Q: Harassment and bullying at work due to Tourette’s syndrome in Florida.
I am a 64-year-old woman with Tourette’s working in Florida, and I have been experiencing harassment and bullying from coworkers and my manager for the past 1.5 years. They make fun of and imitate my tics, and one coworker even made cardboard blinders not to look at my face. Despite making one report to HR, the issue remains unresolved. The manager discourages me from involving HR, threatening to place me on a Performance Improvement Plan if I complain. While I have some documentation of the harassment, I am unsure about specific workplace policies that address such behavior. Witnesses to these actions are indifferent. What steps can I take to address this harassment and protect myself legally?
A:
First an employee being subjected to this behavior should contact the company human resources department or officers and report in writing the offensive conduct. You should look for and ask for employee manual or handbook. If no HR, then report to the management and higher ranking officers. If you get no where on that, you can, if 15 or more emplyees file a charged with the Florida Commission on human rights, or EEOC, and check city and county for any departments that handle such claims.
Threatening you for reporting is an act of retaliation, and you have engaged in protected activity under the ADA. Any such threat should be reported to HR in writing. But again, you have a choice which is do nothing or take action. And you can all along at presently seek legal advice or representation.
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