ostatecowboy67
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Oklahoma
I work for the Government. For the past 6+ years I have worked in an office environment where I am only one of 3 male employees. Both of the other male employees agree that we are treated differently, but I am the only one who it has gotten to this level. During that time I have reported numerous incidents of sexual harassment, including being shown nude photos of a female co-workers. I have kept all emails that were sent to my Supervisor and their Boss. I also have sent numerous emails about sexual comments made by female co-workers including sexual acts, terms that describe sexual preference, comments about the appearance and body of clients, etc. I even had reported when one of the female employees had sent out a basketball bracket, which is against our Agency policy. My Wife and I recently were going on a trip to Mexico, and prior to me leaving another incident happened at work. This time a female co-worker had sent out several jokes that were derogatory towards men. I forwarded it to the Supervisor and their Boss, both of which are female. The next day when I arrived at work none of the female co-workers would talk to me. They would not tell me why, but finally one of the other female co-workers said the reason was my Supervisor told that employee I reported her. She then told others.
At that point I wrote to my Supervisor's Boss and said that I wanted to meet as the hostile work environment, breach of confidentiality by the Supervisor, etc. had been going on for 6+ years. It wasn't the first time that I had reported wrongdoing in the office, and it wasn't the first time that the individuals not only knew I had done it but were able to quote verbatum the language that I used with the Supervisor I also wrote that if it was something she did not feel needed to be addressed, or felt that she did not want to deal with it, then I was going to file with our Office of Civil Rights, our Area Office or the EEOC. The Boss wrote me back saying she was busy, but would like to meet with me when I returned from my 8 day vacation. The first day back at work I received word from my Supervisor informing me her Boss wanted to meet with me in 30 minutes. I went to her office, but they would not allow me past the front lobby. Finally after 1 1/2 hours I was allowed back to talk to her, and in the room was the Boss and her Superior. I was informed that due to my request they had sent out a team to interview the employees, and the result was that "I" had been accussed of sexually inappropriate comments, derogatory comments towards clients and the unauthorized use of forms I had not received approval to use. Based on that they were conducting a formal investigation and I was being "re-located for up to 60 days while the investigation took place."
Needless to say I was in shock. I asked why I wasn't given the chance to meet with the team, since my reporting of the hostile work environment was the trigger for the team coming out. I was told they weren't interested in my allegations. I went ahead and brought up 3-4 incidents, and the Supervisor's Boss said "Oh, my name, I don't recall you ever having told me that." I said nothing, but I have 6+ years of emails and notes from meetings that I have exchanged with those in my chain of command. I asked again how could "all" employees have been interviewed if I wasn't interviewed. I was told by the Area Boss he felt enough information had been gathered that it warranted looking at the "entire office." I then asked if they were looking at everyone why was I the only one who was being re-located. The answer was that it was being done to protect me so that no one else could claim I had done or said anything. I was not allowed to get my things or return to my office. I was instructed to report to another office many miles away. I was also told they expected this to be wrapped up in 20 days. It has now been the full 60 days and I still have not been allowed to get my things.
I did finally get to meet with the Investigator after 45 days, but suprisingly their Boss attended. It is important to note that the Boss did not show up for any of the other interviews with my female co-workers. I aso was the last person interviewed. The Investigator started the interview, but soon their Boss took over and asked questions which had nothing to do with the investigation. They were very arrogant, and any time that I tried to answer I was interrupted. Many times the Boss would laugh and then make a sarcastic comment. They asked me about several allegations made against me. Once when I told them that these were all lies I was asked why would someone lie about me. I attempted to tell them I felt it was retaliatory on behalf of my female co-workers who had gotten in trouble for gambling in the office, the inappropriate emails, their language in the office, etc. The Boss laughed and said "well, I don't know about you, but if I would get in trouble I sure wouldn't verify that I had taken part in something like that." That was his attitude the entire time. He seemed totally disinterested in my side of things, and I literally had to force my allegations into the conversations. And, they didn't write down any of the names of inviduals I gave them who could verify my claims. Also, since I was the last one interviewed that means they will not be talking to my female co-workers or ask them about the allegations that I had raised.
I forgot to mention at the beginning of the meeting I was forced to sign a paper that said I would not speak with other employees at my Agency about our meeting. I then asked if i could get in trouble for doing that, and they said I could be terminated. I then asked if the other employees had been required to sign the same form. Their answer was that they had been required to sign it. I then told them that I had proof, which I provided to the two of them in the form of screen prints, where my co-workers has been out on a social network that starts with an F, and they had been discussing details of the case. A mutual friend had sent them to me. The Investigator and their Boss again seemed disinterested in this fact and the Boss joked "well, we surelly cannot control everything people do on these type of sites." They also asked me why I hadn't taken my allegations outside of the Agency if I felt that my rights had been violated for so long. I replied "Can I ask the same about the allegations by my female co-workers, as the timeline you are giving me is from 2-4 year ago?" They looked at each other, and then asked if they could have a break. After returning from the break they told me that they had to wrap up the meeting and get back to the office. The meeting ended about 10 minutes later. I still didn't get to give my side.
I know this all seems far-fetched, but literally this entire matter has been handled this way. I have proof that I have been trying for 6+ years to report sexual harassment, hostile work environment, etc. and it fell in deaf ears. Then they "allegedly" come out to interview "all" employees after I said I would go above them, and I ended up being the one looked at. And, it was only at the end I was given a chance to give my side of things. I also found out that another investigative branch of our Agency had taken my computer for a week. No one else's computer was taken. At this point the Investigator said she will make a report to the Area Office, which are the ones who came out to the office and I feel "intentionally" did not allow me the chance to talk to them, and then they will make a decision. I would like to know your thoughts on what has happened, and what my rights are at this time. I know that they have not made a final decision on the investigation, but to this point it has been so biased that I do not feel that a fair decision can be rendered. I don't feel even in the best case that I could return to that office without worrying each day that someone was going to make up more lies about it.
I cannot believe how quickly they acted when a female made a claim against me, but to this day seem unphased by the fact I have been reporting incidents for 6+ years. I also feel that I was retaliated against by my female co-workers for them getting in trouble after I had reported them for the hostile work environment, conducted unbecoming public employee, etc. And, to be honest I feel the Agency has also retaliated against me when the Supervisor and Boss ignored my claims, as well as the biased investigation potentially being retaliatory.
I work for the Government. For the past 6+ years I have worked in an office environment where I am only one of 3 male employees. Both of the other male employees agree that we are treated differently, but I am the only one who it has gotten to this level. During that time I have reported numerous incidents of sexual harassment, including being shown nude photos of a female co-workers. I have kept all emails that were sent to my Supervisor and their Boss. I also have sent numerous emails about sexual comments made by female co-workers including sexual acts, terms that describe sexual preference, comments about the appearance and body of clients, etc. I even had reported when one of the female employees had sent out a basketball bracket, which is against our Agency policy. My Wife and I recently were going on a trip to Mexico, and prior to me leaving another incident happened at work. This time a female co-worker had sent out several jokes that were derogatory towards men. I forwarded it to the Supervisor and their Boss, both of which are female. The next day when I arrived at work none of the female co-workers would talk to me. They would not tell me why, but finally one of the other female co-workers said the reason was my Supervisor told that employee I reported her. She then told others.
At that point I wrote to my Supervisor's Boss and said that I wanted to meet as the hostile work environment, breach of confidentiality by the Supervisor, etc. had been going on for 6+ years. It wasn't the first time that I had reported wrongdoing in the office, and it wasn't the first time that the individuals not only knew I had done it but were able to quote verbatum the language that I used with the Supervisor I also wrote that if it was something she did not feel needed to be addressed, or felt that she did not want to deal with it, then I was going to file with our Office of Civil Rights, our Area Office or the EEOC. The Boss wrote me back saying she was busy, but would like to meet with me when I returned from my 8 day vacation. The first day back at work I received word from my Supervisor informing me her Boss wanted to meet with me in 30 minutes. I went to her office, but they would not allow me past the front lobby. Finally after 1 1/2 hours I was allowed back to talk to her, and in the room was the Boss and her Superior. I was informed that due to my request they had sent out a team to interview the employees, and the result was that "I" had been accussed of sexually inappropriate comments, derogatory comments towards clients and the unauthorized use of forms I had not received approval to use. Based on that they were conducting a formal investigation and I was being "re-located for up to 60 days while the investigation took place."
Needless to say I was in shock. I asked why I wasn't given the chance to meet with the team, since my reporting of the hostile work environment was the trigger for the team coming out. I was told they weren't interested in my allegations. I went ahead and brought up 3-4 incidents, and the Supervisor's Boss said "Oh, my name, I don't recall you ever having told me that." I said nothing, but I have 6+ years of emails and notes from meetings that I have exchanged with those in my chain of command. I asked again how could "all" employees have been interviewed if I wasn't interviewed. I was told by the Area Boss he felt enough information had been gathered that it warranted looking at the "entire office." I then asked if they were looking at everyone why was I the only one who was being re-located. The answer was that it was being done to protect me so that no one else could claim I had done or said anything. I was not allowed to get my things or return to my office. I was instructed to report to another office many miles away. I was also told they expected this to be wrapped up in 20 days. It has now been the full 60 days and I still have not been allowed to get my things.
I did finally get to meet with the Investigator after 45 days, but suprisingly their Boss attended. It is important to note that the Boss did not show up for any of the other interviews with my female co-workers. I aso was the last person interviewed. The Investigator started the interview, but soon their Boss took over and asked questions which had nothing to do with the investigation. They were very arrogant, and any time that I tried to answer I was interrupted. Many times the Boss would laugh and then make a sarcastic comment. They asked me about several allegations made against me. Once when I told them that these were all lies I was asked why would someone lie about me. I attempted to tell them I felt it was retaliatory on behalf of my female co-workers who had gotten in trouble for gambling in the office, the inappropriate emails, their language in the office, etc. The Boss laughed and said "well, I don't know about you, but if I would get in trouble I sure wouldn't verify that I had taken part in something like that." That was his attitude the entire time. He seemed totally disinterested in my side of things, and I literally had to force my allegations into the conversations. And, they didn't write down any of the names of inviduals I gave them who could verify my claims. Also, since I was the last one interviewed that means they will not be talking to my female co-workers or ask them about the allegations that I had raised.
I forgot to mention at the beginning of the meeting I was forced to sign a paper that said I would not speak with other employees at my Agency about our meeting. I then asked if i could get in trouble for doing that, and they said I could be terminated. I then asked if the other employees had been required to sign the same form. Their answer was that they had been required to sign it. I then told them that I had proof, which I provided to the two of them in the form of screen prints, where my co-workers has been out on a social network that starts with an F, and they had been discussing details of the case. A mutual friend had sent them to me. The Investigator and their Boss again seemed disinterested in this fact and the Boss joked "well, we surelly cannot control everything people do on these type of sites." They also asked me why I hadn't taken my allegations outside of the Agency if I felt that my rights had been violated for so long. I replied "Can I ask the same about the allegations by my female co-workers, as the timeline you are giving me is from 2-4 year ago?" They looked at each other, and then asked if they could have a break. After returning from the break they told me that they had to wrap up the meeting and get back to the office. The meeting ended about 10 minutes later. I still didn't get to give my side.
I know this all seems far-fetched, but literally this entire matter has been handled this way. I have proof that I have been trying for 6+ years to report sexual harassment, hostile work environment, etc. and it fell in deaf ears. Then they "allegedly" come out to interview "all" employees after I said I would go above them, and I ended up being the one looked at. And, it was only at the end I was given a chance to give my side of things. I also found out that another investigative branch of our Agency had taken my computer for a week. No one else's computer was taken. At this point the Investigator said she will make a report to the Area Office, which are the ones who came out to the office and I feel "intentionally" did not allow me the chance to talk to them, and then they will make a decision. I would like to know your thoughts on what has happened, and what my rights are at this time. I know that they have not made a final decision on the investigation, but to this point it has been so biased that I do not feel that a fair decision can be rendered. I don't feel even in the best case that I could return to that office without worrying each day that someone was going to make up more lies about it.
I cannot believe how quickly they acted when a female made a claim against me, but to this day seem unphased by the fact I have been reporting incidents for 6+ years. I also feel that I was retaliated against by my female co-workers for them getting in trouble after I had reported them for the hostile work environment, conducted unbecoming public employee, etc. And, to be honest I feel the Agency has also retaliated against me when the Supervisor and Boss ignored my claims, as well as the biased investigation potentially being retaliatory.
Last edited: