Ask the Lawyer received the following question (paraphrased for easier reading and clarity) from a reader on a legal matter that might be of interest to the entire audience. Q: I have been called a poor performer and my attendance and credibility has been questioned, which has created a hostile work environment. How do I handle this as a federal employee? A: I do not have enough information to answer this question. Generally, supervisors acting within the scope of their employment who accuse a subordinate of poor performance or attendance issues, even if the accusation is maliciously false, cannot be…