Employment Law: Harassment, Intimidation, and Other Workplace Evils
How Many Ways Can Work Make You Miserable?
Several websites keep track of settlements in cases of harassment and discrimination, and the damage awards in some recent settlements genuinely stagger the imagination: A woman in Illinois, an employee of her local police department, recently collected $12.5 million when one of the police officers, despite repeated warnings and occasional discipline, persisted in his unwanted advances. In another settlement, a woman passed-over for promotion because she refused sexual favors to her boss, won just a few thousand in compensatory damages but $8.5 million in punitive damages; and the Courts upheld the award on appeal.
On the websites, the word “million” appears far more often than you might suspect, because the Courts want businesses and managers to understand: There is zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination, favoritism, reprisal, or any of the other misconduct that used to hide under the insidious disguise “boys will be boys.”
Many women remain reluctant to come forward with complaints against their co-workers or supervisors. In most cases, fear and shame discourage them; often, frustration aggravates their reluctance, because they have complained to Human Resources Managers, and their complaints have brought no relief. Some women also wisely anticipate that, if a case goes to court, the defense will try to make the woman responsible for the abuse she suffered—blaming the victim for the crime remains a sadly effective defense.
Do not let anything get in the way of pursuing your claim against your employer. Skilled labor-relations and personal injury attorneys can show you how to make your case and shield yourself from retribution. Often, an attorney’s simple reassurance, “No, you did not imagine this, and yes it is wrong,” brings huge relief, reassurance, and new-found courage to a woman who has endured a supervisor’s abuse for far too long. Sometimes, insidious management tricks hide abuse: for example, if a supervisor repeatedly documents disciplinary infractions, filling your file with negative reports, it eventually becomes harassment. A manager who asks you to overlook his violation of company policy or procedure has violated your rights and is subject to complaint. And if you feel you must answer to higher standards than your colleagues, even under the guise, “We expect more of you because you are such a great performer,” you have endured discrimination.
Even if “boys will be boys,” women have powerful legal tools for showing them they cannot get away with it. If you believe you have suffered any kind of workplace abuse, contact a personal injury attorney and get your day in court.
