How does an individual deal with possible sexual harassment if he is unsure there is any harassment to begin with or if he’s just dreaming in Technicolor. Recently an associate of the feminine persuasion seems to be taking a more than normal amount of interest in me. While I admire her good taste it is something that will never be allowed to happen. It has however, started to really make me feel uncomfortable. In my total work history I have never participated in a workplace relationship and I’m not about to start now. I may disapprove of them but I’ve never condemned them. I’ve always avoided them as being something that seemed to present more problems than pleasures. It isn’t like I haven’t had flings with younger women before and probably will again but never on the job and never with a girl less than half my age. The picture that comes to mind is just slightly ridiculous.
If this was off the job it wouldn’t be a problem but on the job I’ve begun to feel I have to skulk around to avoid her in my own company. She is good at her job and all her performance reviews are excellent.Listening to my partners though, it’s got all the makings of a great dirty joke except for my being one of the participants. Since I never mentioned it how come they’re bringing it up. A fast check of our billing records show that she only seems to put in overtime when I’m working late and since she is not on my branch of the organizational chart this has to be more than coincidence. When I work late at night I’ve taken to locking my door. Every woman I’ve discussed this with thinks I’m right but has no solution. My ex-wife, who I’m on good terms with, thinks it’s hilarious. Here’s the big ol’ Dawg frightened of a wisp of a girl and I do mean wisp. Soaking wet she can’t run more than 105. In the year and a half that I’ve been aware of this, she has made no overt moves other than being underfoot more than seems possible. The only possibility is, according to my ex, she sees me as a father figure but since I know her parents this seems unlikely as they seem like nice people. With sexual harassment and wrongful dismissal laws what they are, how does one handle a situation like this. 30 years ago I would’ve hauled her in, warned her to knock it off and if she didn’t I would have dismissed her. Nowadays, without the overt act and no grounds of poor performance I can’t afford the potential risks if I’m wrong and misjudging her. At one point I thought of calling her parents but at age 30 that doesn’t seem a fair option. I do have one other option and that is to transfer her to my direct supervision. It is quite well known that I’m opposed to workplace relationships. I could then dump such a load of work on her that she would be hard pressed not to end up hating my guts especially since I’m taking a sabbatical. Hopefully it will become out of sight out of mind but judging from her taste in men maybe she already is.
