Legal Question in Employment Law in California

Verbal and Mental Abuse in the work place..
The CFO of the company I work for is very verbally and mentally abusive. He constantly makes remarks to me about how uneducated I am, and has made jokes about guessing the grade level of my education. He makes racial remarks about mexicans, at the time not knowing that I am mexican. He makes me work very late hours from around 10 to 13 hours a day. When I explain to him how tired and hungry I am his comment is, ''Well you better hurry up then, huh?'' On serveral occassions he has done this to me, and when i finally am done he isn't even in his office working but is having dinner with the rest of the managers. I cry every day at work and at home. I am suffering daily, as is my family and friends. It makes me ill just thinking about going to work. I have expressed my concerns to the owner and his reply is '' Well i didn't hire him for his personality''. I don't know what else to do. There aren't many jobs out there and it is very difficult for me to just quit. Am I overreacting? Or am I right to think that this is unacceptable?

Asked on 2/22/05, 2:28 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys

Robert F. Cohen Law Office of Robert F. Cohen

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Re: Verbal and Mental Abuse in the work place..

Have you told the owner about the comments about Mexicans and how they made you feel? That is harassment, but the company must have an opportunity to know about it and correct it. If so, put it in writing so that you keep a copy as a record.

As for the other personality "problems" of the CEO, you might talk to a lawyer who specializes in stress-related workers' compensation claims. Also, you likely should begin quietly looking for a new job so that you won't have to put up with his abuse much longer. I hope you're getting paid overtime for the extra hours you're putting in. If not, there are legal remedies for that, as well. Good luck to you.

Answered on 3/22/05, 3:35 pm

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Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

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Re: Verbal and Mental Abuse in the work place..

If you can prove the illegal racial remarks were made, you have grounds for legal action. Contact me if interested in pursuing this, rather than continuing to suffer it.

Answered on 3/22/05, 4:09 pm

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