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Boss not supporting workplace violence threat

Posted by: tripak
Date: 1/13/2007 7:18:45 AM

I am a Lead in a health care center. I have 3 employees who I am responsible for managing their time.

On Monday, one of the employees, “Joe”, came to me and told me he was having an affair with a married woman. I brushed it aside as I didn’t want to know about these kinds of personal problems.

The next day, Tuesday , at closing time a man came into our building and was escorted to my office. He stated to me that his wife was having an affair with “Joe” and that he had reason to believe that I was allowing them access to my home to engage in their sexual activities. “Joe” gave me a ride home one day after work, so he knows where I live. The man had email documentation between “Joe” and his wife that they were meeting at my home to have their fling and on occasion used my driveway to swap vehicles. My supervisor was nearby and I immediately asked for HR. Through conversations with HR, the man made accusations that “Joe” had used company vehicles, computers, etc. to meet with and converse with his wife. Of course HR had to do an investigation.

I stated very strongly that I did not want to work with or be near “Joe” any longer.

“Joe” put my life in danger. I still do not know to this day if the man was carrying a gun or what his intentions were on that day when he came looking for me, nor do I know if this man will come back looking for me again.

My company has brushed my concerns aside and told me that I am overreacting.

The following morning, Wednesday, my boss said that they would be meeting with “Joe”. I asked if Joe was going to be terminated. My boss said he could not guarantee that. I told my boss that I could not work in the same area as “Joe” because this man could come back looking for “Joe” and if he saw “Joe” and I together he would target us both. I stressed to my boss, and I was in tears, that I did not feel safe. My boss said, “What, are you going to resign?” I asked, “Are you going to terminate “Joe” for putting another employee’s life in danger?” He became real smug and said “I don’t know that.” I stood up and said, “I’ll make it easy on you, I’ll go home and think about writing my resignation.” And I left. I did not want to be in the same room as “Joe”, as I was very scared.

I called in around 4:00pm that day to see what the status was on “Joe’s” employment.

I was put on a conference call with HR and my supervisor and told that another employee’s employment status was not going to be discussed with me. They wanted to know since I walked off the job, would I be resigning immediately or will I be giving two weeks notice. I told them I would talk with my husband and let them know in the morning.

Thursday morning I called in and told my boss that I would not be resigning, that I would be at work on time. He told me that my words were that I would be resigning. I explained to him that I was under extreme distress and I was distraught. But I would be coming to work. He told me to stay home that he would have to look at termination procedures for walking off the job.

I immediately filed a Labor and Industries complaint against my company for not adhering to their own policies regarding visitors in the building. Policies state visitors have to sign in, get a visitor’s badge, etc. Of course, now my supervisor is trying to force me out.

I have learned that “Joe” will not be terminated and I will continue to be his Lead. Thus, my problem. I want to separate myself personally and professionally from “Joe”. I feel that as long as “Joe” and I work in the same department and I continue to be his Lead, that I am in possible danger from this man returning or “Joe’s” wife showing up irate as well, believing that I had something to do with all of this. Since the man knows where mine and “Joe’s” office is, he now can just walk in and head directly to them.

I don’t want anyone to think that I was ever involved with his affair. I want to get as far away from “Joe” as I can. I don’t know what slander this distraught husband has done to my name in our small community. I just want to get away from the whole ordeal.

My supervisor and the HR Department are taking the stance that if I can’t work with “Joe”, than I should resign. I feel very stuck. I did not create this mess and yet I’m the one being punished. I am now in a position that I cannot reprimand or criticize “Joe’s” performance because “Joe” can now call harassment.

I need some advice on how to handle my boss, protect myself since my company won’t and what I should do about being “Joe’s” Lead. If I ask to step down, that will give them cause to terminate me, since there is no other position for me. It was suggested I seek a Protection Order, but if I do that, than my company will have cause to terminate me since they will have to separate us. I need help.

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