisor say anything to anyone regarding the reason for the employee's termination.