What do you do when covid has you trapped?

Question

About 2 weeks before covid hit my area I reported another employee for harassment. Both my managers and my HR stated that unless I wanted to press formal charges nothing could be done. My request as project manager was simply to be removed from a project I work with him on so that there would be no more daily interaction. They declined stating I was needed for the success of the project. I started a job search but since covid hit its been very hard to find something in the project management space. I am a mom with 2 kids to support on my own. The timing of this situation has turned what would have been an easy situation to leave into something much more complex. Sharing to get any insight from this network in case there are options I am just not thinking of.

Anonymous · Answer

HR let you down; I suggest you go back to them with some specifics about what you expect. 
Remove him from the project (if you are essential, he must be less so). 
Require him to go through formal, documented retraining. 
If he violated policy, his manager must document it in writing. I don't know if you are legally allowed to know whether this happens, so I ask some of our FGB HR experts to help out here. 
I understand why you would want to leave. On behalf of all of the women at the company, though, please also make a stronger attempt to 'encourage' the company to  fix the problem.
In my experience, if someone behaves inappropriately around one person, they will do so around others. Each of us has a role to play in breaking the chain.

Erin McCabe-Barbera · Answer

I agree HR response is horrid however no matter where I worked I have learned one thing , HR is not there for employees it is there for the company to try to stem lawsuits I have been sexually harassed and was going to report it but when another woman did they transferred her miles and miles away from where she lived and the boss just went in to Harry’s several women for years myself included, I have never seen an HR department that was honestly concerned with employees , maybe I have just been at the wrong companies that could be but I always am skeptical when HR wants your “ honest” opinion or take a complaint . You are worth more, just do your job and try to get out keep a record of everyThing this guy says and keep a record of HR responses  and when They respond and just keep looking for a new job

Luaskya Nonon · Answer

This is an unacceptable response from HR. You didn't indicate if they conducted an investigation into your allegations, but nevertheless you should not have been forced to work with someone who had/was harassing you. They continued to put your life/well-being in danger, and they did not create a safe work environment for you. That is unacceptable, and may be actionable under the law. You may want to consider filing a claim with your local EEOC office. Be sure to document all your communications with HR, management and the harasser. Good luck.

Joanna Poe · Answer

Your employer is clearly not interested in change. File a charge with the EEOC, if you're in the states. https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/what-you-should-know-what-do-if-you-believe-you-have-been-harassed-work

Anonymous · Answer

I feel the same way I was suppose to have waited when school was out before the corona hit and relocate so I could be closer to my sister and leave my job of 6 years to do something. Every since I was at my current job now I been having problems after problems. Relationship, financial and car issues and everything else that comes along with it. I was so stress out my neck and every other part of my body aches every single day. I applied for jobs within the plant was denied all of them like someone was holding me there. My supervisor has written me up 3 times for nothing basically doing my job and blaming me for other people mistakes. I started praying a lot more than I was because I couldn't sleep. I talked to the Lord about everything I was going thru I decided to put my two weeks notice in on this coming Friday. When I are fed up you leave. I don't mind starting over at all. I don't care at all no more. I only have one life to live and children. I am going make me and my kids happy. Always remember what God has for you is for you. Stepping out on my 'FAITH' and start over.

Anonymous · Answer

If they wanted you to press 'formal charges' or they would take no action you need to consider the seriousness of this persons actions towards you when taking your next steps. If you feel unsafe, or threatened - beyond just upset that he has been harassing you, you need to make sure there is a formal complaint in writing from you. I know its scary and a risk, but if you felt like it was enough to report to HR in the first place it is enough to file a formal complaint. If they mean press charges, as in external law enforcement- I would also reiterate my point about making an in writing complaint to the company.

Faith Engler · Answer

Have you tried telling the harasser that in order for this project to succeed, they'll need to keep their opinions to themselves?

Alexandra Jacqueline Annala · Answer

Please be very careful when treading on delicate social, political, and legal ground.  While your company executives, management, and supervisors have a legal obligatikon to manage inappropriate remarks, behaviors, and harassment once they are aware there may be a problem - they are really not allowed to demand that you file a formal complaint, provide additional proof, and/or do anything beyond cooperate in good faith with their efforts to investigate and manage the situation to avoid further liability.  I would privately document all communications, keep a bound diary of interactions with your management and your harasser, keep copies off site, and try to avoid where possible putting yourself in position for further harassment without witnesses present. I would continue to notify management about further instances of harassment. But, you may want to be careful about specific demands for how management monitors, counsels, and/or intervenes either publicly or privately in this situation.  You generally have a considerable time to file with the federal EEOC and/or state fair employment agencies, and I would be reticent to file outside the company until you are prepared to move on to another company and endure the many months of outside investigation to get to the point they issue a right to sue  letter you can take to your own counsel to endure many more years of litigation against what is likely to be an intransigent and defensive employer that may turn around and sue you for costs.  In the end, while EEOC and/or state fair employment agencies can, in theory, be helpful in promoting better behavior at work, launching an EEOC and/or state investigation may not always be helpful in remaining in place or advancing within your company.  Given what you have said so far about your concerns, please do consider whether you can use your persuasive powers to gently nudge the company and folks around you to manage the problem employee and/or whether it may be time to find a better position with a group that respects their formal legal obligations to you. In the long run, given the modern employment at will and pleasure environment, the financial rewards of formal litigation may be very low, and the costs may be high, so that if a company is intransigent about investigating and managing harassment, the wise career choice may be to find a more helpful supervisor in a more supportive working environment.  You can always consult a private employment attorney (often without cost for an initial consultation) about your concerns and their advice about how to properly respond, document, and potentially litigate.  But, be careful of ambulance chaser type attorneys who might take a case on contingency hoping to make a few bucks on your pain and suffering, saying there will be no legal costs on their part, but leave you holding the bag when the employer countersues for their costs. ?

Rebecca Lee V · Answer

Since COVID, have you been working in the office or from home? And has the harassment continued?

Anonymous · Answer

I was asked to show some proof which I did via a series of text messages and emails that had been sent over the course of several years. I was then told that I’d have to press charges and show further proof to substantiate my claims. I refused saying all I wanted was to be removed from the project. The person I reported is a very senior long term employee that is highly regarded.  I have never heard of any harassment training and I have worked there for many years now. I was told he was not going to hear anything about it to “protect the working relationship” since I could not be removed from the project.

What do you do when covid has you trapped?

You're invited.

See what women are sharing on Fairygodboss.