Inappropriate touching in the workplace...

I am a female and I was speaking with some co-workers when a male coworker walked behind me and slapped my rearend with a folder.  I do not not consider this male worker a friend.  I yelled "HEY!" and he turned his head slightly and kept walking.  I feel totally violated.  I contacted Affirmative action and she asked what I wanted to see done---I said I think he should be fired.  About a month ago he verbally attacked me with "You dont even say Hi"---I did not answer him---I have knowledge that he has a bad temper so I choose not to say anything to him.  I was speechless when he hit my rear end---and I have witnesses that saw him,  There is not question he did this---It isnt a "he said she said" thing---Its a fact.  After the incident his supervisor told him how upset I was and he left a voice mail that he was sorry---BUT that it was only a folder!!!  That doesnt sound like an apology to me!!  I work in a public school.  He has a bad employment record and I am even aware of a workers comp fraud he was involved in---He is just bad news---but I am afraid my employer will do nothing---as they have in the past.  What are my rights---Isnt it now a Hostile work environment--If they do nothing---can I get a restraining order??

You do not get to decide how he should be disciplined, and they have no legal obligation to tell you what they have done. Their legal obligation is to make the inappropriate behavior stop. If they have done that, they have met their obligation under the law.

Unless you work in HR and have access to his personnel file, you do not know what they have or have not done.

Why did she ask me what I wanted to see done??  So basically I have NO RIGHTS??  What if it happens again??  I have already told her I want NO contact with him and I do NOT want to be involved in any meeting.  I find it hard to believe I have no rights.  First it was verbal and now it has become physical??

You have the right to report it, and you did that. But you do not have the right to dictate to the employer what they are to do. Asking what you want to see done is a common question - it does not guarantee that you will get what you want.

IF it happens again, we can address it then.

So it is kind of like ---there is no law---until they kill you---and then they pass one!!!  What bull!!

No, that's not even remotely what it's like.

You reported the matter and they addresssed it. That they did not address it in the way you wanted them to does not give you legal recourse.

They have not addressed it---nothing is happening---Just curious----are you a lawyer?? 

KSCPA:

What if it happens again?? 

If it happens again, you report it.  If he was warned and put on notice that another incident will cost him his job, then so be it. 

If the behavior stops and is not repeated, then they have done their jobs.

KSCPA:

I have already told her I want NO contact with him and I do NOT want to be involved in any meeting.

Then avoid and ignore him.  Have they mentioned a meeting?

KSCPA:

I find it hard to believe I have no rights. 

You have the right to report it and the expectation that the behavior will not be repeated.  You cannot demand that he be terminated. 

I will have to continue to be a prisioner in my office---keep my door shut and locked and let all my calls go to voice mail.  Thanks for all your advice-DPH and CBG --It funny but if I were the Principa'sl wife and he did that ---he would have been gone in the blink of an eye.  It is ashame that a lot of things in life come down to---Its who you know!!  LOL

KSCPA:

They have not addressed it---nothing is happening

How do you KNOW that they have not addressed it?  I don't believe that the administration would be required to keep you up to speed on any actions.  At this point they probably cannot tell you anything and may still be investigating.  How long ago did this happen?

I will have to continue to be a prisioner in my office   If so, that will be entirely your choice and appears to be an over-reaction to the situation.  (Why would you let this jerk factor into your decision on how you comport yourself in the workplace?)

You reported the incident, as you should have.  The fact that you didn't see him tied to a whipping post and beaten or summarily dismissed does not remotely mean that administration didn't address the issue with him and quite seriously at that.

If he harasses you again, report it immediately.  In the meantime, I suggest you ignore him and go about your business as usual.

Beth3:

I will have to continue to be a prisioner in my office   If so, that will be entirely your choice and appears to be an over-reaction to the situation.  (Why would you let this jerk factor into your decision on how you comport yourself in the workplace?)

Beth is right; don't let the jerk intimidate you or he's won.

If he continues his behavior, it will not bode well for him.

KSCPA:

What if it happens again?? 

If it happens again, report it.  Your employer's obligation is to make things like getting slapped on the behind stop if you report it as offensive. 

KSCPA:

First it was verbal and now it has become physical??

It was verbal abuse that he said, "you don't even say 'hi'"?  That doesn't sound like verbal abuse to me.  Plus, many forms of what you may think are "verbal abuse" are legal.  It's only when it gets into certain areas (like sexual harrassment and other very specific forms of harrassment or threats that it becomes a legal matter).

KSCPA:

I have already told her I want NO contact with him and I do NOT want to be involved in any meeting.

Your employer makes the rules.  If you are required to have contact with him in the course of your job, or if you are required to attend a meeting at which he is present, then you need to meet those requirements. 

If he should be so dumb as to attempt something like slapping you on the butt with a file again, report it.

No=== he wont be so dumb to do it in front of others again---now that he has fooled admin into thinking he did not mean it---....he has a free pass to do as he pleases---again.  This is not the first time this guy has lied his way out of a mess.  He is a manipulater and he is good at what he does.  I understand that it sounds like "You dont even say hi" doesnt cut it for verbal abuse but you would have had to been there and heard the tone of his voice and demeaner.  When you know someones personality and have seen them get angry----you dont want to respond or agitate them.  I will be looking for another job now---It is just not worth getting myself all upset over this---i have loved working there all these years but it is time to move on.  I will say==== for anyone reading this that is in an admin position---that it is IMPERATIVE==== to keep written documentation of ANY occurrance that seems out of the norm in a persons file.  There is a pattern here that most likely was NOT documented--- so of a bunch of Affirmative action people---who are on the outside looking in---can get the whole picture---not just a snap shot!!  I take with me the knowledge of what should be written and what the right action should have been.

KSCPA:

I will be looking for another job now---It is just not worth getting myself all upset over this---i have loved working there all these years but it is time to move on.

You said it yourself, it's not worth getting all worked up.  Why you would quit your job over something like this is beyond me, but that's your choice.  Basically if you quit, he wins. 

KSCPA:

There is a pattern here that most likely was NOT documented

You don't KNOW that for a fact.  You are assuming lots of things.

KSCPA:

I take with me the knowledge of what should be written and what the right action should have been.

Nope.  You take with you your version of what you think should happen.  Unless you really want a new job, I would stay and make sure it doesn't happen again.