Hostile Work Environment

[jeanine]

What is the name of your state? NY

I work for a fairly large company (almost 200 employees). I replaced a woman at the company who had a reputation for being a bit of a psycho. She was politely asked to resign, which she did and then I came into the picture.

Well since the day I got here, this woman has left me voicemail messages and sent emails under the guise of being helpful when in reality the emails contained digs. She also went so far as to send an anonymous email to the powers that be complaining about me (they figured out it was her). Recently I sent a strongly worded email back to this woman b/c I had enough of her nonsense. No curses or rudeness just straight and to the point so she'd leave me alone.

Well she took my email and sent it to all the bosses in an effort to get me in trouble or fired - none of which happened. Well, today she shows up at the job to visit some old co-workers - a week after the email incident. I feel very uncomfortable about her being here - does this constitute a hostile work environment? They all know she's a wacko but b/c the big boss is friends with her parents, he never told her to stop coming in or emailing his employees so she just does what she likes even though she doesn't work here anymore.

I am close to tears over this. It just doesn't seem right considering I never worked with this person or was her friend. I'm an innocent new employee. Any thoughts on how I can tell my employer about my feelings?

 

[Beth3]

No, this does not remotely constitute a hostile work environment in the legal definition. What it constitutes is a pain-in-the-ass wacko ex-employee who does not know what the words "please resign" really mean.

What you need to focus on is the fact that you have the support of management. They fired her (for all intents and purposes) and have been wise to her shennanigans. What they're apparently not getting is that her continuing "presence" in the workplace is disruptive.

I suggest you do not talk to your employer until you are feeling much less emotional. None of this is personal and you need to get some perspective. She's the nut job and I'm sure is rapidly wearing out her welcome. It's hard to imagine there are too many employees pleased to see her or receive a barrage of e-mails.

In a couple of days, talk to the appropriate member of management but not about how you feel but about how her interference is making the job difficult and undoubtedly proving to be disruptive to other employees too. Focus on the impact of her behavior on the business rather than on you and ask that she be politely informed that her visits to the company and any further e-mails to any employees at work must cease.

If you address the situation as a business problem rather than a personal one you're more likely to get results and senior management will be impressed with how you handled it. Good luck.

 

[jeanine]

Thanks, I will try that approach. I now have a migraine thanks to this nonsense.

 

[HomeGuru]

Take 2 aspirins and post us in the morning.