Sexual harrassment at work ...

[Laura_and_IanM 0]

Right, before I begin the topic title, I just want to announce that Ian and I both got raises at our jobs, and I also am getting a promotion which means another raise!!! WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!! lol

Now, back to the program here. There is a 62 year old man that works with me. He has had approximately 15-16 statements made against him in regards to sexual comments that he has made. One girl was even suppose to start work with us, but after her first day she quit. What makes this even harder to deal with is the fact that most of these girls are only 17. A few of them are a bit older...18-20. All of this started or came out rather about a month ago...possibly 2. This same guy also stinks as a manager. He does not go by work policy and procedures, and to be honest, just does not care. When I first started, he even told me that he was hired to "clear house", even getting rid of managers and he looked right at me when he said that latter bit. I really felt threatened by that statement. Now there is another female manager training in our restaurant and she came to me on her day off while I was working and asked to speak to me. I took her in the office where she proceeded to tell me how this man trained her the other night. She first asked me to please not think that the way the store looked represented the way she works, and that this man let all the workers go telling her that the they aren't responsible for any of the cleaning...which is way out of order on his part to even suggest. He the n told her that if she valued her job, she would watch it, and that he has already fired 3 managers. He then told her to write me a note stating why they could not clean the dining room (which was a load of BS. He just didn't want to clean), and told her that if he wrote me the note, then I would write him up once again and he would get fired. First of all, I have never written this man up, and seeing as to how at the time, we were both assistant managers, I never had the authority to write him up. Managers can't write another manager up, or fire one. So what he told her is all BS.

Now, I have spoken with the GM a few times on this matter and keep asking him why he isn't getting fired. The man is blatantly telling me that he wants to get fired so he can collect unemployment and so he can go after the business and charge them with what I don't know, but he wants to find out all the names of who made sexual charges against him. The GM has just told me that I have nothing to worry about and that the area supervisor is just putting all the ducks in a row and letting this man hang himself. Now, wouldn't you all think that with that many accusations this man has already hung himself???? These girls are really pissed off that he is still there. THey feel like all the time they took to write everything up a month ago was for nothing. They feel like they got ignored. My problem is the fact that he has all of those accusations, and he is threatening the female managers. I truly feel like he is a sexist and can't stand a woman being above him in management. Now I have studied some areas of law but this is not one of them. Does anyone know what the law is for NYS in regards to sexual harrassment at work??? What the hell are they waiting for???? I have told the area supervisor that I am uncomfortable even being around the guy. Let alone having to call him into work occasionally. He has basically told me that I have nothing to worry about and that the cream has risen to the top (meaning me) and all the bad stuff has sunk to the bottomThis man and I btw were hired about the same time. He started 2 weeks before me. The thing is, I am really worried about what is going to happen when he finds out that I have been promoted in less then 6 months of being there, and that i got a raise with another one coming. This man is very threatening and very aggressive.

Anyone have any ideas in regards to why they wouldn't just fire him????? This has really added stress to me and to my crew and fellow managers.

LJ

[broma25 2]

It amazes me that he is still there. Is his employment "at will"? If allegations of sexual harrassment have taken place the company needs to make sure ALL its ducks are in a row as this could end up costing them $$$$.

Only they know the reasons why they are keeping him but yes I would agree that he has already been allowed enough rope to hang himself which it sounds like he has but nobody has the balls to knock the chair from under him.

Sorry to hear you are in this mess, my only advice to you is to make sure you keep accurate, documentation regarding each incident, allegation, meeting etc that involves you. Someday you may just need those documents to refer back to.

Good Luck

[Jasman0717 9]

You should report this to the HR department. If the company doesn't react they can be held liable and also individual managers can be sued.

[homesick_american 1]

If I were you I'd find another job, then quit. I doubt you're being paid enough to deal with this B.S. Few people are.

[Laura_and_IanM 0]

If I were you I'd find another job, then quit. I doubt you're being paid enough to deal with this B.S. Few people are.

That was actually my only option, until I had my review with the area supervisor. Since I am getting promoted to a co manager, I am being transfered within the next few weeks to another store. Their policy is to not keep you at the store that you trained at because you basically start your management training as a crew member learning the positions and you tend to get close to the crew. Also, my next step is to become a GM which they would like to see happen in the next 6 months, which means I will have my own store to run. I believe the restaurant they are sending me to is the one that they are going to want me to run. So, this BS will be behind me for the most part. But I still care about the staff and my fellow managers, that is why I am so concerned. Plus, I would think that by keeping this man for as long as they have, they only open the door for other managers to do the same thing because they see that nothing is getting done with him. We have all been assured that this man will be taken care of...but when ffs?? lol

LJ

[Robor007 0]

You should report this to the HR department. If the company doesn't react they can be held liable and also individual managers can be sued.

I agree. You'll likely get their attention in a hurry. Sexual harassment in the workplace is a very touchy subject - especially if it's a female employee reporting on a male manager. I don't think it matters that you're being transferred. This problem guy isn't going to go away. Report him so he doesn't get away with it and drive good employees away.

[almaty 19]

need to report him ....it is a violation of policy and can be termed as leading to a hostile work enviroment,,the company is libel in this..and per FBI regs..sexual harassment has been labelled as Threat of Violence..i make my living working for companies with these issues..the language is clear on this....

[Anna C. 4]

I hope you can report him. The company I worked for here in NC had me sign a paper that I waive my right to sue anybody if I get harassed at work (otherwise no employment), I can only tell my boss and they "talk about it". Luckily I didn't stay long and nothing happened, but I know of a woman who was fired after she complained about a co-worker who touched her all the time.

So: if you can, report that guy asap!!!

Edited May 8, 2007 by Anna C.

[Robor007 0]

I hope you can report him. The company I worked for here in NC had me sign a paper that I waive my right to sue anybody if I get harassed at work (otherwise no employment), I can only tell my boss and they "talk about it". Luckily I didn't stay long and nothing happened, but I know of a woman who was fired after she complained about a co-worker who touched her all the time.

So: if you can, report that guy asap!!!

That would never stick and even if they tried he could still be terminated and/or charged criminally. A company can't make rules that take precedence over law. If I grope a woman in a movie theater I can be arrested. If both of us are employees of the movie theater it doesn't make a difference. The law still applies.

[mawilson 2,133]

Sue the company right away, before he quits or gets fired!

"American Dream Through Litigation"

[simple_male 1]

Yes, I agree with Jasman. The HR department must open up an inverstigation regarding this.

You should report this to the HR department. If the company doesn't react they can be held liable and also individual managers can be sued.

[Fandango 1,440]

They're worried about paying him unemployment, but not about a class action sexual discrimination lawsuit? What a bunch of tripe!

Edited May 8, 2007 by LisaD

[eric&gen 0]

My company would have that old buzard gone in a second they don't put up with sexual harassment #######.

[Laura_and_IanM 0]

They're worried about paying him unemployment, but not about a class action sexual discrimination lawsuit? What a bunch of tripe!

That is the same thing I thought, along with the girls that made the statements about him. Even a male manager came up to me who has been there for 11 years and said that he can't believe that the guy isnt gone. I don't know the full legal aspects of it, but from what I have picked up from the few bits if information given to me, is that if there isn't an actual investigation or if one of the girls hasen't already gotten a lawyer involved, then the guy is still able to collect unemployement. Me personally, I would rather pay the guy unemployment then lose good employees. It isn't even just the sexual harassment, its also his work that he does...or rather the work that he doesn't do which is a lot. If a crew member doesn't do the work that is required of them, they get sacked...why not this guy??? I am glad that I will be moving stores soon, but I still feel a sense of responsibilty towards the young girls and the other female manager who is still in training. I have since reading the responses have left a message for the HR and waiting for a call back. Does anyone know if I have to give my name? This guy knows where I live and even has my husbands cell phone number as they have gone out a few times before this all came out in the open. I don't want him harassing me or him. He already said something to my husband about another incident that had taken place between him and I and my husband even felt threatened by him.

Thanks for the responses guys!!!

LJ

PS...I am off to work shortly so if I dont respond that is why.

[Emancipation 2]

Are there not laws in the US to cover employees who report behaviour that is unacceptable?

Also, does your company have a sexual harrassment policy cause that usually states pretty clearly the steps that it takes to get someone terminated due to sexual harrassment.

I once made a complaint (actually 2) against a co-worker who was icky and constantly looked at females "that way"... Once, in the middle of a shift, he looked down at my boobs (i was wearing a tank top that day as I remember) and said "wana play basketball?"... yeah.. I was not impressed. I reported him to my manager directly. He wasn't fired, but he never made comments like that again!