Sexual harassment has no place in the workplace, especially when a company’s email services are being used for that very purpose. A New Jersey government contractor has been fired over sending sexually explicit emails and harassing a co-worker.
The 66-year-old man had been an employee of the state government for 33 years before he retired in 2003. He then started his own consulting company and had been a consultant with Ocean County since 2004. The general supervisor of building services filed a sexual harassment claim against the man on April 4 after the man allegedly tried to force a kiss on her, rub her shoulders and rub his body up against hers. He also talked to her at length about his sexual fantasies.
The woman complained to the director, but he allegedly did nothing about it and allowed the sexual harassment to continue. The man was finally fired after the Ocean County Board of Freeholders voted unanimously to end the man’s contract six months early. He was paid $150,000 per year and while he is required 30 days’ notice, he has been stripped of all pending jobs and may no longer work for the county.
It can be difficult for employees to deal with unwanted sexual advances in the workplace. Employees are at the office to do the job they are being paid to do. When someone makes offensive sexual comments at work, it can be distracting, and all workers have the right to work in an environment free of these types of distractions. Those affected by sexual harassment may be able to file a legal claim and possibly receive a settlement.
Source: Asbury Park Press, “‘Explicit’ emails get Ocean County contractor fired” No author given, May. 10, 2014
