Mini Skirts

[Robinsegg]

Have you considered a "surveilence camera"? A cheap video camera that would be on at unspecified times and covered a wide area of the office could be great incentive on a number of issues, as well as negative enforcement for larcenous behavior from outsiders. This would give you a photo-type evidence if it continues, but wouldn't be private surveilence or an issue of being in the room alone with her.

She deserves to be fired. Whether you extend mercy to her or not is your business. Protect yourself, your employees, and your clients from this less-than-modest girl.

Rachel

 

[Eudaimonist]

What would you do?

Fire her after a few stern warnings. This isn't sexual harrassment... if anything she is sexually harrassing the company.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Neve]

If she doesn't immediately comply with your verbal and written warnings, fire her. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the sexual harassment threat is a bluff.

 

[Steezie]

Couple questions

1. Does she DO her job?
2. Does she do it well?
3. Has it caused any problems?

 

[sparklecat]

A few more questions:


Do customers or anyone else see her?

Does she do her job well enough that this isn't worth making an issue over? We've got a guy here that doesn't come into work until 3 in the afternoon. He's very good at his job, though.

Can she afford a new wardrobe?

 

[Eudaimonist]

Does she do her job well enough that this isn't worth making an issue over?

I think the big trouble here is that she threatened to get her way by filing a sexual harrassment lawsuit. This employee is a trouble-maker who is best gotten rid of as soon as possible, or you're going to be stuck with her.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Steezie]

I think the big trouble here is that she threatened to get her way by filing a sexual harrassment lawsuit. This employee is a trouble-maker who is best gotten rid of as soon as possible, or you're going to be stuck with her.


eudaimonia,

Mark

That's a pretty big leap to make.

You dont know how she interpreted his request or how it was recieved. People take things wierd ways sometimes and I dont think its fair to AUTOMATICALLY assume that shes using the fact that shes a woman as leverage.

That said, if I landed a sweet job with good pay you can damn sure bet Id be willing to be a little crafty to keep it.

 

[sparklecat]

I think the big trouble here is that she threatened to get her way by filing a sexual harrassment lawsuit. This employee is a trouble-maker who is best gotten rid of as soon as possible, or you're going to be stuck with her.


eudaimonia,

Mark

As Steezie said, we don't know how she interpreted the request, or how the OP conveyed it. She may have genuinely felt harassed. Less warnings and more talking to her, explaining, and seeing if she has a good reason for acting as she has been might help solve matters.

 

[Mrs.Sidhe]

Couple questions

1. Does she DO her job?
2. Does she do it well?
3. Has it caused any problems?

With all due respect if the company policy restricts the kind of dress she is supposidly choosing to wear how do these questions even come into play? She is obviously not really doing her job to the fullest if she can't even comply with a simple direction about dress code. Its obviously causing problems if she's having to be warned and put on suspension.

She signed the contract she knows the rules. As an employee she should be follow them if she wants to keep her job--its that simple.

 

[Mrs.Sidhe]

As Steezie said, we don't know how she interpreted the request, or how the OP conveyed it. She may have genuinely felt harassed. Less warnings and more talking to her, explaining, and seeing if she has a good reason for acting as she has been might help solve matters.

Is 2 verbal warnings, 1 written warning, and a suspension not enough? What doesn't she understand? Please explain what possible good reason she would have to threaten taking someone to court for sexual harassment for being asked to tone down her dress in accordance with dress code. How much are you supposed to sit down and talk with this woman? There seems like there is nothing for her to explain. There is a company policy on dress code and whether she may like it or not (I know I didn't like some of the dress code policies of places I've worked before) she needs to follow it or she needs to find another place to work. It seems in this case there is no good reason for her actions.

 

[sparklecat]

Again, we don't know how the OP conveyed these warnings.

 

[Allister]

what does it actually say in the contract, could you (Jesuswalks 78) give us a word for word run through of the section of the contract that deals with dresscode. Is it specific?

one solution is to issue a uniform for all members. in my job everyone has to automatically wear a company issued uniform. then she could not possible come in to work wearing a mini skirt and with a low cut top. and other employees woundn't wear jeans.

 

[Mrs.Sidhe]

^^^that is probably the best solution I've heard (the uniform that is) for this situation.

 

[Mrs.Sidhe]

Again, we don't know how the OP conveyed these warnings.

Evem if he conveyed them in a manner that perhaps you would not agree (and hopefully JesusWalks78 will let us know how he conveyed them--we have to assume he is not saying anything that speaks of sexual harassment) with what does that have to do with her violating company policy. If she is violating company policy then she needs to be reprimanded or fired. After 3 warnings its obvious she can't follow the policy.

Again, she signed a contract and she knew full well what the dress code was. Why should she be allowed to violate it? Is it possible maybe the lady in question just doesn't want to comply and is angry about being asked to do so?

Note: Why would you assume that a businessman obviously purposely say something knowing he may be sued for sexual harassment? AND then come here to ask for advice concerning what he should do. I mean I'm not trying to belittle this women's credability but not all businessmen are guilty of sexual harassment simply because someone said they are.

 

[Robinsegg]

As for a "new wardrobe", the OP said she complied with the dress code the first week and was well-dressed for the interview. That seems to suggest she has enough "compliant" clothing to wear to work, she's simply choosing not to.

As for the dress code . . . Let's say they disagree what the contract says. Who gets to define what it means? The employer who's requiring the dress code.

Rachel

 

[sparklecat]

Oh, no, I certainly don't mean to suggest that the OP did harass her. I'm just saying that I wouldn't like to judge either way without having been privy to the conversations that went on, or knowing how she interpreted the warnings, how other employees have been dealt with, what she was, in fact, wearing, and whether most would consider it outside of the dress code, etc. We're only getting one side of the story here, and I just think it's good to remember that before immediately saying she should be fired based on one person's say-so.

 

[sparklecat]

As for a "new wardrobe", the OP said she complied with the dress code the first week and was well-dressed for the interview. That seems to suggest she has enough "compliant" clothing to wear to work, she's simply choosing not to.

I borrowed clothes for my interviews, and until I was first paid.

As for the dress code . . . Let's say they disagree what the contract says. Who gets to define what it means? The employer who's requiring the dress code.

Rachel

Assuming it is applied consistently and fairly, sure.

 

[Robinsegg]

I borrowed clothes for my interviews, and until I was first paid.

Well, I suppose that's a possibility I didn't consider. However, she's been there for some time now. If she didn't have appropriate clothes, she should have discussed it with the employer when the issue was first brought up. She shouldn't have started threatening her employer (which, in and of itself, imo have ended in immediate dismissal).

Assuming it is applied consistently and fairly, sure.

Well, assuming the OP is being up front and honest in this, it is being applied that way. He's spoken to others who came in dressed inappropriately (wearing jeans and the like) and the issue ended there, with the employees in question deciding to stick to the dress code.

Rachel

 

[sparklecat]

You're right, Rachel. And I think I'm letting some personal feelings get involved here - I'm going to back off until and unless I can discuss this more objectively.

 

[xMinionX]

She agreed to a certain standard of dress upon being hired, and is now going back on her word. Give her the heave ho.