Skip to main content

You are not logged in. Your edit will be placed in a queue until it is peer reviewed.

We welcome edits that make the post easier to understand and more valuable for readers. Because community members review edits, please try to make the post substantially better than how you found it, for example, by fixing grammar or adding additional resources and hyperlinks.

7
  • 2
    Right. This is a hostile work environment issue as well as a sexual harassment issue. If the CEO doesn't do something, the OP should collect records so that options are open later. CA startup culture has a very poor reputation around this kind of thing right now. She should not assume that this will be addressed adequately. It's really unfair but these kinds of cases, if pursued can limit careers so she may want to simply leave. This guy sounds pretty psycho though so a restraining order may be needed later. Document, document, document.
    – JimmyJames
    Commented Mar 16, 2017 at 15:42
  • When you say placing the responsibility on the victim, I assume you mean stopping the behavior? Because reporting the behavior to a manager, calling HR, etc., like most answers suggest SHOULD be the responsibility of the victim, shouldn't it? I certainly wouldn't rely on the guy doing the harassing to report it, or on a co-worker to report it, or even on the manager to magically know how serious it is.
    – Omegacron
    Commented Mar 17, 2017 at 15:02
  • 3
    @Omegacron - I mean the advice about shouting, changing arrival/departure times, getting a new job, or even the requirement to give a "clear no" (whatever that is), etc. This suggests that it's up to the victim to challenge and correct the behavior of the aggressor. According to Title VII (which, admittedly, does not apply in all circumstances, unfortunately), it's her boss' job to approach the aggressor and take the steps necessary to change his behavior. She should not be required to shout to the entire office, etc., to feel safe in her work environment.
    – JDB
    Commented Mar 17, 2017 at 15:07
  • @Omegacron If the issue was that her boss ignored dangling live wires, I don't think people would be saying "you should wear a rubber suit." If her boss let diseased feral animals rove the halls because he felt bad for them, I don't think the advice would be "get up to date on your vaccines." This is simply intolerable... it's ridiculous to suggest that she should raise her voice... this simply shouldn't be allowed to happen at all.
    – JDB
    Commented Mar 17, 2017 at 15:13
  • 1
    @JDB - you should probably add that, then. We're not talking about live wires or feral animals, or anything obvious that others would complain about. We're talking about people, and until the update yesterday afternoon, the OP said she had mentioned it once to the boss, admittedly as more of an FYI comment than a complaint. It is not the responsibility of the victim to avoid the guy or address the behavior, but it IS the responsibility of the victim to accurately report the behavior and/or complain about it. She went back and did that, and it would seem the boss is acting appropriately.
    – Omegacron
    Commented Mar 17, 2017 at 15:20