Sexual Harassment

So me and my girl both work together in a hospital kitchen and everyone at work assumes we are dating, although we haven't admitted to it yet. 

Anyways, theres this one older guy, hes probably in his mid 40's.  Way before anything ever happened between us, he seemed to think he had a chance with her.  He would sort of corner her in one of the walk in coolers, or back in a stock room where no one could see them.  It started out with stupid little comments about getting with her.  She let it get to the point where he would touch her in ways that really cross the line. 

Unfortunatly, shes one of those girls who are scared to say anything about it to anyone.  At one point, she got pretty fed up with it and had talked to other coworkers about it.  It must have gotten back to this guy, because he wouldn't even look at her or talk to her for the longest time.

Now hes back at it again.  I think him hearing about me and her being together sort of adds fuel to the fire, as if he thinks hes competing with me.  I'm real close to doing something about it.  But I told her that either she needs to say something to him, or I will.  If it comes down to me saying something, should I confront him about it, or should I go straight to the bosses?  I really have a low tolerance for any kind of sexual harrassment.  But at the same time, with the economy, I wouldn't wanna see someone lose their job and have it affect their family.  I'd like to think I can just say something to him and have it stop for good.  What would you guys do?


Edited by Zata - 22 May 2009 at 12:35pm

If he loses his job and it affects his family it will be because he chose to be a jerk, not because you reported his jerkiness.



If he is fired, you should however avoid engaging in a victory dance with turbo-mooning, finger pointing and verbal taunting.  ("Nyah, nyah, nyah, you don't have a job and your family will starve" would be in very bad taste.)

inb4 skinhat

Shes 26

have HER confront him (with you there if she feels more comfortable)

let him know its going to end. if he persists talk to management.

sounds like he doesnt even deserve a warning and what hes doing is over the line, he might just be too stupid to know its unwanted, or shes not being clear enough.

Dont feel guilty if he loses his job, its his damn fault.

I know the right thing to do is bring it ujp to the bosses, or better yet have her do it but honestly if I were in your situation I'd step up and do something.

She needs to talk to her supervisor and file a complaint. If she needs you there as moral support or as a witness, so be it; but keep your mouth shut unless the supervisor asks you a question.

These things have to go through proper channels to be resolved legally. If she confronts him and "warns" him about how this will end, he then has every opportunity to claim he's being set up or threatened. It wouldn't help his case much, but it wouldn't help yours either.

Mack wrote: He's roughly 40?  How old is she?  That's just creepy if she's around 20. How's that Peter?

Peter Parker wrote: little devil wrote: He's roughly 40? how old is she? Thats just creepy if shes around 20.     I want to hear you say this when you are "roughly 40"...

No, im not saying it's creepy for him, damn if he scores this he's lucky.

Edited by little devil - 22 May 2009 at 1:33pm

tallen702 wrote: She needs to talk to her supervisor and file a complaint. If she needs you there as moral support or as a witness, so be it; but keep your mouth shut unless the supervisor asks you a question.