new thread
For the last couple months, this guy @ work will not and I repeat WILL NOT let up about my long hair.
The name calling has reached the point of racism, bringing my family into it and sexual actions.
I am not the only longhair guy at work thankfully but according to the others, he's a longhair nazi, even on women.
I have done my absolute best and damndest to ignore him. I have been in his face about this a couple times but he still continues. Talking to my supervisors has not helped because he hasn't touched me yet. Lord help him if he does. What this guy also loves to do is chuck frozen water bottles at me. Course I just storm back throw it back at him point blank. He just laughs and laughs.
Guys please help, I have had it with this am at wits end. I cannot fight at work for obvious reasons. Thoughts please to shut this guy up?
I'm certainly no legal expert but, if the name-calling is getting into sexual tones, you may have a case of sexual harrassment, and if he's throwing frozen water bottles at you, that could be grounds for assault charges, although the fact that you've "returned fire" doesn't necessarily help that one. In either case, if your supervisors aren't effective at stopping this, they could be potentially liable for fostering a hostile work environment. You need to investigate the laws and regulations in your area regarding workplace actions. When the knucklehead behind all this gets a taste of potential court action, he might think again. Do you have union representation in your line of work? Or does your city/state have some form of agancy that deals with workplace issues?
Frodo
JsFrodo,
We are a non Union facility. I do however have good news.
I'm walking into work tonight, course he does his usual throw a water bottle at me. I had my guard up, the water bottle misses me, ends up breaking a main control panel for one of the machines. My supervisor witnessed these actions but the employee throwing the water bottle didn't see my boss watching ;)
Supervisor, plant manager and I had a discussion about the ongoing harrasment this guy is giving me.
Course for breaking company property and on assault charges, he was fired on the spot no questions asked. Needless to say, I'm not the only one glad to see that clown go.
The legal definition of "assault," in a nutshell, is ANY action, speech, or behavior that causes you to feel unsafe. "Battery" is ANY unwanted physical contact. This person has committed both. Your coworker's actions are illegal, and your employer's apathy regarding his behavior makes the employer complicit in the crime. First, file a report with your local police department. This will create an official record of what's been happening. You might even be willing and/ or able to receive a restraining order against your assinine coworker. Then, inform your employer that you have done so, and tell them that if they cannot create a working environment which you feel is safe, you will not be returning. If they threaten to simply terminate your employment, let them know that they will be hearing from your attorney.
This is a serious matter, and I hope you choose to stand up for yourself and treat it as such.
--Val
The fact that he throws frozen water bottles at you is enough for him to be arrested and charged with assault. Like Val said, since you have gone to your superiors and they have done nothing, they are now at the very least civilly liable, if not criminally liable on the grounds of criminal negligence/criminal indifference. This is no different than if he were torturing someone who was a different color, or gender, or religion than him.
I agree with Val, go to the local police department, file a report. Get a copy of that report (more than one actually so you can keep at least one for your own records) and give a copy to your superiors and explain to them what the employee has done and what they have done is against the law and violates your rights. As Val also said, if they terminate you after that, that is also illegal and even further action can be brought against them.
It's unbelievable to me that in today's world people will go to that lengths to project their own negative feelings about themselves onto other people. I wish you nothing but the best, and everyone here on this board is here to help you get through this. Good luck!
First let me tell you I am sorry that you have to go through this kind of childish routine in a stage in your (and the perpetrator's) life where people should be acting like adults. Everyone who commented before me has very good insight into the legal aspect of this, and thankfully so, I can't help you with legality.
All I can do is tell you I think you're very patient and virtuous for sticking in there and not quitting, or cracking a 2x4 over the guy's empty head.
Also, if I were you, I would ask him why exactly his opinion should mean a damn thing to me? I have had some of the kinds of comments you mentioned in a more joking (but none the less serious) tone with my friends after returning home from overseas. They haven't seen me in long time, and I always had short hair, so when they tell me they think my hair looks girly I just tell them: "That sucks, but luckily for me I don't give a f*** what you think." Or I'll act all surprised as though this is the first time they have mentioned it "Oh geeze! Is it getting too long? yeah maybe I should cut it.... Oh wait, I just remembered, your opinion doesn't mean Sh** to me, sorry"
Of course these are things I say to my buddies between beers and so it may not go over as well with your co-worker.
I mentioned this before in an earlier post, but if someone mentions your hair in a feminine way, ask him what he thinks of the founding fathers, historical figures like William Wallis, etc.
Good luck with your struggle. And remember, if you ever feel like not being the bigger man about the issue, there is always a 2x4 ;)
Agreed. Try the legal route. If all else fails, exercise your universal right to self-protection and preservation of personal honor, and throw this guy a beatin'.
--Val
You didn't say whether you work for a large company or a independent business, but violence, threats, harassment, and intimidation have no place in a work environment.
Most employers have strict policies against all forms of workplace harassment. If you've reported these incidents to your supervisors and they haven't done anything, you need to contact your Human Resources department. The fact that you threw a water bottle back at this person won't help you, but it doesn't excuse this person's behavior. If you still don't get resolution, you should contact the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC). If you live and work in California, you're also protected under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).