Fired for Supposedly Stealing

[ctb90]

My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: WA

I received a call from my employer saying I was fired due to them not having enough work, I asked why I was being fired and not "laid off", she then said a $10bill was missing from the till and she thinks I might have taken it, I asked to speak with her about this in person, she said OK and hung up. I have since left several messages with both her and the owner and no one will return my calls or meet with me. Friends that work there told me she told them the tills were off by $90 that day and she SAW me take a $10bill.

I never took a dime from them and I figure I must have done something either inside or outside of work to make them not like me and that's why I was fired. To be honest I really don't care if they fired me simply for not liking me.

Is it legal for them to tell people that I was fired for stealing? This is a small town and I do not want them telling customers that I'm a theif. I was official fired because they didn't have enough work, NOT for suspect of stealing.

[PattyPA]

It is legal to tell pospective employes that you were fired for suspicion of stealing. What they told you "officially" is irrelevant; however, let's hope that's also what they tell the unemployment commission when they get the notice that you have filed for benefits.

Now, if they said "ctb was fired FOR stealing" when they have no proof, then you might have a legal cause of action if that statement directly results in you not getting another job.

[ctb90]

I don't think I worked there long enough to receive unemployment so I'm not worried about that.
What I'm most worried about is when people go into the store and ask why I no longer work there, I don't want them telling people I'm a thief, when I never took anything nor would they even discuss with me whether or not I took anything.

[PattyPA]

So, have they done that?

Relative to unemployment, you didn't work for a number of months before taking this job? How many?

[ctb90]

I'm not sure, this whole thing happened a couple days ago, some people I know who work there said they will let me know if they start telling people I stole from them.
I don't want to sue anybody but if I find out they're telling people I'm a thief I'm certainly going to raise hell and would like I know if I could threaten any legal action if it came to that.

As for unemployment, I do have other side jobs I do now and have a couple leads on another permanent job so I'm not really planning to bother with unemployment.