Is This Sexual Harassment ?

[Asysin2leads]

I reiterate, call me old fashioned, but I think anyone who looks at pornography at work should be fired on the spot. I A person willing to cross that boundary is one that shouldn't be placed in a position of trust. 'm not particularly religious but I would be very disturbed if during the vehicle check I came across what was described. If this had happened at a school, there would be no discussion. Well guess what? EMTs and paramedics are in even more of a position of trust than a schoolteacher.

Edited November 22, 2011 by Asysin2leads

[Just Plain Ruff]

About 10 years ago I was assigned to a client in Tampa Florida. I was in an office of about 12 people and there were three people on the other side of the room telling very very vulgar jokes and really talking very derogatory about women, going so far as calling women the c word and also talking quite sexually about various women they knew.

I went to them and told them to stop talking that way because it made me very uncomfortable. They apologized. Two days later, same office, same three guys but this time a woman in the office was right in there making some vulgar comments about who she thought in the office was a lesbian and who she thought was gay.

I stood up and told them to knock it off and I was told that if I didn't like it then I could go to a different part of the building in a closed office and work from there. They told me that they have gotten rid of greater consultants than me.

Now being the hired consultant who really doesn't have a lot of standing or friends on site, I was really torn as to whether to report it or leave it be and work in a different office.

I decided to not ignore it and went to my manager. My manager took this very very seriously and took me to HR to report this. I'm getting quite nervous now since this is getting into the big level of management and administration.

Reports were made, Others in the office I worked in also came forward. When HR asked why they hadn't come forward sooner they all said they were afraid of the people involved.

To make a long story short, two of the individuals involved were terminated, one was demoted and the female (well she actually didn't get any punishment).

After this happened, work became unbearable, emails were unanswered, various work requests were left undone which came back directly onto me since I was the requestor but not the person to do the work. People avoided me and meetings I scheduled were unattended. Needless to say, the group got their revenge and I was shortly removed from the project due to performance issues.

Would I report it again, yes I would. Did I enjoy the process, hell no.

[HERBIE1]

About 10 years ago I was assigned to a client in Tampa Florida. I was in an office of about 12 people and there were three people on the other side of the room telling very very vulgar jokes and really talking very derogatory about women, going so far as calling women the c word and also talking quite sexually about various women they knew.

I went to them and told them to stop talking that way because it made me very uncomfortable. They apologized. Two days later, same office, same three guys but this time a woman in the office was right in there making some vulgar comments about who she thought in the office was a lesbian and who she thought was gay.

I stood up and told them to knock it off and I was told that if I didn't like it then I could go to a different part of the building in a closed office and work from there. They told me that they have gotten rid of greater consultants than me.

Now being the hired consultant who really doesn't have a lot of standing or friends on site, I was really torn as to whether to report it or leave it be and work in a different office.

I decided to not ignore it and went to my manager. My manager took this very very seriously and took me to HR to report this. I'm getting quite nervous now since this is getting into the big level of management and administration.

Reports were made, Others in the office I worked in also came forward. When HR asked why they hadn't come forward sooner they all said they were afraid of the people involved.

To make a long story short, two of the individuals involved were terminated, one was demoted and the female (well she actually didn't get any punishment).

After this happened, work became unbearable, emails were unanswered, various work requests were left undone which came back directly onto me since I was the requestor but not the person to do the work. People avoided me and meetings I scheduled were unattended. Needless to say, the group got their revenge and I was shortly removed from the project due to performance issues.

Would I report it again, yes I would. Did I enjoy the process, hell no.

As you point out, there can also be a price to pay for someone reporting something like this- especially if you aren't looking for some pay off because of your actions and simply doing the right thing.

I have no problem with unPC/dirty/ etc jokes, but it must be the proper time and place.

[DwayneEMTP]

So Asys, would you then have fired me for the scenario as presented in my previous post?

Too often I think we have these conversations, like spanking and rape, without defining terms. And arguably pornography has one of the most elusive definitions in our history..

Dwayne

[tcripp]

This is what I know from personal experience. One time does not make for sexual harassment. If it's not already covered in your policies, this is when you update them to include expected behavior and yet the young lads know this is not appropriate behavior while on duty.

If it happens again, your employee will then have grounds for sexual harassment.

[DFIB]

According to US law there does not have to be intent for a claim to be considered sexual harassment. This is how people who are third parties who overhear, or see, something not directed at them can file the claims. It could be something as simple as telling an off colour joke and the person in the next room hearing it and feeling offended. That's all it takes.

Here are some interesting facts about sexual harassment. Click here.

Amazing. The lack of intent seems to be contrary to due process. No wonder the world is screwed up.

[Doczilla]

Tough to say, since this was not a pattern of behavior.

Let's say for example that I tell an off color joke, which the listener finds objectionable. The listener informs me of such, and I apologize and never do it again. It's the first time it has happened. Should I be fired anyway? Reason would dictate not, but then again, reason often has little to do with the minds of HR when it comes to perceived inappropriate behavior.

'zilla

[DFIB]

It seems that when you are a big shot you get a pass.

http://www.khou.com/news/Can-Metro-CEO-George-Greanias-recover-from-computer-porn-incident-126430298.html

[Kiwiology]

Nah.

Come on lets go out back sweet as no beached or ghost chips required not even stink bro

That's sexual harassment

[Asysin2leads]

Dwayne, I'm not saying that any use of the computer for non-work related usage is grounds for termination. But l think there is a big gray area between looking at a site that might have a dirty joke or too and looking at hardcore pornography while at work. I'd be rather skeeved out if my co-workers used their down time to look at porn. Really, I would not be comfortable with that. I wouldn't be comfortable working under a supervisor who thinks that people offended by coworkers looking at explicit material on the computer are religious types. I'm not religious. But doing that at work is just creepy! Like, asking a patient for a date because you got their number off of the ACR creepy! Let's have standards around this berg. These sound like behaviors of really disgusting people.

Edited November 22, 2011 by Asysin2leads