Jack works for a company as an analyst. The company has a zero tolerance policy
ID: 405390 • Letter: J
Question
Jack works for a company as an analyst. The company has a zero tolerance policy on harrassment. Susan is the staff assistant for the department where Jack works. Jack is in his 50s, married, with two teenage daughters. Susan is in her early 30s, also married, but with no children. She has been with the company in her current job for about three months. She and Jack have a normal working relationship - they have never had any social interactions beyond saying hello. On the day in question, Jack is in his office catching up on e-mail during lunch time, when Susan brings him a project file. There are several things she needs to explain to him, so she stands beside him to point them out. As she is standing there, she can read his computer screen, where there is an e-mail from his wife. The e-mail contains a funny, but risque joke that is meant to be shared just between the two of them. Susan reads the joke, turns bright red, and rushes out of Jack's office. Two hours later, the Director of H.R. shows up at Jack's office accompanied by two security guards. She hands Jack a letter telling Jack that he is fired for violating the company's sexual harrassment policy. Jack is allowed ten minutes to pack his persoanal belongings in his briefcase, and then is escorted out of the building. He is given no chance to explain anything, no chance to ask questions. How do you feel about how Jack was treated? Does he have any rights here?Explanation / Answer
I do not think that Jack was treated fairly in this situation. Jack may have violated the company's sexual harrassement policy however the I believe that his termination was handled improperly by the company. First of all, I think that the company should have obtained the email the Jack's wife sent him, so they had physical proof of the misconduct. It seems unfair that they went solely by Susan's word, espcially since this was Jack's first offense. After obtaining the email, the Director of HR as well as Jack's boss should have had a meeting with him to discuss the incidence. At this point, Jack could ask questions and explain his side of the story. They should then reference the company's handbook to determine if he was in fact, in violation of the company's sexual harrassment policy. If he did break the policy, then I believe that it would be fair at this point for the Director of HR and the securty guards to accompany Jack to his desk to pack up his belongings and leave.
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