Slashdot Mirror
Sexual Harassment for Consultants?
Medcoop asks: "My friend is working as a consultant for a government institution, and is having a difficult time with his direct supervisor (the person who hired and manages him). She has been repeatedly asking him out (even though she is several decades his senior), and keeps referencing her preference for younger men. This isn't exactly sexual harassment, however, as he hasn't said 'No, and please stop asking.' The problem is that if he says the above, there won't be any more work for him there. He's not really fired, but just not asked back for other work. Where does this situation fall with respect to the law? Does anyone have any advice for him?"
Then that is sexual harassment, and he can treat it as such. Have him start documenting it.
I'd suggest consulting an attorney on the subject. Asking for legal advice on slashdot is somewhat foolish.
Yep.. I say take one for the team and do her. He may be pleasently suprised... :)
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable" - JFK
He could pretend to be gay - subtle at first and then more 'out' about it.
He could also meet a girlfriend/fiancé for lunch, and plan it so that his boss sees his partner. This partner could be just a friend - the boss is not likely to know the difference.
Or he could combine both of the above and meet a pretend boyfriend for lunch?
Definately document the harassment - to use just in case the situation gets worse.
If it's not that big of a bother to him, then he should just bare it.
Did you mean "just bear it", as in silently endure the harrassment, or "just bare it", as in take it off and do the nekkid hokey-pokey with ol' Sarcophagranny?
Your friend should go the the Human Resources department, and file a complaint.
Then, if your friend's contract is terminated without cause, he can bring a whistle-blower suit.
But I doubt that will happen. I think this is a more likely scenario:
Your Friend <knocks on doorframe>
HR person: Hello, come in, how may I help you?
YF: Well, it's like this - I'm a contractor, and my supervisor from this shop keeps hitting on me. I've asked her to stop, but she keeps doing it. Here's a copy of the last letter I wrote to her about it....
HR <snatching letter>: Let me see that. Hmmmmm, ummmhmmm. OK. Do you wish to file a formal complaint?
YF: I'd like this to stop. If it stops without a complaint, that would be best, but....
HR: OK. Excuse me. I must go kill somebody now. <Exits office at warp speed.>
Believe me - IF your friend documents the request to stop the harrasment, they will be VERY careful about any action against him - even if they WERE going to terminate his contract for some other reason, they will make sure to have all their ducks, their friend's ducks, and any ducks that happen to be passing by on migration in a row before they do.
Whistle-blower suits cause a lot a pain and suffering to organizations....
www.eFax.com are spammers
Then again, this guy seems to be assuming that he only has two choices: play the gigolo, or face losing his consulting contracts. With a little self-esteem and a little tact, one could probably let down a sexually aggressive boss without provoking a crisis. Alas, Slashdotters are not notable for self-esteem or tact. Perhaps the question should be directed to a psychologist. Or an advice columnist. Even an ettiquite expert would probably give better advice!
I can't believe no one has posted this yet:
Is she hot?
Tell him to post a picture if he expects to get a good response from this crowd.
I can see all of the little geeks at home: "Ooo, I can get hired to code and older women will hit on me!"
A speech...