Rose P

Things were fine when I had started in the job as a secretary to the managing director.  I was one among the better looking candidates who had been selected for the job.  What had surprised me most was the fact that I had been chosen over a list of candidates far more experienced than me.  I should have understood at that time that there could be something fishy about the whole thing.

 

I started the job on the given day and was provided with a good induction.  I was allowed to move around freely and as the secretary to the MD I had a certain amount of authority.  I was feeling elated at all the attention I was getting.

 

Things started turning a bit difficult about a week later when I was being asked to do things for clients that would normally be done by an office help.   I took it in my stride hoping that this could be a one off thing.  But it was not and things were soon starting to get far worse than imagined.  The clients coming into the MD’s office first complimented me on my looks and the discussions ventured further still.  People kept asking for my contact numbers and even went to the extent of asking for my residential address.  Matters came to a head when I got invitations for evenings out with the clients.  I was asked by my MD to do as they asked for.

 

I still took into my stride hoping for the best.  I soon started getting sly looks from all other staff in the office that probably had the notion that I was making something on the side accompanying people out.  That was when I realized that this was a form of harassment that I had been drawn into by the management of my company.

 

I spoke to my MD about it and was told that this was they way the company functioned and the only reason I was selected ahead of more experienced candidates was my looks which could be used.  I was angry and decided to take action against the company immediately.  I got in touch with a lawyer dealing with employment issues and explained what had transpired with me.

 

My lawyer was quick to understand that the company was trying to make use of my body more than my talent at work.  The letter he sent to the company put all things I had said in deep perspective asking for explanations, threatening publicity and demanding damages.

 

The company certainly did not want any of that.  I had a call from the company’s lawyers to withdraw the case in return for the compensation demanded.  I passed the call to my lawyer to deal with.  It was virtually an agreement from the company that this was the way they conducted their business.  They just had picked up the wrong candidate for the job.  I took the settlement I had demanded in an out of court deal.  I also resigned from the job immediately after.

  ...11 months ago
Apr 08,2009 , Employment / Labour , Sexual Harassment Post Comment (0)