DEAR JOYCE: My brother, who survived several layoffs, thought he was going to be his department's next manager. He was surprised, to put it mildly, last month when another person was named for the job. I did some online detective work, and we were both flabbergasted to see his name mentioned in connection with a flat-out lie that could be the reason he didn't get the job. Should my brother bring this lie to the attention of management? Will it do any good at this point? -- F.G.
Who knows whether management will revoke its earlier decision? But if your brother can document the career-damaging lie, he has little to lose by challenging the false information and protecting himself from further character assassination.
Gossip, lies and embarrassing accusations are anonymously lobbed into cyberspace and become permanent smears around the world, destroying real reputations and businesses, according to Michael Fertik and David Thompson in their important new book, "Wild West 2.0: How to Protect and Restore Your Online Reputation on the Untamed Social Frontier (AMACOM).
Fertik is the CEO of ReputationDefender, the first comprehensive online reputation management company. Thompson is the firm's general counsel and chief privacy officer.
I recommend that your brother read this savvy, well-researched guide before moving to corrective action. It's loaded with useful defense moves.