I need some feedback & support.

[Rainbowreflect]

A male boss in our office made a very sexist & insulting remark to a couple of my female coworkers yesterday. They shared it with me & I was also very insulted. One of the women drafted a letter to the big boss about this and we passed it around for anyone to sign. Most of our staff are women. Some women were afraid to sign thinking they might get fired. I did sign becasue I am very angry and it sounds like he makes these kind of coments all the time. I, thankfully, don't have to work directly with him. I am getting a little scared for my job, but I also refuse to let him continue to get away with it.

[TrogL]

1. Does your office have a sexual harassment policy?

Is it in writing?

If so, find it and follow the instructions to the letter.

It's usually something along the lines of...

• inform the perpetrator that his comments are unwelcome
  
• inform his boss and human resources, CC to the perpetrator
  
• a large company may have a designated sexual harassment officer
  

If that doesn't work, go to the ACLU.

[Rainbowreflect]

8. I work in a government office.

Which in my opinion makes it worse. If he talks this way to his coworkers how does he talk to our low income clients?

[trof]

2. Don't know your particular situation, but

it's usually best to take it up with the offender first, in a non-confrontational way. Maybe he's just clueless.

[MuseRider]

3. Good for you.

You are fighting the good fight for the whole. I seems there are enough women there that if he tried to fire anyone he might be in far more trouble than the minor discomfort he might feel having to hold his tongue. Until we stand together this shit will continue and these days it seems to be getting far more approval than it has since we started our fight to stop it.

[Mistress Quickly]

4. You can't be fired for signing the letter

and as long as you have a good solid work record, I wouldn't worry. If enough women sign, the big boss will feel the pressure to do something. Pissed off women are a itch.

[otohara]

5. Who Will It Be Given To?

Is it an HR person? Sexual harrasment policy is important. It will usually tell how to report. Follow the proceedure and since you weren't one of the women harrassed, I don't know if I would get involved just yet. Follow policy, most companies will perform an internal investigation.

[Rainbowreflect]

9. I did not hear the comment, but it was about our whole department.

So I feel it was about me and other women I care about.

[DuctapeFatwa]

6. I am sorry to say that they should probably just look for another job

As others have advised, find out what if any procedure is in place for this kind of thing, and follow it to the letter - the women who were the victims, that is, and as is the case with most things, hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst.

I can't disagree with the argument that the victims have a responsibility to document the incident, and follow the prescribed procedure.

At the same time, they should be prepared for consequences that could range from being passed over for raises, promotions, perks, given the worst jobs, to being terminated for "an unrelated reason," which means start putting out feelers and spiffing up those resumes.

[cally]

7. You need a paper trail

Document everything you heard. Send written letters, with copies, of the complaints. Make sure you have copies of performance reviews. Document any complaints made to management and their response.

I agree with another poster, follow the sexual harrassment guidelines to the letter. If your company does not have them, then look up some on the internet and follow those guidelines.

In general, the guidelines are that you complain to the Supervisor. Then his or her supervisor. Do it in writing. If they do not respond appropriately, then you go to the personnel department.

[Rainbowreflect]

10. Lucky for me I just had my review & it was very good.

n/t