Legal Question in Employment Law in California

I work as a Loss Prevention Manager for Lowes in Antioch, Ca. On October 13, 2009, I left work at approximately 6pm. Loss Prevention Manager Javier Rios, who is training me, had pointed out a female in the parking lot and told me to watch out for her since she is an alleged prostitute. As I walked to my car, I was approached by the female but she did not solicit anything but asked for change. When I arrived to work the next day (October 14, 2009), Rios told me to read my email. When I read my email, I noticed that he sent an email to several people in the company including my Direct Boss, Area Loss Prevention Manager Shannon Clausen. The email stated, " I just watched our new LPM Jason get chased down and solicited by our coughing prostitute. You should have seen him try and run away and turn red when he seen me laughing at him. HILARIOUS! Let the hazing begin."

October 14, 2009, a male subject identified as a local transient was pan-handeling in the parking lot. We received a call about him and approached him in the parking lot and Rios asked him to leave Lowes parking lot. He did but came back about 5 minutes later. Rios and I again approached him and this time, the subject initiated a hand shake. I did shake his hand and Rios stated, "eww, why did you shake his hand?" The subject left the premises again and we returned back to the store. Once back in the store, Rios immediately started telling everyone that I shook a bum's hand. Taunting started by several employees. I then looked at my email and noticed Rios had sent an email to the same recipients. His email stated, "HAHA! He violated rule #1 today. NEVER SHAKE A BUMS HAND. HILARIOUS!" I then received emails from people I didn't know stating, "Wow!!! Javier, you have to stop allowing him to make the egregious errors. The bums will start to think he is a wimp. You can be cordial, but let them know that you are not going to stand for the foolishness." and "Lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another one has been duped! He didn't know what he was gettig himself into when he took that job!!!!!!! Welcome to the Bay homie. Don't worry, Javier will show you the ropes. I had soooooo much fun in that store for two days." also, "This is good info. Next week in MOD4 I know not to shake his hand, and I know where to go to get great discount rates on after hours entertainment."

I spoke with my Manager and she told me this would stop. During a Manager meeting with atleast 10 Managers, this was brought up again and everyone laughed at me. I have since quit because of this.

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