Q: I have friends who work for a well-known employer that we’ll call the “Bad Pharmacy.” They have a boss from hell. Whether taking inappropriate photos of female customers with his cellphone and then showing them off, ridiculing a gay employee or questioning the immigration status of Latino workers, he consistently subjects them to harassment.
I’m sickened by his actions. My friends reported him to human resources, and they feel not enough is being done. Why do companies cover for their managers? Why isn’t this guy fired? Help. This is wrong.
Lily: Creeps like this are everywhere. Your friends need to keep a record of EVERYTHING they have seen and experienced, as well as document all attempts they’ve made to try to resolve this. This will definitely offer concrete evidence that what is happening is genuine harassment and not a bitter, he said/she said thing.
Does corporate have a higher-ranking human resources director you can contact? Many law schools offer free legal advice and can steer you in the right direction. Your friends do have rights, and no one should be made to feel this way. “No te dejes!” Let us know what comes of this so that others who might be stuck in the same situation can benefit.
Danny: I hate to hear that this joker has been reported to HR and nothing has been done. In addition to documenting harassment and efforts to get him to stop at the company level, your friends need to consider filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. There seem to be several levels of discrimination and rights violations, both at the corporate and federal levels.
If this company’s HR has yet to react, it is important that these employees start creating a paper trail to avoid retaliation by the company. If any of our readers are HR savvy, please write us with your suggestions.
Catherine: Sadly enough, many people don’t take action if a problem does not affect them. It’s inexcusable for HR employees to drag their feet, but then again, they’re not the ones faced with the everyday abuse.
My advice to these employees: Start looking for your next career move. If this monster is never fired, you will have wasted great years of your life enduring his tirades. And what better to get the HR department’s attention than a mass exodus of employees?
Make it very clear that this manager’s behavior is the reason for leaving. The time and money it takes to hire and train more employees will have a direct impact on the company, and hopefully spur it to stop ignoring this bad boss.
Remember, your life can be as miserable as you let it be. Take proactive steps to get out of this toxic situation, and let your absence send a message stronger than any written complaint.
GLOSSARY
– no te dejes: Don’t let yourself (be taken advantage of)
Consejos is a bilingual advice column focused on relationships, culture and identity. E-mail your questions or comments to consejos@dallasnews.com. Or send your letters to Consejos, care of Texas Living, The Dallas Morning News, 508 Young St., Dallas, TX 75202.
