My girlfriend is being harassed at work, what should she do?

Question

My girlfriend works overnights at Target, but there is this guy on day-side who is sexually harassing her. She told her supervisor, and when the Store Manager talked to the guy, he said that she wanted this, and therefore the Store Manager is paint my girlfriend as the bad guy. Plus he is still not leaving her alone. We are afraid to go to the Police because we are afraid that this guy will tell the police that same thing, and then my girlfriend might get arrested for making a false police report. What should we do about this?

Answer 1

Harassment at work is illegal and the complaint is all she needs.  Contact the HR person at Target or, at least, the corporate office, tell them that you are being harassed, that your store manager is not taking it seriously and you need help.

It is really not a police issue but it would be OK to contact the state Division of Human Rights or the Federal EEOC and they will take the complaint and investigate.  No one should suffer from harassment at work.

Answer 2

What hes doing is against the law. She should go to the police & leave her job immediatly and put a compliment to head office about her mangers treatment. its companies policy to take all complains especially sexually harassment seriously. Tell ur gf to keep a note of the times and days and the things he does, it will back her story up when she gives a statement to the police and to the police its an allegtion till their has been hard evidence given.. Good Luck x

Answer 3

well i think that she should ask to transfer stores because she cant work with this guy or she can go to some one higher than the person she told

Answer 4

Bring a tape recorder to work record the episode where she is asking him to stop. The call the police and file a complaint with the manager while they are there. Under the whistle blowers act they can't fire her.

Answer 5

Call the target district manager.  Things like this are not taken lightly and the manager will be in some hot water.  At the very least you can get a restraining order against him, but it will cost about $100.  When she calls the district manager she should tell them that she is about to quit and will file an unsafe work environment case against them.  The fact that he has contacted her after a confrontation by the manager should be grounds for immediate dismissal.  Request  an notice for the offender that he is not to approach her in any way or only in the presence of another manager. If he does so without, there are probably cameras in the store to check out her story.

Try to get the District managers email and repeat everything that you said in a phone call.  Then you have legal documentation.

Answer 6

If the manager has not done anything about it then she needs to contact her HR rep. for the store she works for. They will do something about it and get the guy to stop. If this does not work then file a complaint with the EEOC. (The police will not respond to a call about sexual harassment, only if he's threatening violence. These types of claims are handled by the EEOC)

Don't bring a tape recorder to work and "secretly tape someone". In a number of states that is against the law to tape someone without their consent and she could get in trouble for doing it.

Answer 7

She needs to tell her supervisor that she will be calling the corporate office if he does not take care of this situation.  The corporate office will have a ombudsman I would think... they could advise her and document her grievances properly.  She needs to be firm with her supervisor and tell the supervisor she will not tolerate this behavior any longer and that she is afraid

Answer 8

She needs to get his actions recorded either on video (best) or tape recorder, then go to the police so that you have evidence to show them.  

Answer 9

I understand that you have a fear of filing a "false report" to the Police.  It is quite possible that they guy may do, and say the same thing.  What I would recommend doing is to tell your girlfriend to tell the guy something like "Alright listen buddy, if you don't knock it off (or grow up--whatever) I will sue you for sexual harassment."

If she smiles, or looks uncofident then the guy will take it as a joke and continue his nonsensical things.  She has to look him straight in the eye and say it, and sound very serious.  

The guy should stop but if he doesn't then I would recommend hiring a Lawyer and explain the situation to the Lawyer.  After the Lawyer, go and tell the Police.  If he tells the Police the same thing then, if you could, file a law suit against him, in other words- sue him.

There's too many problems in this world.  Sexual harrasment shouldn't be one of them.  It's very immature, and could cause someone to feel less secure about themselves, and it could also cause them to remember it for the rest of there life.  

If you need any more help or ideas, feel free to contact me at any time.  I hope this helped, good luck!

Answer 10

be careful with this one bubba. i went through the same exact thing and found out. that in fact she was very much a willing participant. it can make you look like a total ***. good luck

Answer 11

dude talk to the manager again ...if nothing happens again go to the police, something has to be done if he is really harrasing her....personally i would prolly beat that guys *** haha....but then jailtime would be served...so talk to higher-ups 1st

Answer 12

ok so if she dont wanna be around this guy then why doesnt she quit the fricken job?

or maybe........

(the following might be impossible because i have an overactive imagination)

you hide a camera somewhere the fricken boss cant find then if you catch him harassing your girlfriend youll have it all on tape!!

then you can show the police as evidence!!

i no i no not too great but can work!!

Answer 13

It sounds like you are both very young.  You cannot be charged with filing a false police report unless it is.  First have her read her employee handbook.  There is a poster that is in her break room at work it is the one that has the minimum wage and payday notice. They are usually red, white and blue.  It will have information on sexual harrassment and who to contact.  It is important to follow the guide as this is the only way to really handle the matter.  In the mean time she does have to make it very clear to the guy that he needs to stop harrassing her.  She doesn't need to go on and on about having someone etc. Some harrassers are blatant and will do this in front of another employee. This is the time to make it known. Very loudly tell him to stop _______ her. Then repeat it again  Maybe add in the phrase have I made myself clear, do you understand I do not want you_____________me again.  Now others know and with any luck one of them will approch her and then management will take it serious.  

I know Target does have a harrassment policy and if the Corporate offices knew it was not being taken seriously there could be reprocussions. Maybe your GF Companies do not want to be sued on this issue especially

And even if your GF had a thing with this guy in the past or if there may have been a misinterpetation of her smile.  They guy still needs to stop if she has made it clear she does not want this action he is taking. Whether if is verbal things he is saying or touching her or getting too close. She has the right to say no.  

Answer 14

is the guys harrasing her under cameras? if so that's proof right there... if the store manager isn't doing anything, try a different high ranked worker, also report him to the better business bureau and go to the police

and why don't you man up and do something about it, like directly speak to the guy, anyone messes with my fiance and that's the first thing i would do

Answer 15

I think that you should talk to the police and perhaps try to file a restraining order on the guy. I don't think the police will believe the other guy if you're trying to file a restraining order on him so he can't get near you. You might also want to try going above her immediate supervisor and talking to someone higher up. Maybe even complaining to the main office. It sounds like they're making her work-life miserable, but is it possible that she might get fired if the supervisor keeps taking the other side?

Your girlfriend will not be arrested for making a false police report if she hasn't.  

Answer 16

Have your girlfriend quit, she is in some serious danger tell the police send her to work if she doesn't quit with a tape recorder so that if it happens she has evidence. If this is happening the police will usually believe the victim, and if this guy seems shady it just helps her cause.

Answer 17

Maybe you should contact the head executive of the target union. or find a different job.

Answer 18

get a tape recorder and have her record what he is saying to her, then turn it into the police so she will have proof. If not that then she should get a new job, it's not worth being harassed by some creep that shouldn't even be a part of her life. Or go to the police first and ask what you can do to show them proof first. They may have a better idea.