If you had a young member of staff, who said that another member of had touched her bum. what do u do?

Question

I am a manager, but not hers. she is swearing to secrecy. But silently I want to hit the creep. Help!

Thanks for all the advice. But in this day and age intuition does not win claims against you. I have to explain I work for a company that advises franchaises.

Answer 1

I would have a quiet word with her manager, presuming he is not the offending party. If he is then I would go to the person above him. You need not go into details, just say that you have been told in confidence that that man had wandering hands and that younger females of staff resented his approach. Say that you feel that the problem needs addressing as it could get the firm in hot water for not protecting their female staff but it is not up to you to deal with the situation as it is not in your department.

Answer 2

If under 16, then you would have to take it seriously, because of parents/police getting involved ect, if 16-18, then the parents probably wouldn't need to get in involved & you should enquire to wether it was done in jest, or more serious, if over 18, it should be looked upon as being done in jest towards that person, but still ask as to wether they thought it was done in jest or not. If done in jest (in all circumstances), you should get that member of staff to appologise, if otherwise you should go down a disaplinary route regardless of age & get the police involved if the person involved is under 16. You might consider this aspproach a bit over the top, but you can not be seen to be supporting such behavior or taking a soft approach, especially with the politically correct culture that we now live in.

Chris.

Answer 3

you need to get the person who is doing the "touching" and- without being specific - reiterate the company anti- harrasment policy to them. And document it. You don't have to mention specific people or incidents at this stage.

I know something about harrassment. When there are only two people involved, it's OK to go by your 'perceptions" of what took place.

What we are talking about here is sexual harrassment in the workplace, and not to be taken lightly. It doesn't matter whose manager you are, YOU are a manager and now you are aware, so you have to act. Get something in writing to protect yourself.
You have no choice.

Don't forget that the girl may be over-reacting, but I doubt it. Young women don't take any s hit these days.

Answer 4

You log the complaint in the presence of both parties so that you are seen to fair to both.

You ask the two to put in writing exactly what happened and sign their presentations.

You examine the evidence anmd ask any witnesses. If none are present you tell both that no further action will be taken but the complaint remains on log as unactioned. That way it would not happen again, even if the bum toucher was perv.

Also the tounced will not be touched by anyone else as long as he/she remains with that firm.

Make it known to the company staff what has been done and why.

Answer 5

I would bring it up in the whole organisation...for instance..in the newsletter on on the notice board reiterate the sexual harassment policy. 'Just to remind all staff that we do not tolerate sexual, racial harassment etc and the penalties are...'
This happened in a place I used to work but was a different issue.(racial) as soon as we did this it stopped.

If the member of staff does not wish to file a grievance then there is nothing you can do.

Please tell her not to accept this though...it is not acceptable next time it happens she should bring it up straight away.

Answer 6

I'm surprise she is swearing you to secrecy. If you were her manager you should see both of them in your office and confront the person and see how they defend themselves and judge for yourself if he/she did it. Your intuition should help you see the truth.

Answer 7

Ha ha ha ha ha 'grossly dissadvantaged' thats fantastic wording. But yeah ive got to aggree with that, and add that you shouldn't automatically believe either party. The workplace should have CCTV, why not check that out?

Answer 8

"Accidentally" knock the crap out of him--you know--like a handful of heavy stuff --and you 'fall' up against him, but hold on to the stuff. That'll get him back.

Oh, and apologize, of course.