JenniferB
06-24-2005, 12:19 AM
I recently filed a Hostile work environment complaint and I am very disappointed with the results.
Here is basically what is happening. I have 2 supervisors who unfortunately supervise their employees with threats and intimidation. My supervisors respond to rumors about friendships that occur outside the work place by saying that if we associate outside of work in any manner that would jeopardize the reputation of the work place we can be fired. I was also told to limit my association and conversation with other employees off duty because it made other people "feel left out of the fun" if they were not invited to a dinner or get together. On one occasion we had an internal affairs investigation to determine if any illegal activity occurred on a camping trip that included several co workers and me. The two supervisors asked for the investigation because they felt like having employees get together after work hours created an environment that promotes behavior that is unbecoming. By the way the reason for the investigation was unfounded.
The most recent issue we face now is that 2 of my 3 supervisors feel as though some of the employees do not like them personally and to combat these negative feelings that they believe is occurring they have directed us to make verbal contact with every employee we see on a daily basis. They said that this is to make every employee feel included and accepted. We were directed to answer every person's comment or question with complete sentences. This means if my supervisor came to me and asked me something like "what's new?" I would have to answer in a complete sentence. Along with this directive we were ordered to report immediately to the head supervisor in the case we heard rumor or fact that another employee may be experiencing anything in their personal lives that may affect their employment status or use of vacation or sick time. We have also been ordered not to fold our arms or roll our eyes in the presence of other employees because those behaviors may be considered negative or rude and that it is our duty to promote a positive work environment. In the case that another employee felt as though I or anyone else was behaving in a way that can be perceived as negative (such as folding your arms) a complaint would be filed and the offending employee would be disciplined. The justification behind this is that in our job descriptions (in small print) it says that we are to work cooperatively with all employees and other departments. In the meeting I had with a supervisor regarding the folding of arms etc, she also stated to me that a person had filed an offcial complaint against me claimg that I tell him how to do his job. When I asked her aboput the complaint, who made it, and exactly what the claim was she refused to tell me. She just said, "I want you to be aware that people are complaining."
All of this was expressed in my complaint but the official response I recieved back was that "It is the responsibility of the supervisor to to let employees know when things are not following the department's mission before the issues actually become bonafide complaints or problems.... The actions cited in your memo are supervisory perogatives and do not fall within parameters of policy violations or a hostile environment."
My issue with the official response is that I thought that hostile work environment did not have to fall within policy and that if I am being threatened with discilinary action simply on the perception of another employee, how can my perception of the hostile work environment be wrong?
Do I have a hostile work environment or do I have terrible supervisors?
Upset and Confused in California
Here is basically what is happening. I have 2 supervisors who unfortunately supervise their employees with threats and intimidation. My supervisors respond to rumors about friendships that occur outside the work place by saying that if we associate outside of work in any manner that would jeopardize the reputation of the work place we can be fired. I was also told to limit my association and conversation with other employees off duty because it made other people "feel left out of the fun" if they were not invited to a dinner or get together. On one occasion we had an internal affairs investigation to determine if any illegal activity occurred on a camping trip that included several co workers and me. The two supervisors asked for the investigation because they felt like having employees get together after work hours created an environment that promotes behavior that is unbecoming. By the way the reason for the investigation was unfounded.
The most recent issue we face now is that 2 of my 3 supervisors feel as though some of the employees do not like them personally and to combat these negative feelings that they believe is occurring they have directed us to make verbal contact with every employee we see on a daily basis. They said that this is to make every employee feel included and accepted. We were directed to answer every person's comment or question with complete sentences. This means if my supervisor came to me and asked me something like "what's new?" I would have to answer in a complete sentence. Along with this directive we were ordered to report immediately to the head supervisor in the case we heard rumor or fact that another employee may be experiencing anything in their personal lives that may affect their employment status or use of vacation or sick time. We have also been ordered not to fold our arms or roll our eyes in the presence of other employees because those behaviors may be considered negative or rude and that it is our duty to promote a positive work environment. In the case that another employee felt as though I or anyone else was behaving in a way that can be perceived as negative (such as folding your arms) a complaint would be filed and the offending employee would be disciplined. The justification behind this is that in our job descriptions (in small print) it says that we are to work cooperatively with all employees and other departments. In the meeting I had with a supervisor regarding the folding of arms etc, she also stated to me that a person had filed an offcial complaint against me claimg that I tell him how to do his job. When I asked her aboput the complaint, who made it, and exactly what the claim was she refused to tell me. She just said, "I want you to be aware that people are complaining."
All of this was expressed in my complaint but the official response I recieved back was that "It is the responsibility of the supervisor to to let employees know when things are not following the department's mission before the issues actually become bonafide complaints or problems.... The actions cited in your memo are supervisory perogatives and do not fall within parameters of policy violations or a hostile environment."
My issue with the official response is that I thought that hostile work environment did not have to fall within policy and that if I am being threatened with discilinary action simply on the perception of another employee, how can my perception of the hostile work environment be wrong?
Do I have a hostile work environment or do I have terrible supervisors?
Upset and Confused in California
