Male coworkers harrassing female staff...

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi ya'll! I have a problem...

My male coworkers are like a pack of wolves. One member of the pack was recently fired due to his terrible attitude. OK. So that's one down and two to go! I have another one who won't keep his hands to himself. One day he was stroking my hand, putting his hands around my waist, etc... I told him to stop and keep his distance. He is not easily redirectable. This has been a recurring problem ever since he began working there.

Then there's a third one. I can deal with him for the most part because he is all words and no touching.

Back to the coworker whom I'll refer to as "hands". I've spoken to my nurse manager and staff has talked to him regarding this behavior. He was calm for a while after that but still insists on talking to me like trash. Tomorrow I want to give him a letter from my husband and myself outlining the behavior I expect from him in the future. My husband is extremely angry and so am I. This is my last time telling him to stop before it gets ugly.

What should this letter say?

This guy is such a creep. He tells me that he can see through my pants and that I have a nice a**. Inapprpriate to the highest degree...and unacceptable to say the least! I feel sick thinking about this. Before I break his face and/or his fingers I need to do something...

Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.

Actually, what you need to do is find out HR policy on sexual harassment and your states policies on worker's sexual harassment. It is a very good idea to document the time, date and actions of what happened. Best thing to do is leave your husband out of it, inform HR or Equal Opportunity Manager, and find out the policies (EVERY place has a sexual harassment brochure). Hope that helps :)

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In addition to the good advice on this board, just want to add my 0.02 cents.

The next time 'Handy-man' places digits on, about, or within 10 feet of your person in any way that makes you uncomfortable, call 911. Have him arrested.

Then tell your manager, HR, CEO of the hospital these words in no particular order: 'Lawyer' 'Lawsuit' 'State Board of Labor' 'Judgment' 'Arrested' 'Documentation'

...and then laugh as 'handy-man' is led away in 'handy-cuffs' and is hopefully fired.

But leave your husband out of it. It's your battle to fight.

Good luck.

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Take it directly to human resources and demand something be done.

alot of great advice has been handed on this thread I suggest very strongly that you take some of it, and go to them ASAP. he may be putting his hands around your waist right now, but please do not let it get past that point. You may think that he would never take it further, but just when you atrt to think that is when it happens.

Take care of yourself and your well being, you do not deserve that treament nor asked for it.

And ifall else fails and noone will listen to you, next time he tries to touch you kick him in the junk.

(please take the last comment tongue in cheek) but please follow this matter ASAP :o

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I've complained to my manager about this already...and nothing was done. Most likely scenario: I'll move on to another job. I wish we had a HR dept. Our facility is this company's bastard child. Corporate only visits us right before state surveys...or if the building burns to the ground. I'm going up the chain of command. I'm considering other job opportunities...

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

You have no Security? I'd inform the manager that this is a prosecutable offense; report it to the police.

Do NOT send the letter. Go to the police or security.

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I also agree, leave your husband out of it and don't give the letter. Take it where it needs to go.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

All you have to do is to tell your human resources department you are going to sue for sexual harrasment since it is still going on after being reported to management and that you are calling the police and the newspapers.

Sit back at watch the show.

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the biggest problem in my mind is not the sexual harrassment (although that is an issue). i think this guy is potentially dangerous. if your manager or hr won't follow up, i agree with calling the police - he can't put his hands on you! also consider a lawyer - it will cost you some money but your personal safety and career are worth it.

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Reading your post made me cringecuz I soooo hate working anywhere where the employees need to have their hands on each other...it just makes me cringe...all this violation of personal space. I've worked places where everybody is constantly giving each other backrubs, etc and they like to make you feel like a prude if you say no to it. To me this is the kind of environment that is ripe for harassment and lawsuits, makes me very uncomfortable, and I try real hard to stay away from them.

Good luck and I don't blame you for thinking hard about quitting. If its the culture of the place you may end up the bad guy....

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Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

Sgt_Chunk_Spelunker:

- First, NO LETTER ... NO EXCEPTIONS.

- Second, GO TO HUMAN RESOURCES (on their time), and file a formal,

written complaint. Just mentioning the word "sexual harrassment" will

send a shiver of fear down management's spine.

- Third, you want a definite plan of action (written) from the H.R. team

by close of business.

- Fourth, if no plan of action (meaning - no meetings set up - nothing

done), then get an attorney. Won't cost a dime.

- Company cannot (in USA) retaliate against you. If they do, bingo!!!, cuz

you just won the legal lottery. :)

- Enjoy!!!

John Coxey

Evansville, Indiana

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Are these guys RN's or LPN's? Report them to the BON as well as your manager, compan higher ups, etc. Imagine if they felt they could grope a patient. Also mention that the company is liable for not protecting you and go talk to a lawyer. I hate to see frivilous lawsuits, but if you have repeatedly c/o'd about these guys and there has been no action taken, then you may be entitled to some kind of $. This company is living in some kind of retro fantasy world if they think women in 2004 will put up w/ this crap. Occasional dirty jokes, kidding, etc. are one thing, but this is just awful.

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Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

Sgt_Chunk_Spelunker:

- I just read the entire thread...here goes.

- If in USA, your facility MUST have a written sexual harrassment

policy. If they do not, it's grounds for instant sexual harrassment

lawsuit.

- If you went to management, and documented that you did, and also

have some form of written documentation back from management that

they did nothing --- again lawsuit time.

- Any of your female co-workers getting harrassed -- bingo!!! -- lawsuit

time.

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- I currently work in the computer industry (software), and companies in

our field (American General Finance, Hewlett-Packard, Lucent, etc.) take

the sexual harrassment issue seriously. Mainly due to the threat of

legal action by employees.

We watch a video or two and attend a mandatory seminar (1 or 2 hrs long)

every year on this subject. I work (ed) for the companies mentioned

above, and can tell you that they would not stand for the actions of the

gentleman you are describing.

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- Regarding bringing your husband into the foray. Nope, Nada, Don't Do.

- You can take Hubby to lawyers office. But taking him to work -- now he

becomes part of the legal action if it get's that far.

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- If you quit and runaway from the situation, then your perpetrator

has won. And seriously, you shouldn't let this happen.

- Good luck and let us know what happens.

John Coxey

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