A complaint was
filed by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) under the Civil Act of
1964 and 1991. Two former employees of Love’s Travel stop Monica Day and Sarah
Gregoire complaint against ignorant behavior of management when they were
sexually harassed at work place. They both worked in Arizona store as cashiers.
EEOC filed the complaint in court against the company to take appropriate
actions against the company and management and get justice.
There is the
allegation that both the women were sexually harassed by the customers in work
place during work timings and no legit action was taken against such people by
the management and despite the series of incidents and every incident was
reported by the ladies to their managers.
1. It
was stated the Ms. Day was sexually harassed by her customers on several
events. The customers made frequent references of sexual intercourse; she was
harassed physically as well as verbally.
2. The
customer held Ms. Day’s hand and told her that he will wait for her till she is
off from work. She was presented with cards that would reference to sexual
terms. Upon complaining to management she was told to deal with it or she
should expect all this or she was blown off. Management did not take immediate
action when she complained.
3. Ms.
Gregoire’s experience was no different she was sexually harassed on several
occasion verbally and physically. She was poked on her neck and uncomfortable
comments were passed on her.
4. Customers
followed her to the shower and references such as sexual intercourse were made
to her several times.
Love’s Value System of Hostile
Environment Case
Ever since the
company was established it has chain of 340 locations of gas station and service
centers. It is the motto of Love’s company to have values such as that in
family. For the company its customers, employees and the community that
surrounds them. They do charity work and contribute their fair share to the
community. Love Company calls itself as a family company where everyone lives
together, work together as a single unit.
The company
claims to have established it is core values upon integrity, perseverance,
innovation and strong ethics of work. All of these value factors were found in
the company Tom Love established in Oklahoma in 1964 and then other locations,
as so he claims. According to the company these values are what drive the
company towards success. He gathered all the member of the team who had the
same working abilities and work ethics and they together built what they have
today.
And they hire employees with same capabilities
and strengths. Despite of one’s job scale their connection with values is
something that takes them towards success. It is the effort of Love’s Company
that they demonstrate a strong work ethics, their focus is on comfort and
demand of customers; they try to exhibit to bring best work into practice in
everyday activities, new opportunities are provided for creative employees.
1. The
values suggest that strong work ethics is maintained, it’s the core value of
the company but it is a factor which is strongly violated when the two female
employees were harassed inside the premises of work place.
2. Another
value suggests maintenance of integrity in every action but it tends to
diminish when the employees complained about sexual harassment. No appropriate
action was taken by the management and it allowed customers to display such
attitude towards the employees over and over again.
Ethical Dilemmas of Hostile
Environment Case
Self-worth is
something that nobody compromises upon. Ms. Day and Ms. Gregoire were
repeatedly harassed by their customers and they filed complaints to their
superiors about verbal and physical harassment but they were told to deal with
it or laughed on or not taken seriously. They both were young girls of 18-20 of
age and needed the job so they could not quit. Some unethical comments were
passed on their physicality, they were made fun of, and sexual references were
made to them. The work environment became uncomfortable and intolerable
attributes were experienced.
1. The
harassment was severe and it created hostile work environment for both female
employees. One of the employees Ms. Gregoire testified that it was too much
that it would make her cry. She did mention that manager never refused to be
there and stop it to help her out but he did not make sure to control or stop
it when she complained. She loved the work she did but she could not keep up
with hostile environment where she was harassed on daily basis. As she needed
the job she could not quit and save herself the trouble.
2. The
incidents were not unknown by the management. The management did not take
responsibility or matter in their hands, they could stop it and prevent it to
happen in later future but they did not and when they did it was to prevent
theft so female employees for shifted to cash counter as thy used to get
followed by customers in shower, poked on neck, abusive comments were passed,
money was offered for sexual intercourse. Environment was made uncomfortable in
every way possible. If the jobs were switched it was not entirely because of
complaints or would have happened right after the complaint of harassment. It
was because of fear of theft.
Rationalizations
and Love’s Travel Stop Unethical/ Hostile Environment Case
When the
employees were harassed sexually, they complained to management of the abuse
and it was even on camera and no appropriate actions were taken to stop it. In
case of Ms. Gregoire she was removed from shower duties and assigned cash
counter but this was not due to complaints she made to her managers but due to
fear of theft. She complained about verbal abuse as well as physical abuse she
experienced while cleaning showers.
Even when was
on counter she experienced harassment and she complained to her manager when a
customer poked her neck with a pain and hurt her made extremely bad comment and
the female manager replied her to get used to it. And this is the most frequent
which she received from her female managers. She declared that all of her
managers Tammy, Felicia, TJ and Marguerite told her to get used to the behavior
of customers and deal with it because it is a truck shop.
I think
managers could have been more responsible and took appropriate measures to
provide safety to female employees they were blown off and no proper attention
was paid to their complaints. This carelessness of managers contributed to the
act which could have stopped long time ago if right things were done on time.
Despite the location of job, both females were harassed on cash counters.
Cultural
Conditions Love’s Travel Stop Unethical/ Hostile Environment Case
The culture of
Love’s company suggest team work, development and picking up each other.
Chances are provided to employees to improve their skills and come up with
innovative strategies. Chances are given to individuals to come together as a
team, have access to knowledge and develop technologies which can prosper
business. And these cultural values are applicable on all locations of the
company.
1. The
cultural values suggest that employees work together as team and come with a
team but the sexual harassment portrays lack of coordination and team work with
in employees. Ms. Gregoire was harassed
in front of her colleagues and manager Tammy but no one took stand for her and
nobody made it stop. A customer tugged his hands in her shoulders and she
pushed him told him to stay away and not to touch. So he came back and poked
her neck with a pen. The manager saw it the cameras saw it nut nobody took
action against it. It is ethically wrong that a female is getting harassed in
front of his colleague and manager and they have got nothing to do about it.
They failed her and the cultural values of the company.
2. Another
cultural value is the opportunities are provided for growth and development.
But how an employee is supposed to grow as an individual in an environment
which is abusive and torturous. The chances of learning are absolutely low when
an employee faces harassment and negative comments on daily basis and is blown
off by management upon complaining. It retards the growth and peace of mind. If
the management would have been a little supportive or have shown immediate
response and did something for the safety there were chances of effective
output and development from Ms. Day and Ms. Gregoire.
Give
Voice to Values Love’s Travel Stop Unethical/ Hostile Environment Case
1. The
sexual harassment leaves harmful impact on life of an individual. When Ms.
Gregoire complaint about being harassed in showers duty no one took her
seriously, no immediate action was taken but later after sometime her duty was
changed to cash counter but in her opinion it was not because of her complain
but due to theft. This can be due to several reasons. But the series of
harassment did not stop at cash counter either she was harassed even there in
front of people which dishonored her respect and integrity.
2. Despite
of gender everyone is deserved to get respected. Sexual harassment kills the
chance of respect, honor and effort in work. Such acts are strongly unaccepted
in work premises and beyond and my value of respecting another has been
completely disrupted in this scenario. People who had the power to stop it, did
nothing about it on the contrary they told the females to get used it which is
humiliating in every way.
With
a fellow supervisor Love’s Travel Stop Unethical/ Hostile
Environment Case
If I were the supervisor of a store and
my fellow supervisor would have been harassed by a customer, I would have
stopped it by talking to the customer and comforting my colleague. And as a
preventive measure would have taken the responsibility of keeping an eye on such
events and make sure my store is safe and secure for people who work in it. I
would have discussed the matter in management meeting to put spotlight on the
incident and assure that measures are being taken to stop it in future.
With
an offending customer Love’s Travel Stop Unethical/ Hostile
Environment Case
If it would happen to a customer in my store,
I would have apologized to her and made sure that it does not happen again to
any other customer of the store.