Suitable working environment

[Beechmum]

DD1 is 18 and has just finished her A-Levels, she’s decided not to go to university for the moment and is applying for full time jobs.

Yesterday DD had an interview at a local haulage company for an admin role. The depot is on some wasteland, the office is a large porta-cabin. DD said she was interviewed by the only other woman who works there (the lady is near retiring age), the other people in the office were truckers. As DD left she saw 4 men looking at her bum as she walked passed them.

I feel uncomfortable with the working conditions but also feel that DD needs to start somewhere. DD doesn’t her back until Friday so this may not even be a concern.

YANBU - DD shouldn’t be working in an environment where she feels she’s being leered at and she should at least expect the comfort of a permanent building with decent toilets.

YABU - DD is old enough to cope with these conditions and I shouldn’t be worrying about them on her behalf.

She should not expect to be leared at.

She should have an appropriate desk (DSE regs) and the office should be an appropriate temperature but this is only 16 C minimum so she might need jumper etc in a portacabin in winter. As long as the toilet works, anything more is a bonus.

She might need to take part in a cleaning rota with other female staff who use the toilet if there is not a cleaner for the site, but it isn't really reasonable to expect office staff to clean the men's toilet.

Not all offices are in nice buildings with nice toilets in nice locations, as she has discovered. She can only give it a go.

Not all jobs involve nice offices. And unfortunately it would be hard to prove being leered at.

Your dd needs to develop a thick skin, some warm, shapeless clothing and accept that cleaning may be park of the job.

Then when she has 12 months experience, move somewhere better.