Legal Question in Employment Law in Pennsylvania
Discrimination or Bullying at work
I'm not quite sure why, but lately I have been recieving alot of strict attention at work. There is a gentleman, who although is my superior, is not my boss, or related to my department in any way.
He has printed out my and one other coworker's electronic key log, and highlighted all of the times we came into the office and used the elevator. He has also asked me for a doctors note for 2 sick days I had off, yet has not asked a coworker of mine in the same situation. This man sneaks up behind me at my desk, looks over my shoulder to see what I'm doing, and when my boss leaves the office for a minute, he'll come in and ask me if i'm doing my work.
Now, I'm not sure what this is all about, I don't understand it. I thought all employees are to be treated the same? Why can he come in and sneak up on me, interrupt my work, ask for doctors notes when he doesnt ask anyone else, print out my electronic key log but no one elses, and talk down to me?
I'm not a trouble employee, I come to work on time and I do my job, I don't take any vacation or sick days that i'm not supposed to, I follow the rules. We have no HR dept and i've expressed my concerns with my boss and his superior as well. Nothing is being done about it.Whatnow?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Discrimination or Bullying at work
You asked about discrimination and bullying at work.
Can't offer any legal advice here. Unless the person is discriminating against you as a member of a protected class then there really isn't anything to be done.
If the behavior continues I don't see how it would be inappropriate to ask the person to please not interact with you or attempt to oversee your productivity. You have a supervisor and it is not him. If he has concerns about your productivity then he should bring these to the attention of your supervisor.
And you should suggest to him that they key log may be private information that he should not be looking at as it could be considered personnel information. Unless he is the employer, your manager or supervisor his intrusion of the company's personnel information may be an issue worth investigating.
As an aside, there may be a secondary issue that you are not aware of. Maybe you committed some transgression against him, real or perceived? Or possibly he is bucking for a promotion. Maybe someone started a rumor? Or he could have a crush on you? (Which could turn into a nice sexual harassment claim.) Really it could be anything including a simple personality or mental disorder.
Hope that helps.
Regards,
Roger
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