Legal Question in Employment Law in California

The long and short of my question is, at what point does �it�s part of your job�, cross the line and become a hostile work environment? I have been a 9-1-1 police / fire dispatcher for 17 years. In that time, I have handled thousands of calls and listened to more tragedies than I care to remember. The future of 9-1-1 is to be able to take calls via text messages or video; I think forcing a dispatcher to watch the tragedy unfold is crossing the line. I have expressed my concerns to my superior and was told, �it�s just part of your job.� The first call via text message I was forced to open was a picture of a penis� what next? Dispatchers are classified as secretarial staff rather than public safety employees. How much are secretaries required to view as �part of their job?�


Asked on 7/29/14, 5:34 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

You've got a union issue that is not likely to go your way. I sympathize with you, but..... Your sensitivity to the call/facts is going to be a problem. The calls are naturally expected to be sad, traumatic, violence filled, emotional, etc. it really is 'part of the job' you'll have to deal with, just like any other operator. Making them text or video is probably intended to provide a more accurate way of assessing the situation to provide guidance to the police responding. Keep talking to management to work it out the best way possible.

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Answered on 7/31/14, 11:43 am


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