I work in metro Atlanta, Georgia. October 20, 2005 about 0230 hours, I made a verbal request to my supervisor to stop some of the nasty profanity in the roll call session. The curse words would start at 2145 hours and stop at 2230 hours. So I have endured for more than forty-five minutes of harsh curse words. I am sorry for repeating the words on paper however, I want you to hear the same words I hear in roll call on a constant basis. The words are ****ers, mother ****ers, son of a *****es, *****es and whoes. There are often times nothing really contributing to improve me as an officer on night shift just grand standing and posturing. The conduct of the supervisors and the other male officers has actually worsen, (I am the only female on the shift) since my request and talking with the director. The director wants to change my shift rather than deal with this particular supervisor. What are my options? Someone please help me!

Please go to your human resources department after you have requested your supervisor not use this language. Make this request in writing, if you have to, and give a copy to the HR department. If it doesn't stop then, you could possibly have a situation of "creation of a hostile work environment". Also, if the situations continue, you can go to the EEOC as long as you have documentation and proof this behavior is going on. Everyone has a right to work in a place which is not demeaning to a persons sex, religion, race, etc. There are laws in place, and it sounds to me as if you are working for one of our police departments in GA. This is not acceptable behavior by anyone, especially when those who are risking their lives every day to protect others are being harassed!

The use of profanity, as described in this post, does not violate the law.

I'm not saying I think it's appropriate; I don't. I'm not saying don't go to HR, certainly you can (and should) go to HR about it. But this does not reach the level of illegal harassment or discrimination and if the employer should choose to do nothing about it (he SHOULD do something, but that doesn't mean he will) the poster will not have legal recourse.

Only if the offending language is directed at the individual does it really stand a chance. It seems to me, though, that in my experience through the EEOC that they have just as many laws that favor the employer and not the employee! I have to agree with anyone who thinks a "right to work" or "at will" state is wrong. Employees get treated like dirt, are blamed for whatever is wrong with the company and the employer or company shirks all responsibility for any wrongdoing. It's like they make the "stuff" roll downhill and let the chips fall on whoever they may fall on. There are a LOT of hardworking individuals out there who are offended by certain conduct and they should NOT be subject to this abuse. I was called names quite frequently on my job, I addressed it to my employer and nothing happened. But, because a person is not protected from name-calling it's ok, which it is NOT. GA, FL, TN, NC, and most of the other southern states have this "right to work"/At will" policy and it stinks because the employee virtually has no rights at all!