I feel I am being harassed at work? My job holds me after work past what their policy states in the handbook.?

Question

I spoke with my boss and he said the policy is just a guideline not what they practice. I talked to a couple of other employees at my job and asked them about starting a union. A couple of days later I ended up in another supervisors office being questioned about why I was talking about starting a union and that we don't need a union. Soon after this meeting I started getting held over later and later. No one else is being held over as late as me. They refuse to replace my company uniforms even though they are ragged. The kicker is today I worked with a new partner and he said he was sent to work with me to watch what I am doing and report to the supervisors. My question is I'm I being harrassed? I feels like it.

Answer 1

It would help to know what kind of work you do and how you are paid (salary, hourly?). As an hourly employee, they cannot force you to stay past your schedueled hours. Even then, they must pay you overtime after a certain number of hours (depending on which state you live in). As a salaried employee, you probably have less of a chance of fighting it. In either case, you are perfectly within your rights to organize a union. If you are fired, then I'd take my case to a lawyer (make sure you are keeping careful documentation of all times, dates, and content of all meetings). You are definitely being harrassed.

Answer 2

I have been a union steward for almost 20 years. I can state clearly that you are being harrassed. I do not know how old you are. You sound young. You are young enough to go get a job where you can be represented by a union. Go get a state or county job. When you mentioned the word union in a private workplace you became a threat and someone who cannot be trusted. They are now building a case to fire you. You can turn things around. You can appologize to your supervisor for mentioning the word union in the workplace and then keep your mouth shut. You must work all hours and work even harder than anyone else or; you could go get a state or county job where you would have a union.

Answer 3

I don't know what you do, or where you're at, or even how you're paid (hourly vs salary), but it certainly sounds as if someone is trying to get rid of you, either by having you get fed up enough to quit or catching you doing something that they can fire you for. Employee handbooks are guidelines, not policies - so they have a point there. I have handbooks for my employees, but if you read through it enough there's probably a disclaimer in there somewhere, something like "and other duties as assigned". Document carefully and thoroughly what happens, when it happens, who was present, what was said by whom to whom, etc. Not only will this help you by pointing out patterns, but will also be something you can give to counsel when the time comes and you want true advise on whether you are being harassed and what you can do about it. When you're required to stay late document the time that everyone else left - to prove that they're singleing you out.

Answer 4

They are trying to either make you quit or find a reason to fire you for your union comments. Companies without a union will do Anything to keep one out. You would probably be better off to find another job, since it sounds like they will never stop harassing you. If for some reason you just don't want to leave, then at least document everything, dates, times, who said what etc. If you think you may want to sue for harassment, you should request to get their comments and your responses recorded in writing and request to have a copy for your records.

Answer 5

It sounds like they are trying to make you quit because of your union organizing activities. I would file a complain with your human resource department noting the times, dates and what was said or done. This behavior will either come to an end or increase but either way I suggest you start looking for a new job where you might be happier.....I ahve a feeling that it will only get worse for you before it gets better

Answer 6

I don't know what state your in but, companies like Wal-mart, have been taken to court for making their employees work extra without pay. (The employees won). If your new partner said that he is suppose to watch you, he is giving you a heads up. They are trying to get a case to fire you.