Colleague Caught Mocking Coworker's Attire

[Anonymous]

OP, you are just as awful so the two of you can getget a twofer with HR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A freak, a snitch and a peeping tom.

Photographing someone in public who is screaming for attention is not "peeping "

[Anonymous]

People dress like a freak in order to be left alone. Leave her alone. UNLESS it’s affecting the teams work and work product.

[Anonymous]

Why are you working in a middle school, is what I want to know

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised at how many people think this is a fireable offense. While I totally agree that the guy is an a$$ and used poor judgment, nothing he did appears to be in Title VII territory or a violation of any typical company policy. I work with lots of jerks, and there are plenty of them to be found outside the office. Of course, you can fire someone just because as long as it is not for a prohibited reason but HR usually wants to avoid willy-nilly firing because hiring and training is a pain. Interesting how so many of you would drop the axe over one moment of poor judgment.

[Anonymous]

It's kind of creepy, but I would never fire someone for that unless it represented a pattern of bad behavior. He should get a slap on the wrist, be told to be more careful about sending text messages, and nothing more.

But I don't work in a high-security facility. That would raise a much different set of issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you do not have a contract or some other protection, you can be fire at any time for any reason. Or no reason at all. Employment at will.

Including for breaching professional dress codes.

Actually dress codes are generally inherently sexist, so unless it’s stipulated and signed off by legal very carefully, they can’t just fire for that.

Her outfit sounds colorful, but not outside the standards for a normal office dress code. It sounds like she is wearing pants that are not jeans, closed-toed shoes that are not athletic shoes, and a cardigan/shell.

But a colorful (but not illegal) personal life and eccentric fashion sense does not mean someone should be fired.

On the other hand, sending a shitty comment to the wrong person is also usually not a fireable offense either. The photographer probably got a verbal warning to knock it off, and that is noted in his file.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A freak, a snitch and a peeping tom.

Photographing someone in public who is screaming for attention is not "peeping "

Correct. Don't want to be mocked in public? Don't dress like an idiot. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I think the person who escalated this to HR is out of line. If he was really just trying to text his wife and otherwise not bully this woman in the office, then of course it’s not nice but he’s also not trying to hurt or embarrass her. But now there will be a whole “thing” about it and the woman will KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that people are making fun of her. What’s more cruel, really?

Disagree. By receiving the text, she was exposed to what is potentially a hostile work environment, even though the text was not about nor meant for her. Don't any of you receive this type of workplace training? In our offices, it is mandatory.

[Anonymous]

It is unlikely that the text and photo were the first time this "coworker" took photos or made disparaging remarks. HR probably did nothing this time, but is case building on him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:in our office you can be fired just for using your camera to take pictures inside the building. so, yes. He is in trouble. and he should be.

+1

...and I might have sent it to HR too. Who wants to work with toxic people who have this behavior?

We're all adults. If her outfit were distracting or inappropriate it's her boss's responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP stop trying to text pics of your coworkers from work.

This. Op, is totally the person who did this. Too easy.

+1
And she's a woman texting a friend or her husband. Typical DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I think the person who escalated this to HR is out of line. If he was really just trying to text his wife and otherwise not bully this woman in the office, then of course it’s not nice but he’s also not trying to hurt or embarrass her. But now there will be a whole “thing” about it and the woman will KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that people are making fun of her. What’s more cruel, really?

NO. The man needs to be told to stop. He's a nasty piece of work.
And HR needs to build evidence of the hostile work environment with him and OP and maybe others hating on this poor woman.

Even OP admits the colorful dresser does her work correctly!

This is harassment at work. If the idiot transgresses again, he should be fired for cause.

OP, you're horrible too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I think the person who escalated this to HR is out of line. If he was really just trying to text his wife and otherwise not bully this woman in the office, then of course it’s not nice but he’s also not trying to hurt or embarrass her. But now there will be a whole “thing” about it and the woman will KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that people are making fun of her. What’s more cruel, really?

Disagree. By receiving the text, she was exposed to what is potentially a hostile work environment, even though the text was not about nor meant for her. Don't any of you receive this type of workplace training? In our offices, it is mandatory.

+1
Horrible behavior and really gross how some pps are justifying it or downplaying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One incident is not a "hostile work environment." And those claims are VERY hard to prove, in any event.

Was he a jerk? Cruel? An a$$? Yes. Should he be disciplined? Yes. FIRED? Come on folks. He's not getting fired unless there is a ban on cameras in the office or related.

This is accurate. He should not do it again but one incident does not constitute a hostile workplace. Him being counseled sounds like the appropriate response at this time. If it escalates, that's another matter.