Some background information: I work cooking and delivering meals to senior citizens and generally enjoy my job. When I’m out on a delivery route I use the work van, which is owned by my employer. Some other relevant information: I’m two months cigarette-free, and live in an “employment-at-will” state.
Today my immediate boss called me into her office and asked if I had been smoking in the work van while I was on deliveries yesterday (which is a BIG no-no). Being that I recently quit smoking, I proudly answered that no I had not, and then asked her why. She told me that the head of the transportation department got into the van after I used it yesterday and smelled cigarettes, which the transportation-head promptly told our head-boss about.
Smoking in the work van is a fire-able offense or at the very least can get me written up, which will kill my chances of getting a raise (and possible promotion) later this year. My immediate-boss believes me but said that since the head-boss is involved that the situation is out of her hands, but she’ll vouch for me if it comes to that.
There’s absolutely no way I was the one that made the van smell like cigarettes, I’ve washed every article of clothing since quitting because I enjoy not stinking of smoke.
I’m worried that I’m going to lose my job or get written up for something that I didn’t even do, on the word of someone else. If my head-boss gives me an opportunity to quit before getting fired should I take it? What, if any, recourse do I have? I’m expecting to get called into the head-boss’ office within the next couple of days, what can I say to make my situation better?
tl;dr- got blamed for something I didn’t do and might lose my job or get written up, what do I do?