Sexual Harassment

[sophia jane]

Anyone know anything about the way investigations work in cases of sexual harassment?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[cloudy]

Anyone know anything about the way investigations work in cases of sexual harassment?
Any help would be appreciated.

I've been involved in one sexual harassment investigation. What do you need to know?

 

[sophia jane]

I've been involved in one sexual harassment investigation. What do you need to know?

Um, typical investigation procedures, etc. Curious if the accused is automatically considered guilty and terminated, esp in cases where no eyewitnesses exist.

 

[impressive]

http://www.eeoc.gov/types/sexual_harassment.html

 

[My Erotic Trail]

Um, typical investigation procedures, etc. Curious if the accused is automatically considered guilty and terminated, esp in cases where no eyewitnesses exist.

Actually it depends, you go to a corporate manager and they may call them in for questioning but they should, (but do not always) ask the victim to file charges with local law enforcement. They will 'make a report' and tell you to seek an attorney on these matters, they (Lawyers) will determine the severity of the harassment and a court will eventually decide rather it is actually harassment and what the fine or sentence will be for the particular case. Then they will force the company to take action if they haven't already, sometimes it is nothing more than a slap on the wrist but others may fire this person so that it does not happen again. Being in law enforcement, the officers can only take a statement and await on an attorney to submit a petition for the courts to take action. Until the trial is over and a verdict is delivered, they are presumably innocent till a guilty verdict has been established but when a woman feels the need to take this type action, well something must have taken place.

 

[Norajane]

Um, typical investigation procedures, etc. Curious if the accused is automatically considered guilty and terminated, esp in cases where no eyewitnesses exist.

I just went through training on this at my company. Report to your manager, manager reports to HR, HR has a group that investigates these complaints. They do not automatically consider someone guilty, nor do they terminate right away. They usually go to the person accused first and tell him/her there's been a complaint, the nature of the complaint, and ask about the circumstances. Often people will admit and apologize, especially if they didn't realize they were harassing someone (i.e., guy who keeps offering his co-worker a ride home after working overtime...to him, he's being polite and friendly, to her, he's harassing her, etc.).

If there's a dispute - he said, she said - the lawyers get involved.

People are transferred out of the role or group so they don't have to work together anymore, and that can happen immediately, particularly if the complainant requests it.

 

[R. Richard]

Until the trial is over and a verdict is delivered, they are presumably innocent till a guilty verdict has been established but when a woman feels the need to take this type action, well something must have taken place.

I have been twice accused of sexual harrassment.

The first time I was walking down a hallway and a female executive I knew slightly passed by in the other direction wearign a fancy, formal gown for a dance that would be attended by a major prospective customer. I said, "Wow!" and kept walking. The bitch filed a sexual harrassment complaint. Luckily, another employee had witnessed the incident and her testimony cleared me.

The second time I was working in a computer lab with a female employee. We were the only two logical choices for the coming Project Manager promotion. She accused me of considerable nastiness. There was a security camera in the lab. I never made physical contact with the female employee. I did, however, plug several male electronic probes into several different female electronic sockets. I tired to sue based upon character defamation; I would never make a pass at a cheap bag 'ho' like that. The security camera cleared me. Then, they would not prosecute the bitch who physically attacked me, for NO REASON!

 

[sophia jane]

I just went through training on this at my company. Report to your manager, manager reports to HR, HR has a group that investigates these complaints. They do not automatically consider someone guilty, nor do they terminate right away. They usually go to the person accused first and tell him/her there's been a complaint, the nature of the complaint, and ask about the circumstances. Often people will admit and apologize, especially if they didn't realize they were harassing someone (i.e., guy who keeps offering his co-worker a ride home after working overtime...to him, he's being polite and friendly, to her, he's harassing her, etc.).

If there's a dispute - he said, she said - the lawyers get involved.

People are transferred out of the role or group so they don't have to work together anymore, and that can happen immediately, particularly if the complainant requests it.

Interesting. Curious- lawyers get involved how? Like each party hires a lawyer and it goes to court? Or company lawyers get involved?

 

[zeb1094]

I too was once accused of sexual harrasment. By a third party no less, not even by the aledged victim. And even though the aledged victim and I vehemently denied the action, we where required to sign a form that we had been councilled on the matter.

I was going to refuse to sign but if we didn't sign we both got fired. I personally didn't need the job, it was a part time second job for me, but the young lady did. She was in school, liked working there and needed the job.

So I signed. To bad I have this really poor, unreadable signature. If they had asked me to print what I had written then the jig would have been up 'cuz Peter Rabbit doesn't, never did, nor ever will work there!

 

[My Erotic Trail]

I have been twice accused of sexual harassment.

The first time I was walking down a hallway and a female executive I knew slightly passed by in the other direction wearing a fancy, formal gown for a dance that would be attended by a major prospective customer. I said, "Wow!" and kept walking. The bitch filed a sexual harassment complaint. Luckily, another employee had witnessed the incident and her testimony cleared me.

The second time I was working in a computer lab with a female employee. We were the only two logical choices for the coming Project Manager promotion. She accused me of considerable nastiness. There was a security camera in the lab. I never made physical contact with the female employee. I did, however, plug several male electronic probes into several different female electronic sockets. I tired to sue based upon character defamation; I would never make a pass at a cheap bag 'ho' like that. The security camera cleared me. Then, they would not prosecute the bitch who physically attacked me, for NO REASON!

yep, there is always those accused of this and they are innocent. I have seen a few cases of this as well. There are also more cases of Men filing for this than you might think. We live in an age now where the 'Camera' seems to solve a majority of todays confrontations and polygraphs for when a camera is not present. I think there should be an automatic reversal on the charges when some one is found making false accusations such as yours.

 

[My Erotic Trail]

Interesting. Curious- lawyers get involved how? Like each party hires a lawyer and it goes to court? Or company lawyers get involved?

Depending on rather it was verbal or physical and rather this person went to supervisors and reported it. If they feel strongly about their rights and feel they were violated they can contact an attorney and they will advise them of their rights and what the courts will suggest as far as what the 'crime' was. If they just want to settle it at work then that would be the companys call, but sometimes the situation escalates to two persons with two stories and it ends up in court.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Actually it depends, you go to a corporate manager and they may call them in for questioning but they should, (but do not always) ask the victim to file charges with local law enforcement. They will 'make a report' and tell you to seek an attorney on these matters, they (Lawyers) will determine the severity of the harassment and a court will eventually decide rather it is actually harassment and what the fine or sentence will be for the particular case. Then they will force the company to take action if they haven't already, sometimes it is nothing more than a slap on the wrist but others may fire this person so that it does not happen again. Being in law enforcement, the officers can only take a statement and await on an attorney to submit a petition for the courts to take action. Until the trial is over and a verdict is delivered, they are presumably innocent till a guilty verdict has been established but when a woman feels the need to take this type action, well something must have taken place.

Unfortunately, this "guilty unless proven innocent, and even then, probably guilty another time" is quite prevalent. That's one of the reasons people get away with filing phony conplaints.

 

[sophia jane]

Unfortunately, this "guilty unless proven innocent, and even then, probably guilty another time" is quite prevalent. That's one of the reasons people get away with filing phony conplaints.

So basically, the accused is pretty much screwed?

 

[R. Richard]

So basically, the accused is pretty much screwed?

Yes, the accused is pretty much screwed. You see, if the false accuser were punished, then others might not be willing to come forward if they are sexually harrassed. Only after the accused has survived a couple of complaints is there at least a presumption of innocent until proven guilty.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I too was once accused of sexual harrasment. By a third party no less, not even by the aledged victim. And even though the aledged victim and I vehemently denied the action, we where required to sign a form that we had been councilled on the matter.

I was going to refuse to sign but if we didn't sign we both got fired. I personally didn't need the job, it was a part time second job for me, but the young lady did. She was in school, liked working there and needed the job.

So I signed. To bad I have this really poor, unreadable signature. If they had asked me to print what I had written then the jig would have been up 'cuz Peter Rabbit doesn't, never did, nor ever will work there!

Brilliant trick. No "crime" should be exempt from "innocent until proven guilty", nor should it be from retaliation for false charges. Political correctness be damned! No exceptions! The law is the law!

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I just went through training on this at my company. Report to your manager, manager reports to HR, HR has a group that investigates these complaints. They do not automatically consider someone guilty, nor do they terminate right away. They usually go to the person accused first and tell him/her there's been a complaint, the nature of the complaint, and ask about the circumstances. Often people will admit and apologize, especially if they didn't realize they were harassing someone (i.e., guy who keeps offering his co-worker a ride home after working overtime...to him, he's being polite and friendly, to her, he's harassing her, etc.).

If there's a dispute - he said, she said - the lawyers get involved.

People are transferred out of the role or group so they don't have to work together anymore, and that can happen immediately, particularly if the complainant requests it.

Sounds too subjective for rational jurisprudence. Typical PC BS.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Anyone know anything about the way investigations work in cases of sexual harassment?
Any help would be appreciated.

From some experience (not personal) - Badly! Badly for all parties, irrespective of facts. Usually, both parties lose out - whatever the truth of the matter.

Impressive's URL is 100% factual but just emphasizes the hot coals employers have to walk over. Yeah, there has to (unfairly) have to be a presumption of guilt. If not, the employer lays himself open to be sued for megabucks.

Yes, the harassed woman - and it is usually a woman, despite Michael Douglas' brilliant performance in 'Harassment' - will lose out. Win or lose, co-workers will be forever on one side or the other. Seen it too many times.

Just a glance at this thread shows the pain and anger that all harassment complaint cases cause for all parties - guilty or innocent - and how it is rare that anyone gains from the process.

Like the legal eagles say, once the parties are headed irrevocably for the court room, an amicable solution has flown out of the window.

Beware, above all, the grey area of 'good intentions'. The fifty-year-old, happily married supervisor who puts his hand on the younger female subordinate's shoulder in a paternal/avuncular manner may just be for real. The pre-menopausal female executive who has been shafted by the glass ceiling may take it out on the twentysomething male recruit. In my eyes, this owes more to the unisex greasy pole syndrome.

SJ - sent you my checklist about launching an SH complaint. PM if I can be of any help.

 

[Guest]

I worked for a large company in their telecommunications department (and no I didn't call yall, you called me when you couldnt get your satellite TV to work)....

I understood the programs that we ran really well, my friend S and I worked together on the same shift and sat next to each other. there was a 'man' that sat at the desk on the other side of S. whenever I walked by he would comment, my clothes, my hair, the sway of my breasts. I did my utmost to ignore it... until the day that he needed help and my manager told me to do it because I was the asst. in the unit. I did not sit down next to him but merely leaned over the desk and used the keyboard and mouse, the 'man' reached out and fondled my breast.

I reported him to the HR department immediately. S had seen the whole thing and was furious that I had been touched. The HR department moved him to another unit and changed his work shift but did nothing else. Their official answer to me was oh well you and S are dating (we had been before we started working together) and your stories were so similar, we didn't want someone unfairly terminated for a misunderstanding.

I would never report SH again... but I am MORE then capable of handling sleazy 'men' that I work with from that point forward.

PS... I know that woman at times are at fault in the SH harrassment (meaning I know they do it) and I would be more then willing to show them my displeasure as well.

 

[sophia jane]

Thanks everyone. Some of this info has definitely helped. I can't really say why I asked yet, but I promise an update as soon as it's possible.

 

[SensualCealy]

My thought on this is, cut his nuts off then ask questions later!

Seriously, good luck with this Sofia, you know my pm box is always open if you need to vent!
Cealy

 

[SeaCat]

My thought on this is, cut his nuts off then ask questions later!

Seriously, good luck with this Sofia, you know my pm box is always open if you need to vent!
Cealy

While I can understand the sentiment behind this comment I can only say W.T.F.?

When I worked in a Psych facility up north I was well known for my ability with massage. One of the men on the staff had injured his back during a psychotic episode by one of the patients. I was called in to help him. I spent 45 minutes of my time working on his upper back and getting his muscles to relax.

Two days later I was called onto the carpet for sexual harrasment. It seems he was uncomfortable because my working on his back had given him a woody. I had to answer for this even though it was well known that I was married and quite happily hetero.

Unfortunatly, because he was openly non hetero and the son of a very prominent couple in New England I had to undergo the B.S. of the investigation.

I would have happily cut his nuts off after under going that investigation. Thankfully I was cleared of it, but the stigma hung with me for years.

Cat

 

[Stella_Omega]

So, No One gets a massage after that...

 

[SensualCealy]

Without knowing the details of whats going on, but based on the fact that a woman doesnt normally put themselves through the hassel of dealing with HR people unless they have to specially for this reason alone.

Why would a woman go through all of this if it wasnt what she percieves it to be.

I understand your point SeaCat, one is always innocent until proven guilty.
Just having a bit of fun to put a smile on her face!
Sorry!
C

 

[entitled]

So, No One gets a massage after that...

Only those that dom't mind a little harrassment.

 

[cloudy]

Why would a woman go through all of this if it wasnt what she percieves it to be.

I know you meant what you said in fun, but just to answer your question: for revenge. Yup, seen it happen.

We fired a woman for blatantly stealing about $2000 worth of athletic shoes, not to mention cash, and she immediately retained an attorney and accused the store manager of sexual harassment.

It was eventually dropped, but apparently she thought she could hold that over the company, and offer to drop her harassment charges in return for them dropping the theft charges.

Didn't work, thank goodness, but there's a reason.