Sexual harassment - what can I do?

[PinkLadyFriday]

I am being sexually harassed at work by a man. My boss is aware and has chosen to do nothing, it is a very small company with no HR. He calls me and adds the term sweetie, sweet pea, darling, honey bunch at the end of every sentence. I’ve asked him to stop. He sends me texts with the emojis that are highly inappropriate which I’ve sent to my boss.
The harasser has been working elsewhere for a couple of weeks which has been lovely, but he returned today. He works in a building which is a ten minute walk from mine but came into my office 5 times and called me 4 times.
WTAF can I do about this? I love my job and need it’s well paid salary so can’t walk out and I’m unlikely to get the same pay elsewhere.

Is your boss the only boss?

Yes, the owner of the business.

Are you in a union?

If your employer is aware of the situation and isn’t doing anything about it then legally they are complicit in the harassment: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/discrimination-at-work/checking-if-its-discrimination/if-youre-being-harassed-or-bullied-at-work/

I would tell your boss again and make it clear if they won’t deal with it you will be involving a lawyer.

Tell your boss he either takes this seriously or you will.
Tell him you have kept everything, every text every email and unless it stops you will take it further.
Sometimes you have to step up even when you shouldn't because wankers!

Join a union. Or engage a solicitor. Your boss is complicit. Get legal advice.

Sorry, I don’t know what can be done about this in a small company (I’m assuming it’s small). Did your boss respond with how they dealt with it?

Possibly an email to the boss along the lines of “Can you give me an update on how the conversation with xxx went? I’m not noticing a change in his behaviour.” You could also ask “How would you like me to deal with this harassment going forwards?”

If boss replies in writing that they want you to just ignore it (put up with it) then you would have some strong evidence for a constructive dismissal claim in the future should you choose to go down that route.

On a positive note - schools are really starting to get to grips with this stuff, so there should be fewer men like this in the next generation 🙂

Tell your boss to take it seriously or you will involve the police. If he won’t warn the perverted off the police will.

It's not a police matter, obviously. Put everything in writing and write to your boss, saying that you're concerned that nothing is being done about it so you want to make sure that he has the full details. Ask him what he'll be doing about it.

Send it as an email, and copy the email to your personal email address, so you have it. Keep all evidence of what's happening (eg texts). Keep a record of what the man does in the future and what the business does about it.

I second a union. They will have people trained to help you with this and ensure it's all above board.

Is he actually sexually harassing you? It’s not clear from your post. If it’s just the endearments and emojis is it not just that he’s a bit of a twat?

He sounds like a massive pain in the arse but is there any reason you can’t just say ‘fuck off Geoff, I’m not your sweetheart’?

When you say inappropriate emojis are we talking about a kissy smiley or an aubergine?

@Itsalmostanaccessory

Join a union. Or engage a solicitor. Your boss is complicit. Get legal advice.

This. Don't get advice here when it's about your well-being and employment!

This isn't sexual harassment. Calling someone sweetie, although patronising is not sexual harassment.

If you find it offensive tell him to stop?

Block him on your phone.

Document everything. Keep a log.

How long have you worked at your company?

@maffhew

This isn't sexual harassment. Calling someone sweetie, although patronising is not sexual harassment.

If you find it offensive tell him to stop?

It's in the OP. She has asked him to stop.

@maffhew

This isn't sexual harassment. Calling someone sweetie, although patronising is not sexual harassment.

If you find it offensive tell him to stop?

It’s a workplace. It is.

And she has.

@maffhew

This isn't sexual harassment. Calling someone sweetie, although patronising is not sexual harassment.

If you find it offensive tell him to stop?

In my opinion unwanted attention of a sexual nature is sexual harassment. I have asked him to stop and I’ve reported it to my boss. No union and it’s a very small company.

Unfortunately I can’t block him as I have to work with him.
I’ve worked there almost two years and this started about a year ago.
I don’t have to justify it as I know he creeps me out but he looks me up and down and looks at my chest when he thinks I don’t see him.

@Bessica1970

On a positive note - schools are really starting to get to grips with this stuff, so there should be fewer men like this in the next generation 🙂

I really hope this is the case. It frightens me so much to think my DD might grow up and encounter this type of behaviour or much worse just by going to work and living her life.

Good luck OP, you have had some really good advice here. Definitely join a union, keep a record of every single contact and report him every time. If necessary get the police involved.

Oh and you can block him, he is sexually harassing you and this must stop. If your boss won’t do anything you have to be able to control his contacts and at least stopping the phone calls is a start.

What about other colleagues, have they noticed this behaviour? They are witness to it, it would be good to at least have some support.

@maffhew

This isn't sexual harassment. Calling someone sweetie, although patronising is not sexual harassment.

If you find it offensive tell him to stop?

Sending repeated inappropriate texts could indeed be sexual harassment. Sending repeated in appropriate texts when asked not to is harassment. Employers have a duty of care to employees.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/discrimination-at-work/checking-if-its-discrimination/if-youre-being-harassed-or-bullied-at-work/

The union may not help you in this instance because you would be joining with an ongoing issue and as you have already raised it with your manager. It would be classed as a pre-existing issue.

You need to submit a formal grievance as per your company policy. You will then have a grievance hearing where your grievance will be upheld and staff member reprimanded. Or it will not be upheld and you can appeal the outcome.

There will be an appeal hearing and if the outcome is upheld, the staff member will be reprimanded.

If you appeal is not upheld, then you should take it to an employment solicitor if you wish to pursue it.

It would be a waste of money engaging a solicitor before exhausting the grievance procedure, which costs nothing for you to do yourself.

It doesnt matter how small the business is. Unions arent part of your individual business. All workers in the UK are entitled to join a union. You can use a union finder to find a union suitable for your sector.