Is this harassment?

[hns25]

I work for a printer in Portland, Oregon. A few month ago the HR assistant was extremely rude to me. I told her that I didn't appreciate the way she was talking to me in a way that was NOT hostile. She apparently was very upset by this. I never really thought about it again and have treated her professionally ever since. I found a few weeks ago that she thinks I am 'out to get her' since our conversation. She has since been telling people to 'not get on my bad side' and even went to a superior and told her I was talking about her behind her back. My supervisor told her any issues we had were taken care of and that she felt it was inappropriate of this woman to interfere and then related the exchange to me. I went directly to HR to report her and was told we would have a meeting together on Monday presided over by our HR manager. What I want to know is if she continues to try and undermine my job by gossiping or trying to have me fired for things I haven't done, do I have any legal rights? I feel with her in an HR position that she is potentially dangerous to my career here and elsewhere. Our employee handbook states:

You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional manner, exhibiting high regard for our customers, vendors, business associates and coworkers. No breach of professional behavior (abusive language, harassment, personal business during worktime etc.) is condoned.

I feel she has totally violated that policy and I'm pleased HR is taking the steps to resolve it, but I am worried that she may continue. I guess I'm just curious if I have any rights here.

Thank you!

 

[cbg]

People really have a strange idea of what HR can and can't do. It's not really their fault, since managers tend to place blame there in order to avoid being the bad guy themselves - oh, I'd really like to let you do thus and so, but HR won't let me; I don't want to fire you, but HR says I have to...

Most of the time those of us in HR have no power except to recommend. Even when we see the company flagrantly violating the law, all we can do is warn them and document the fact that we told them it was illegal to protect our OWN behinds. We have no way to force anyone in the company to do anything they don't want to.

What I'm getting at is that the fact that she's in HR does not give her any more power to have you fired than the woman who sits in the cube next to you or the guy on the loading dock. If your supervisor doesn't want you fired, nothing HR can do can force them to do it.

If she continues, go over her head again. But the department she works in does does not give her any more rights or power than anyone else.

 

[hns25]

thank you

I am an easy going person and I'm just really unhinged by this whole thing. I really don't know what HR has the power to do. This has relieved me greatly as my supervisors and I have fantastic relatioships. Thank you for your reply.

 

[Beth3]

Ditto to what cbg said. An HR Assistant is a clerical aid - she has no management authority whatsoever. Nor is it illegal for her to be an insenstive, immature individual who apparently doesn't know how to professionally handle a minor conflict with a co-worker.

If this Assistant keeps it up, then go to your supervsior who can take the issue to the HR Manager. It sounds like this Assistant is in the wrong profession.

 

[hns25]

I agree!

She is totally in the wrong profession. She is not well liked here, but I have never had an issue with her, save this one instance where she was impolite to me. I'm just ready to have this meeting and get it over with. Thank you for your replies, I feel much better about this situation.