Hi,
I have been an employee of a hospital (which is owned by an organization that owns many hospitals) for four years now, and I have had no disciplinary actions or other problems. Recently management has told me that an employee has said she feels harassed and unsafe at work because of me.
This employee was hired within the past six months, and I (and others) do not feel that she adequately does her job. I have never spoken to her about this, but it is a common topic of discussion among staff. She arrives late, leaves early (before giving report to the next shift), and takes extended breaks.
Last week at work I sent her a text message nearing the end of our shift asking if she had already left, because we needed her assistance and her shift was not yet over. The reason I sent her a text is because someone had told me they saw her leaving, and this was the easiest method of communication for me. This is the first and only time I have contacted her. She replied telling me to mind my own business, to which I replied that she has left 30 minutes early and we needed her help. She told me she can leave when she wants, and so I told her I would contact management.
This was a childish tiff, but does it constitute harassment? I then e-mailed our supervisor stating the work related issue with her and the position it puts the department in (understaffed).
The next day management tells me she feels harassed by me and unsafe at work, and that we will have a 'meeting in the future' with the two of us and administration. Since I was told this, they have reassigned my position to work in a separate area than I normally do, presumably so that we are separated.
I feel that I am being punished for bringing up a problem that I (and others) had with her. I also feel exiled, and that my job is threatened. I know that Massachusetts is a fire-at-will type of State, which worries me more. I also know that harassment is a serious accusation.
Are there any steps I should be taking to help my case? Is this a situation in which I should seek an attorney?
Thanks much,
J.
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Editor's Response
I'm assuming from what you have written that you are not this person's supervisor, and so, in hindsight, I agree with you that you probably should not have stepped into that role. However, if the facts are as you describe (and there are no other relevant incidents of contact between you-or other staff--and this employee), it certainly does not sound like harassment. Given the limited amount information, I don't know what to tell you about this, but I find the fact that you were reassigned troubling. If I were in your shoes, I would pay for an hour of time to discuss the matter with a Massachusetts employment law attorney. She will be able to give you a better understanding of your rights and explain the types of things you should and shouldn't say at this meeting. She will also be more qualified (than I) to explain how you should deal with the reassignment and how to get your old position back. Your only other option (more risky) is to go to the meeting, see what happens, and then decide whether you need to hire an attorney. Good luck.