Ask QC: Blackmailed at Work

Dear QC,

I’ve been foolish and stupid in the past but I have to admit I’ve got myself in a really sticky situation at work this time and I’m not sure what to do.

I hold a managerial position with a major hotel group, and one of our golden rules is that you do not fraternize with the guests on a sexual level and certainly not in the hotel. I have to admit I got a bit carried away with a very hot guy, we ended up in his room and unfortunately we were caught on the hotel’s security video in the elevator and hallway.

A member of staff is now threatening to show this video unless I make sure he gets a promotion. If he makes it public for sure I will lose my job, but if I promote him it would also mean an innocent member of staff loses their job to make way for him. I feel like I’m trapped and being blackmailed and I really don’t know what to do. He says he just wants the promotion but I don’t know if he will actually stop there with just that or if it will get worse. I know I’ve been an idiot but, jobs are hard to come by right now and I don’t know what to do.

JN.

What advice would you give JN, dear QC readers? Please feel free to share your own experiences and advice to help him in the comments section.
Have a question for QC? Send ’em to [email protected] and we’ll do our best to solve your problems!