My girlfriend was sworn at by a male co-worker (f word).
"Have you used your f****** brain?"
My thought is that it's very reportable even without the F word.
I wanted to report to Fair Work straight away, but she let the company know first
and they arranged a meeting with a senior employee and the HR team.
Could you give me some advice regarding the situation?
Thank you
He got angry somewhere else and released his stress to her. He's known for F words to the other workers too and he did similar harassment to his previous work partner who was female too.
Fair work seems a bit much at the current point of escalation.
I'm working in HR at the moment and the F word gets thrown around like crazy.
But it's used more to emphasise something like 'This thing is f****d' or 'I'm feeling so f****d' (and everyone seems okay with it), instead of directing it at someone like 'f*** you' or 'f****g b#tch'
Noone uses it in the latter form at work.
I understand what you mean but it was directed to her.
Yeh, it was directed at her, but was it the F word that was most offensive part of the comment?
Would it have been less offensive to say something like "Did you use your bloooody brain?"
I think it would be just as offensive without the F word itself….
So if I was going to complain, I'd focus on his actual behaviour rather than the use of the F word.
Good point. I agree, even without the F word, it is an unacceptable workplace conduct.
BTW @OP, going to Fairwork for what? Fairwork can only issue stop bullying orders, and attend to unfair dismissal claims. For workplace unreasonable management conduct, or harassment and bullying (needs to be repeated/multiple actions) your starting point is HR. If your GF is a union member, approach them for assistance. They might represent you at the HR meeting. Be prepared for the other party to deny they said anything like that. You will be asked to produce evidence, witnesses. Contemporaneous diary notes are generally good, including if you speak to someone else immediately after the event.
Another thing, if the other party is going to be disciplined by the workplace, your GF will not be told anything due to the privacy issues. So, at times these things appear as if nothing was done.
"I wanted to report to Fair Work straight away, but she let the company know first
and they arranged a meeting with a senior employee and the HR team.
Could you give me some advice regarding the situation?"
Company will go through its internal process to resolve the issue. If GF isn't satisfied with the result and work isn't interested, she can go to Fair Work.
"Don't worry baby, I'll take care of it"
"OZB, what should I do!?"
how did you read me haha
6 upvotes within 1 minute lol
And 3 negs for op within the same minute
"Here is what OzB said".
"I could have F*** asked myself"
OP gets DVO on gf
LOL @ going to Fair Work… This is like going to ACCC because the girl at Subway so no when you asked for a refund on a sandwich you didn't like.
What did the police say when you call them to report this? Have you tried calling escalating it to the federal police?
Yep, I'm starting to think it's safer for me to just not talk to my coworkers at all.
I've run with this approach going on 10 years at my workplace……some of them think my name is Peter……it's not
I should learn from you.
lol. I haven't tried it yet, but one coworker who I talk to a few days per week, thinks my name is Chris (it's not).
I've never corrected him.
been there done that got accussed of bullying, cant win
Certainly a job for hoges as Sgt Donger
A Random want a ransom without saying they want it.
remember, HR is of the company, by the company, for the company
This.
Never a truer word spoken….
I don't think it being a male or female coworker makes a difference with this comment. It is unacceptable and if the company doesn't handle it appropriately, I'd go higher up also. Sometimes people say things though, there is no justification, yet it still happens. Maybe they will be earnestly sorry that they said such a thing.
Although if the workplace is toxic, for her own mental health, it might be best to fight it and report it to a governing body followed by finding a new job. That way there is no regret.
I recommend buying a high-yield vehicle
The real ozbargain solution to all workplace incidents.
If stated verbatim then it would come down to workplace harassment (verbal harassment).
It will be internally mediated through HR but if the employee feels that the issue has not been dealt with sufficiently then they can approach fair work about the issue.
Fair work will want to get details of what happened and if they see that the business has taken the appropriate action they will close the case otherwise if they see that the business has not taken appropriate action then it will be taken further.
I also would add that an approach to fair work is not going to necessarily end in some sort of financial payout.
If she works in construction tell her to harden up
Seriously? I don't think aggressive behaviour should be tolerated regardless of whatever industry it is.
It shouldn't be tolerated, but damn… some people (not talking about OP's gf here) can really push other people's buttons.
also construction industry: "we can't find any women wanting to join us"
she let the company know first
Appropriate
and they arranged a meeting with a senior employee and the HR team
Appropriate
Could you give me some advice regarding the situation?
Stick to your day job - unless your day job is in workplace/industrial law (in which case perhaps consider looking for a new job)
OP, your girlfriend should be entitled to have a support person with her at the meeting with HR, preferably a co worker who witnessed the event.
It's hard to know what the process will be without knowing the industry or size of the company.
Support person, representative is a good suggestion. But please don't take the witness as a support person.
Make sure your GF takes notes in the meeting and documents everything. If other staff heard the incident then make sure this is brought up in the meeting if the meeting goes south.
Don't your think attempting to solve her problem rather than empathetic listening is an example of internalised interpersonal 'benevolent' misogyny towards her - inducing learned helplessness and fostering the patriarchal power imbalance in your relationship?
goodness, simmer down. op just cares for her and accusing him of being misogynistic or domineering doesn't get them anywhere. you've barely been given enough information to jump to this kind of conclusion.
I wanted to report to Fair Work straight away,
Not only will a response be delayed, but their first question will be 'have you spoken to hr about this'.
To be honest getting FW involved with something minor like this is pretty silly. If it was a serious thing (let's be honest - she was sworn at, not assaulted or otherwise seriously affected) then sure. But not for this.
"Have you used your f****** brain?"
We are missing a lot of context here.
You've given us what the employee apparently said according to your partner, but what prompted it? Did she just drop ten coffees on a senior manager? Did she lose a major client because she did something illegal? What prompted this? Context is everything.
I'm dealing with a situation at work where someone pushed something to production without testing and caused everything to grind to a halt. That situation warrants them being asked if they used their F**ing brain so again - what prompted it?
Could you give me some advice regarding the situation?
What do you and your partner want out of this? Unless this is the employees third strike where he's sworn at people without provocation (again, context) what do you want out of it? An apology? For him to get fired?
Is she a head trainer for Newcastle Knights? Was it David Klemmer?
Nevermind Fair Work, go straight to the PM.
go straight to the PM.
oiiiii mister prime ministteerrrrrrr
Aaannnndyyyyy
lemme guess - was the co-worker Dimma?
I reckon in some people, quite a lot of people actually, use of the F word is baked into their cerebral cortex and like a primitive reflex, very hard to stop in any moments of stress.
Can't tell if there is no context. If she works on the factory floor and almost got someone scalped by a machine then it would be more than just the F word.
Honestly OP you and your GF might want to ask yourself "what do you want out of this", I only note this as it sounds like your GF just wants to make sure it won't happen again (why she's happy with the HR route) while I'm not sure what you're hoping Fair Work to do for it over a single swear at her and if they do anything how that affects your GF and the workplace overall.
My 2 cents? Leave it as it is and support your GF going with HR if that's her preference. Ask her to note down time/dates/diary of being sworn at, discussion with HR and outcomes and keep any documentation/emails etc. If this becomes an ongoing issue for your GF and she gets sworn at often, you'll have ample information of ongoing bullying at the work place and workplace not stopping it from happening and you can go to a lawyer/Fair Trading.
What ever happened to "sticks n stones"?
What ever happened to free speech?
was a law broken?
Now we need feelings police.
What ever happened to free speech?
Australia doesn't have an explicit statement regarding free speech in our constitution. We have freedom of expression and opinion, but that doesn't mean you can just go around swearing at people without consequences, you get that right?
was a law broken?
Actually, potentially yes. Bullying in the workplace is illegal, and swearing at someone can constitute that.
Swearing or getting sworn at regularly is unacceptable.
Getting sworn at once, or swearing once is part of life. Especially if something the person did provoked it. Swear words are in the English language. People are allowed to use them when there is some justification. Just not over-use them or use them repeatedly without any justification. Get over it.
Short of actual assault one single incident is NOT harassment. Harassment is a pattern of unwanted or offensive behaviour.
He said…..She said. Just move on
"Have you used your f****** brain?"
I probably say this to people daily, with it without the profanity.
haha that's awesome!
I often think to myself that if most people had the boss I have, they'd cry every day. I give back what I get and he obviously doesn't mind it either. The good thing is, as aggressive and bad as it may sound, it's purely focussed on work and getting shit done. It's never personal.
I'd rather hear shit directly like that instead of having things sugar-coated. I hate walking out of meetings wondering what the f someone was just trying to say.
HR: "Well did you use your brain?"
GF:"Well, you see"
HR:"I've heard all we need to hear, you'll be managed out and your boss will be promoted"
Pretty much how most of the stories that i've come across go.
Also, yes her boss was out of line, but if she pulls up people for off the cuff swearing at her she'll get a pretty bad rap, fast. I mean is she good at her job, does she do it well. PC culture is already like treading on eggshells.
Your “girlfriend” needs to learn some phucking resilience
I reckon I get sworn at like 5x a day, do better next time won't get sworn at
Bring a union rep in with her to HR
This sounds more like office work so probably no unions involved. If it were somewhere like manufacturing, warehousing, construction, trade etc etc then the swearing wouldn't be an issue as it'd be completely normal.
Well I'll be fcuked
Whale oil beef hooked
My girlfriend was sworn at by a male co-worker (f word).
"Have you used your f****** brain?"
Well…Has she?
Welcome to life.
I guess you could work around this by limiting employment to religious organisations and of that sort…
Good luck.
my attitude is if it hurts, just ask for an apology, sometimes words slip out. if they do move on, if not then escalate.
not i contain harsh phrases, i think the work places r pathetic these days. Say something to harsh u get accused of bullying, stop saying something you get accused of bullying, i think if its one off or not deliberatly malicious just walk off, the way we are going the whole world are bullies
That’s bullying and it needs to be stopped.
You need to speak to the offending male coworker personally and remind him of the possible consequences if it happens again.
Do you feel lucky punk?
Bullying is only if it's repeated - this is a one off.
You need to speak to the offending male coworker personally
Sending the bf over to intimidate an employee sounds illegal, and not good for her career.
Looks like OP has packed the balls up and ran off in a tantrum as the title and original post have been changed to the max.
Firstly thinking of going to Fair Work for this BS is worse than the question posed to your GF.
Secondly what did your GF do wrong?
she brought it to you
now you bring it to us? :D
i misread this as 'my girlfriend was sworn in at new workplace' and i was about to congratulate you on your new likely high income household
thinly veiled 'i have a girlfriend' post
"we get it you have a gf"
Comments are closed by OP request, they no longer wish to participate in this thread.
Did your gf actually stuff up? Not that the f word is ever justified in a workplace.
Is the perpetrator known for this language or was it a one off event?