Harrassed by a co-worker, what can I do?

Okay - Here is the skinny (site lost my original post). I have worked with Dave for over 5 years. He has made life miserable by making sexually oriented comments, rude remarks, & mean remarks that were hurtful. He has embarrassed and challenged me in front of clients, and sometimes goes for weeks without speaking to me at all for no apparent reason. For example, one time he picked something off the floor of my cubicle and said,"is this a pubic hair?"

I spoke with my EAP who urged me to go to HR. I did and my HR Rep actually said, "what do you want me to do about it?" My manager knew for years but didn't move his cubicle away from mine until after I notified HR. However, Dave still goes out of his way to intimidate me. He will speak with everyone else in the department (9 of us) and won't say a word to me. He will look me in the eye and ignore me. I rely on him to manage my computer and it took him over 3 weeks to fix my computer so I could print - actually I just got fed up and fixed it myself!

I am very nice and cordial to Dave - very friendly in fact, but he ignores me. If I say hi he will say hi but otherwise he won't speak to me. He is very intimidating as I don't feel I can ask him for help or support like I should be able to. I go through my manager but she is such an idiot that nothing ever gets done. She just claims that she "forgot" to "remind" him.

In addition to Dave, my manager Tonia is an idiot and I feel she discriminates against me - maybe because I complained about Dave. I don't feel like I can go back to OE or to my manager or even my director. I feel like I will be retaliated against. Other multimedia specialist have dual monitors provided by the company. I brought my own monitor in for my second monitor but my manager refuses to provide one. I have purchased a lot of equipment for my job that is provided for by the company for others including: keyboard, mouse, speakers, headphones, as well as software and fonts. I need some of these items in order to work remotely from home when I'm sick, or my kids are sick. My manager refuses to provide anything to support me even if it won't cost the company any money (like fonts). Others use macintosh computers at home so they can copy software from work. I use a PC so I have to purchase everything separately.

Also, others have received cash bonuses and recognition in front of the entire department. I received a bonus once from a coworker and my manager never mentioned it. I feel like I'm not only harassed by Dave but also discriminated against by my manager and OE - they acted like it's my fault. I feel like the only thing left to do is quit! What can I do so I don't always feel intimidated at work?

1 answer  |  asked Oct 15, 2009 5:59 PM [EST]  |  applies to California

Answers (1)

Karl Gerber
Your question is very fact specific. There are legal options you have, but there are also practical issues being that you still work there. You need to discuss this in private with an attorney.

If you are ready to take legal action, remain employed, or sever your employmemt feel free to contact me. I get involved in cases when employees make the decision to take legal action.

There are other lawyers who might be willing to listen and offer advice for a price which is also an option.

Karl Gerber 877-525-0700

posted by Karl Gerber  |  Oct 16, 2009 11:03 PM [EST]

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