To ask for help with harassment?

[Mandalorian]

I'll try to give detail without outing. I'm sorry this will be long.

DD is 19 and works in a mostly male environment. She's been there for about 16 months now, is training on the job and loves it. There is some banter amongst the team which DD takes in good grace as it never crosses a line, however, she has encountered a problem with another staff member who I'll call A.

A and DD for the most part work opposite shifts, but their paths often cross between shift changes. Last year there were a few comments toward DD and some messages sent on Facebook about how 'sexy' she was etc. DD informed A she had a boyfriend, wasn't interested and blocked him.

It transpires that since then A has stepped up his game. DD has admitted to several instances where he has assaulted her by pinching her bottom and he's followed her into a store room and attempted to pull down her trousers. By this point DD had reported to her manager who told her it was going to be dealt with.

Today DD was walking through work with a colleague when A walked past her shouting 'Show us your tits'. Colleague is happy to act as a witness.

HR are not there at the moment, she has spoken to her boss who once again has said he'll deal with it, however, I have little faith in this happening.

DD is on an early shift tomorrow and could well find herself with A. My immediate thought it to put it all into writing, go into HR and then come home.

Any advice? Incidentally, I wanted her to go straight to the Police over the assault, however the business in question has made clear in the past (money thefts from lockers) that and Police involvement out of house will not be looked on favourably and DD loves her job.

DH wants to accost A on the car park and murder him. Thus far I've managed to persuade him that we need to deal with this properly for DD's sake.

[leighb23]

Yes put it in writing telling them plainly that you will be contacting the police unless they are seen to be acting on this disgusting behaviour.
It is sexual assault. Why are the company willing to be complicit in this thugs' criminal behaviour? Good luck x

[DJBaggySmalls]

Get your DD to contact ACAS for support
The Acas helpline number is 0300 123 1100. It is available Monday 8am-8pm, Tuesday 8am-6pm, Wednesday to Thursday 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday 9am-1pm.

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2042

Make sure she tells them the business doesn't like them to go to the police.

[Mandalorian]

Thank you both.
Business is large and a familiar name so they don't like bad press. She has apparently spoken to manager again who has agreed to go with her to HR tomorrow.

[Rainydayspending]

Police involvement wont be looked on favourably? Wtaf?
It's sexual assault and they're trying to what? Intimidate her into ignoring that. HR not being there is unacceptable. That's just a role/ job title - a senior member of staff has to deal with this as a safeguarding issue for a member of staff, pronto- she's demonstrably at risk of around A, they apparently have done nothing to prevent a recurrence.

[Mandalorian]

Rainy, there was a spate of thefts last year, DD had £80 taken from her purse. They would not involve police. I wanted DD to but she didn't want to rock the boat.