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From: ames!claris!netcom!greg@ncar.ucar.EDU (Greg Bullough)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Sexual Harrassment at the workplace
Message-ID: <19824@netcom.UUCP>
Date: 2 Jan 91 20:38:01 GMT
References: <29057@usc>
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In article <29057@usc> mary@mizar.usc.EDU (Mary Froehlig) writes:
>I am new to this newsgroup, but really need input from the net here.
>
>A couple of weeks ago, my office hired a temporary employee from a
>reputable agency.  Unfortunately, the guy was very odd, and we found
>out that he made really inappropriate remarks to one of my student
>workers.  This girl is 18 (just turned) and didn't know how to respond
>to his question, "so, you went to a girls' school...are you a nun or a
>slut?"

Lest you have any doubts, that's clearly way out of bounds, and
indicates a deep-seated attitude problem. Even if it wasn't sexual
harassment, it was still bloody rude and insensitive, ESPECIALLY to an
eighteen-year-old "kid."

>        I told him we didn't need his services anymore after this came
>out, and after he made remarks to me about the woman he was taking a
>phone message from.

Good for you! A temporary employee is just that. It isn't your job to
try and straighten him out.

>Now he wants to "clear this all up" because the agency (who knows what
>he said) isn't sending him out on job assignments any more.  I thought
>he was basically weird but harmless, but I found out that my student
>worker was _afraid_ of him (that he would do her physical harm) and my
>SO, who has met this guy, has also said never to be alone at the
>office if the guy says he will "stop by."  On evaluation, I have to
>somewhat agree with their observations.

I think that you have a good consensus of opinion on the matter. I
think it's especially powerful since you have a male opinion which
confirms yours.

If you want to be truly charitable, you could offer to meet with him
at the temp agency, or to meet individually with a representative from
the temp agency. That would be true charity, however. Depending upon
his personality, it might only get you into more difficulty. On the
other hand, if he is just terribly misguided, as opposed to dangerous,
he might be able to learn from this incident (let's face it, some
folks have got no 'up-jerking').

>So, I'd like to know how you all would view this situation.  I'm
>obviously not going to give him a recommendation, or an easy way out.

I think that his loss of your recommendation is no great loss to him,
and that won't bother him. I also think that you are perfectly
justified in telling him to settle it with the temp agency. That's
what they get paid for.

>I would also prefer that he never set foot in the office again.

You have a perfect right to feel that way, and to have that request
honored.

>However, he does intend to come by (today) to return a magazine that
>he borrowed from one of the other workers in the office.

That's why god invented the postal service. It's okay to say "no."

It COULD be an honest desire or it could be an excuse.

>I'd appreciate your views and input as to how to deactivate this
>situation.  It would be best for the office if he just didn't call and
>knew he was not welcome to do so.

A perfectly valid and common opinion of ex-employers. Nothing wrong with
it.

From the point of view of a male who feels that the sexual harassment
thing sometimes gets overblown or out of hand, I feel that you are
entirely justified in your feelings and actions. And I applaud your
courage in dealing with the situation swiftly and decisively.

I think that you stand the best chance of not having any further
problems with him if you make it clear that you just can't abide that
kind of behavior, however it might have been meant. And that he is no
longer welcome to visit your workplace, and that you consider the
discussion to be closed.

And I hope that you hear no more of it.

Greg