Outrageous Sexual Harassment Claim

**mooreted2000** · 01-12-2008, 06:00 AM

A co-worker in a California government office has been accused of sexual harassment. He gets Victoria Secret magazines in the mail which he does not want. He was giving them to a female co-worker who wanted them. One day she was not there and he offered them to another woman in the office. She filed a claim of sexual harassment. Now he cannot leave his office pending an investigation.

This is the most outrageous abuse of sexual harassment law. It trivialized victims who really are being abused at work, creates a hostile work environment for the men in the office and is probably illegal as well. I am so sick of this idiocy I think men should start fighting back. There's no reason we should have to take this crap.

Anyway:

1. Is it legal for them to make him stay in his office until they investigate?

2. If they fire or punish him over this can he sue?

**cyjeff** · 01-12-2008, 07:05 AM

1. Yes

2. Anyone can sue anyone over pretty much anything. Your chances of winning, however, are nil.

I understand your point about the relative nature about abuse, but think of it this way.

If your teenage daughter had been given a Victoria's Secret catalog by a coworker with the words "I think you might want this", would you question the motives of that coworker?

Handing out underwear catalogs at work is not a practice in which intelligent people would participate.

By the way, the employer does not have to go to the effort or expense of a formal investigation or inquiry to determine your friend's true motives. The simple act of handing out pictures of women in their underwear is enough for most employers to act.

Lastly, the term Hostile Environment has a specific meaning under labor law. If anything, your friend created the hostile environment... not the other way around.

I give your friend a 20% chance of keeping his job.

**cyjeff** · 01-12-2008, 07:07 AM

One small correction. In rereading your post, I see that you are talking of a government office.

There maybe a CBA in place that MAY require an investigation. Having said that, your friend's chances of retaining employment jump to 25%.

**mooreted2000** · 01-12-2008, 07:20 AM

Well fine. I am so tired of having to walk on eggshells around women. They can just say anything and get you fired for no reason at all. I can't do anything about any of it at work but I can join political groups and try to get some sanity toward men in the work place and the courtroom.

If someone handed my daughter a Victoria Secret magazine at work I would not be thinking she was sexually harassed. Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual advances. This guy is not trying to get into anyone's pants, he just doesn't want the damn magazines. He has worked here for 7 years and done a great job; never been accused of anything.

Why can't a woman show some backbone and simply say she doesn't want them?

Why do men have to fear for their jobs because any woman can accuse them of sexual harassment any time they want and get you fired?

It doesn't matter how well you perform or how long you've worked. All you have to do is piss of a woman and you're gone.

Why don't more men grow a pair and stop cow-towing to men-hating lesbian feminists?

**cyjeff** · 01-12-2008, 07:26 AM

Quoting mooreted2000

Well fine. I am so tired of having to walk on eggshells around women. They can just say anything and get you fired for no reason at all. I can't do anything about any of it at work but I can join political groups and try to get some sanity toward men in the work place and the courtroom.

If someone handed my daughter a Victoria Secret magazine at work I would not be thinking she was sexually harassed. Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual advances. This guy is not trying to get into anyone's pants, he just doesn't want the damn magazines. He has worked here for 7 years and done a great job; never been accused of anything.

Why can't a woman show some backbone and simply say she doesn't want them?

Why do men have to fear for their jobs because any woman can accuse them of sexual harassment any time they want and get you fired?

It doesn't matter how well you perform or how long you've worked. All you have to do is piss of a woman and you're gone.

Why don't more men grow a pair and stop cow-towing to men-hating lesbian feminists?

Actually, most of us feel that part and parcel of our manhood is to protect those around us... especially those that may be unable to protect themselves.

If it means that your friend has to throw away underwear catalogs rather than give them to the (very pretty, I bet) coworker, than so be it.

Before you accuse me of it, I am about as conservative politically as it gets. I am, by no means, a bleeding heart liberal on most topics. However, as a person that has managed people for years, I would have fired your friend the moment the complaint was made.

Stupidity may not be illegal, but it is actionable. If he has to be told by upper management that it is not appropriate to distribute underwear catalogs at work, he doesn't have the common sense I expect in a subordinate.

panther10758 · 01-12-2008, 07:49 AM

I agree and last time I saw description of sexaul harassment it included images (that some might deem offensive) displayed where others could see them. You made sure they saw them by handing the magazine to them. By the way if you handed either my daughters said magazine you biggest worry would be me not your employer.