Is this sexual harassment? What can i do about it?

Question

I work in a gym and i constantly receive inappropriate comments from some of the members there. Last night while i was demonstrating exercises to a new member, 2 members were making comments about my appearance and generally being quite rude. I asked them to stop and they continued. So i left the area. When they came to the desk, they apologised and said they were only joking but this is not the first time this has happened and they continue to do it. I have spoken to my boss about it before and she just says it is to be expected from men in a gym. What can i do about it? How do i get it to stop?

Thank you to some of you for your more sensible answers. To the ones who said 'wear more clothing' for your information i was wearing a fleece and jogging bottoms - hardly revealing!!!

Answer 1

wear more clothing

Answer 2

The most important thing is to convince your boss that "it's to be expected from men in a gym" is the wrong answer. You can't control what someone on the street says, but you can stop people from behaving badly in a business. The gym needs to have, post, and enforce rules about sexual harassment. If the gym tolerates it, it will continue. Check into the laws about sexual harassment in the workplace, and politely but firmly confront your boss about it.

In the meantime, you can try confronting the offenders about it when it happens. You need to be polite but very clear, and figure out a way to make them feel badly about it. There's the old, "How would you feel if someone spoke to your mother/sister/wife/daughter that way?" It's partially about power, so you have to say it with strength behind it - you don't want to sound whiny. There's no guarantee that this will help, of course.

Finally, if the gym doesn't change, and the guys don't stop, you have to decide if you're willing to put up with it. If not, all you can do is leave. Find another gym that has better sexual harassment policies (or find one that is geared toward women).

Answer 3

You can speak to your employer and organize other staff with the same issue and request that there be a clause in the membership contract that states harassing the staff and other members will result in you membership being revoked. Sell is to your boss as a way to make a safe and more relaxed environment that people of all ages, shapes, and colors can enjoy without the fear of inappropriate behaviour.

Unfortunately when you are working with the public there is always going to be a level of harassment. I used to sell ink cartridges, yes printer ink cartridges and would routinely get hit on and harassed. I found that politely requesting them to stop will work in some instances. However you really do need the backing of a good manager. If you manager is unable to create a comfortable workplace for you it may be time to start handing out more resumes to see if there is somebody who will.

Answer 4

You are being harassed. Unfortunately, the harassment is caused by the clients , not the management. You do have the right to expect your management to require that its patrons treat you respectfully, however not to the level that it would adversely effect their business. Courts have ruled that in certain work environments there is a tacit understanding that would allow the perception of harassment.
For example, an exotic dancer would not be allowed to claim her management allowed its patrons to make lewd comments to her. In your case, you work in an environment that is about beautifying one's body. Hence, many comments patrons may make about your body would be considered acceptable, where they wouldnt be if say you were a waitress. There is obviously a line that should not be crossed. If the comments are so blatantly offensive that anyone would be offended, then management must act (canceling a membership, issuing a warning, posting guidelines to all members) or risk litigation.

Answer 5

Without knowing specifics, it is hard to tell, but it does sound like it may be sexual harrassment and if so, your boss is wrong to brush it off as "it is to be expeced from men in a gym". It is sounds like your supervisor is lazy and not doing her job.

You should be able to go to whoever the supervisor on duty is to report any problem and they should be the ones to point out to the members in, a diplomatic way, that the comments they are making are inappropriate and they need to stop. If the continue, at the point the supervisor should warn them that if they continue, they will be asked to leave for the evening. If they continue, they should be asked to leave and/or escorted out. The reason for bascially giving them the "Three Strikes, You Are Out" option and only kicking out per indicent is because they are "members" and membership dues pays the bills. If they were co-workers, they would not be afforded that much latitude.


As your boss doesn't want to do her job, your options are to go over her head to her boss, which could boss, which could backfire if she is vengeful and she will watch you like a hawk until she finds a reason to fire you, find another job, or step up what you are already doing...if they make inappropriate comments, call them on it and even ask them if they are aware they what they are doing is sexual harrassment. If they continue, ask them how they would like if their wife/girlfriend/daughter were treated in the manner they are treating you or someone treated them that way on their job when all you are trying to do is your job. If they continue, you have every right to walk away from the situation like you have done. Focus on the behavior, not them personally.

If you fear that speaking up for yourself will cost you your job, start documenting everything now in a notebook. If you would end up fired, you should be able to collect unemployment as you have met due diligence in trying to resolve the matter and your employer allowed a hostile work environment to flourish by failing to address the issue when you brought it to their attention. You may also have grounds for a Civil suit.

Answer 6

I'm sorry that I don't have an educated, or legal answer to your question. I am just so disgusted at the other answers here that I have to at least acknowledge you.

It IT sexual harrassment. And your boss should do something about it. Is there some one higher up than your immediate boss? Even the actual owner of the gym? There needs to be a strict policy against members harrassing the staff. Tell your boss that you refuse to work with any member that harrasses you. And yes, I am sure you can threaten to sue if need be. Anyway, I suggest speaking with anyone you can at the company who can help you.

And don't listen to the jerk that said women need to work in an office. Women can work anywhere they damn well please.

**EDIT***
in the time it took me to write this, there were some nice, good answers. so, apologies to those who put in the effort, I didn't mean you! :-)

Answer 7

If the harassment is coming from gym members, it may not be considered "workplace harassment" as traditionally thought of. Sexual harassment like I think you are referring to typically is defined as co-worker to co-worker or boss to employee. Since this is coming from the membership, it would be something different. I'm not sure what. Is there anything in the gym guidelines about harassment of other members? Or staff? Maybe it's a police matter? However, if you tell your boss about it and she does nothing (like warning the members that their memberships will be pulled or something) then she may be liable for any emotional damage you incur.

Don't know for sure, just a thought. NO ONE under any circumstances should have to put up with that. And for the bozo's above who tell you to change...they're idiots. They are the same people who sit on jury's and say that "the girl 'asked' to be raped because she didn't wear panties or got drunk." Some people are IDIOTS!

Answer 8

I would think your boss would be more on your side (especially since you've said it makes you uncomfortable) and ask them not to come back...

You shouldn't have to be subjected to rude comments like that at your workplace. A gym is no different than any other job, and that I know comments like that wouldn't fly where I work.

I hope it gets straightened out and your boss handles it in a more professional manner.

Answer 9

Start to document everything that has happened and continues to happen. John X and Joe E said, abc to me on Mar 2, Mar 18, Mar 29, and Apr 3. Then take that to your boss. If she doesn't resolve the issue, document that as well and take it to her boss. Add in there that you spoke with your boss, Jane R, who said to grin and bear it. If that boss doesn't take care of the issue go to the next level. If there is no one higher, then take all the documentation to an attorney.

Answer 10

As you have described the incident, being rude cannot be classified as sexual harrassment unless they were referring
to your bust or buttocks etc.
Being an employee and they being members defines them as employer and employee status in which case if they persist in sexually harrassing you then you have a good case to take them to court. Consult a lawyer.or get a boyfriend who looks like Swazzeneger, I can never get his name right.

Answer 11

My mother taught me to respect women. My advice: 1st document every step and situation in writing in a journal. Next step put complaint in writing to management...nothing done...contact the state attorney generals office see if behavior is a violation of state law. If a violation of law has occurred contact a civil lawyer and follow through...during this process get another job.