Legal Question in Employment Law in Virginia

Workplace Intimidation/Harassment and Employee rights

I have a relative who is obviously being ''bullied'' at work, mostly by her boss and often in front of peers, and it is most likely due to her sexual orientation. But since that is not so easily proven, I have more concerns with her boss's specific actions, including:

- Saying ''You are my weakest employee'' or ''If you tell anybody about your problems here, you'll be fired''

- Accusing her of repeated tardiness in a formal report that he said she MUST sign, yet refusing to provide her a copy of the report.

- Threatening termination if she makes copies of her time card for her own records.

- Telling her that he heard she had a little ''too much'' to drink one night (in her time off) and saying that he would appreciate it if she didn't get ''Sloshed''.

- Scheduling her for periods of work that last 8 or 9 days in a row... while her peers recieve regular 5 to 6 day weeks.

Note that my relative is a security guard at a resort and is the only female out of a group of about 10 guards. I have just described a few of the issues that I find disturbing... does she have a legitimate grievance, or are these just issues she has to grin and bear?? It is making her job miserable.

Thanks for any help you may be able to offer!


Asked on 6/09/04, 6:20 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Workplace Intimidation/Harassment and Employee rights

Whether there are enough facts in your relative's

job situation to make out a federal case based upon gender(as opposed to sexual orientation) discrimination, I simply couldn't say, without knowing more.

However, if in fact she has no real legal remedy,

your relative, rather than "grining and bearing",

might want to consider looking for another job

in the security field for which it would appear that there is very subsatantial demand these days.

Read more
Answered on 6/10/04, 10:32 am


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