JUrwin
05-12-2006, 05:55 PM
One of my wife's co-workers harasses her on a regular basis. The co-worker yells at her, calls her names, and starts rumors to stir up trouble. That's just to mention a few. This co-worker tries to boss her around, even though she is not the boss. My wife has gone to upper management to complain. Upper management has turned a blind eye to the problem. She has also gone to HR. HR has done the same thing. Now, she is being wrongfully accused of listening on on a conversation between this co-worker and the boss. We do not know what to do. There are no other good jobs where we live. They must be breaking some sort of law. Please help!
I'm sorry but no, they are not breaking any laws. I'm not unsympathetic to your wife's situation but nothing you have described meets the definition of illegal harassment. The employer is not required to take action if the co-worker is not behaving illegally, and she is not. If the company is willing to allow this behavior to continue your wife has the choice of putting up with it or finding other employment.
abbytoad
07-24-2006, 07:25 PM
I'm sorry, but your wrong. The employee must first tell the individual that is harrasing her that she is uncomfortable with the way she talks to her and then report this to her supervisor and HR dpt. Now, if the harrasment continues, she has all the legal rights to file a claim with the state employment office or hire an attorney.
robb71
07-24-2006, 07:31 PM
I'm sorry, but your wrong. The employee must first tell the individual that is harrasing her that she is uncomfortable with the way she talks to her and then report this to her supervisor and HR dpt. Now, if the harrasment continues, she has all the legal rights to file a claim with the state employment office or hire an attorney.
While I agree that reporting the behavior to management and/or HR is the appropriate first steps. I have to agree with cbg that no laws have been broken. Harrasment is considered illegal if the employee is being treated differently based on a protected class (i.e. race, age, religion, etc.). The OP has not indicated that this is the case.
