harassment suit?

Question

Let me start out by saying i am straight.

I work with a guy that is convinced that i told him i was gay. At first it didn't bother me. But he has gone around and told everyone at work that i am gay, and now i am trying to settle it. But when i tell him i'm not gay, he just pretty much shrugs his shoulder. He keeps telling me "dude, if you're gay, you can tell me, i won't mind." And he's being 100% serious. It has gotten to the point where i can't stand it anymore.

Then one night i had a note left on my POS desk. It read as follows:

"Pound it!
you're gay. Does that hurt your feelings?
--DON'T LIE"

it was written in girls handwriting. The situation is being investigated, and they are figuring out who wrote it.

Ok, that's the story. My question is, would it be possible to sue the person that wrote the note and the guy that keeps harrassing me?

I'm not looking for money compensation, just for the party to be made an example of.

incorrect, it does fall under harrassment. Joking at someone elses expense is harrassment. He doesn't have to grope me for it be harrassment.

it does also fall under slander because he was defaming me by attacking my reputation.

The situation with the note is being investigated by the company.

It's not the company's fault, so i don't want to sue them. I thought i could handle the situation, but then it got out of control, then i took it to management long after i should have.

Answer 1

You 'should' be able to since this statement has caused an effecct on your work enviroment and associations with other people. May also fall under slander instead, depending on your area and legal system.

Answer 2

Your personal sex life is none of their business at work, so if somebody is commenting that you are gay (whether you are or not), and keeps spreading the rumor, I would do something about it and show that this person and the person writing the note needs to stop the nonsense. You are at work to work, not to defend your character. If you want to sue, and not looking for monetary gain, then why would you sue?? Has management helped any? Have they put a stop to it? If not, then I would sue for sexual harrassment, have your documentation ready, and ask for pain and suffering. At least if a judge told him to stop and he didn't then you could have legal recourse. Talk it over to a lawyer as to sue the individual or the company for allowing this behavior to take place. Everybody has a right to work in a non-hostile work environment. Maybe the lawyer could take the case for free, but doubtful, so you will need to recover some money.

Answer 3

Call a office meeting. Let everyone know who the guy and girl is that have been saying your gay. Set the record straight and let everyone know they need to grow up in the work place. It's not a school yard. I would get a restraining order against the guy doing the harassing so he has to stay away from me. The girl needs to know their our legal repercussions. That might be enough to shut her up. These people are not your friends and I would not communicate with them. Just let everyone know the joke is over and you really don't care what they think after today. Tell them to move on to something else you have better things to do with your time and you will not waste one more minute defending your good name. Nor will you stoop to the level of childish behavior.

Answer 4

Forget it. It doesn't fit the definition of character defamation, slander, sexual harassment or criminal harassment. Ask for him to leave you alone or you will complain to management. That should stop him. You could work different shifts or transfer to another department. It's not like he groped you, called you a slut or threatened to have you fired for not dating him or sleeping with him.

Answer 5

You could sue your company if they allow a hostile workplace, so they had better do something to resolve the situation.