Is it sexual harassment...

by keyser soze 129 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Finally-Free

  I walked past a really attractive HR representative who was wearing white, see-through pants and a thong. She was bent over at the time.

  This could be interpreted in more than one way. Perhaps she dressed this way deliberately, and deliberately bent over in such a way in order to provoke a sexual response from you. Maybe you should complain about sexual harassment.

  Maybe I should sue for sexual harassment every time a woman at work tells me I'm "looking good today" or that I "have a nice backside". I could have paid off my mortgage long ago.

  I can see it now. We'll soon have an epidemic of repetitive stress injuries due to people turning their heads to look away every time another person happens to come into view.

  Sometimes society makes me f*cking sick.

  W
• 

  HintOfLime

  I can see it now. We'll soon have an epidemic of repetitive stress injuries due to people turning their heads to look away every time another person happens to come into view.

  Fortunately there is a simple solution for employers. Simply segregate the sexes into seperate buildings, or only hire one (and find a good cover). Alternatively, consider replacing all your employees with robot or software solutions.

  That way, there won't be any more problems with those slightly intellegent monkeys acting like slightly intellegent monkeys, and putting the corporation at risk. See? Lawsuits can solve all our problems. GO AMERICA!

  - Lime
• 

  undercover

  Maybe I should sue for sexual harassment every time a woman at work tells me I'm "looking good today" or that I "have a nice backside". I could have paid off my mortgage long ago.

  Most of us would take that as a compliment...but there are people who are super sensitive and prudish. What we consider normal or flattering, they could take as abusive or harrassing. That's why companies have started taking a stronger stance on it. But they're not worried about feelings one way or the other, they just don't want to get sued. It's self preservation, not taking sides with the prudes.

  At our seminar, we were advised to not mention apparal or looks...period. To say to a co-worker, "You look nice today" could cause that person to say, "Are you saying I don't look nice everyday?" or something similarly silly.

  Yea, it's stupid, childish and too PC, but it's the nature of the workplace these days. We live in a litigious society, like it or not. It's better to be prepared than to ignore the possibilities, though improbable they are.
• 

  creativhoney

  since harassment is intimidation, how is it possible to intimidate someone by looking at them if they are unaware?
• 

  VoidEater

  If no one is aware, no problem.

  If the target is aware, leers and stares are initimdating, a breaking of a professional barrier, inappropriate.

  If a third party is aware, you are creating a hostile workplace.

  Geez, does no one have any degree of self control? Or ability to monitor their professional behavior?

  On the other side, provocative dress is just as inappropriate in the workplace as pornography. I've sent female staff home to change for inappropriate dress.

  Yes, there's a degree of subjectivity about what is a "leer", a "stare", "inappropriate dress", and it is bound in the specific community.
• 

  noontide

  I work in HR and teach harassment classes. This is not considered sexual harassment, it falls under inappropriate behavior. This would be classified as leering or lewd behavior. Harassment is something that is done repeatedly and with malice. That being said, if someone does this on a continuous basis, they would probably end up in HR. We would discuss that such behavior is making other people uncomfortable and it needs to stop. Short of physically touching or verbally saying something to someone, it would not be considered harassment.

  You reminded me of something that happened during one of my harassment training classes. I scheduled a class and had some people come in during their day off (I know, booooo for me). A female employee came in and sat down at the front of the class, right in front of where I stand. She wore a very short and low cut sun dress; she also happened to be a very busty girl. I had never been so uncomfortable in my life! Here I am teaching about harassment, telling everyone to keep their hands and eyes to themselves and not stare or leer at their co-workers, and right in front of me is this girl who is all legs and boobs. The worst part is she kept participating in class, so I had to keep looking in her direction. All I remember is that I kept saying to myself, "just look at her eyes, don't look down, don't look down."
• 

  sooner7nc

  I agree with noontide. The lawyer that represents the hospital that I work for said virtually the same thing a few years ago while investigating a purported harassment caes here.

  About a year ago, a female employee of mine told some other employees that she was thinking about filing sexual harassment on me. Her reason was that she perceived that I gave the better assignments to a couple of my male employees, mind you she was cleaning toilets at the time, so I let her join the fellows for an afternoon. The afternoon consisted of sweeping curbs in the 105 degree Texas sun. Surprisingly, I never heard another peep out of her.

  sooner
• 

  wobble

  Poor noontide !

  It is terrible when that happens, the brain is saying "don't look, don't look" but the gonads are saying "you just GOTTA look or you will never forgive yourself" so you do this accidental quick look, and SHE knows exactly what has gone on in your mind and your trousers !

  Jeez, us poor Guys don't stand a chance.

  love

  Wobble
• 

  AGuest

  According to the LAW... it is absolutely sexual harassment IF it is unconsented and/or unwelcome... by the female co-worker... OR if it offends any other co-worker. This is particularly true, if you have ANY kind of employment superiority over that "co-worker." Your obligation to report another co-worker is most probably company policy, because it isn't the law (how in the world could they enforce it)... UNLESS... you are a supervisor. Then, yes, you are reequired to report it... or be held personally liable, as well.

  The responses here totally surprise... and even scare me, a little. Ah, well.

  A slave of Christ,

  SA
• 

  Robdar

  How ridiculous!

  The last seminar I attended it was mentioned that even hugging each other could be considered a hostile work environment if somebody got offended.

  But what if I am offended at their offense?

  Sheesh.