I started this new job 3 weeks ago. In my first week, I worked one-on-one with a guy I’ll call Tim. During the day, Tim kept mentioning that he was a single dad. At one point, we finished our tasks early, so I asked what we should do next. Tim kept asking me what I wanted to do, and when I pressed him about the work, he told me I was ‘a little intimidating’ and made a gesture toward my body, suggesting he was attracted to me.
Later, I found out Tim isn’t even a single dad—he has a long-term girlfriend who also works for the company. I told my boss I didn’t want to work with Tim anymore but didn’t say why, just that he made me uncomfortable.
Two days ago, my manager called me to ask what had happened, so I told them everything. Today, I was informed that both Tim and his girlfriend were let go, and my position was also terminated. The reason given was that the office wasn’t ready for my role, and they couldn’t give me enough hours, but something feels off. Do I have any legal options? Could this be retaliation?
For context, I live and work in Michigan. Let me know if you need more info, thanks!
You’re probably right. It seems a little too coincidental. It’s possible they made the decision separately from the harassment claim, but I’d recommend talking to a lawyer. What kind of job was this, and how easy would it be to replace?
Jai said: @Rin
I was a contents technician making $20/hr. It wasn’t a fortune, but not a bad wage either. I worked in disaster restoration.
The other person isn’t wrong. You’ll likely need to speak to an attorney, but this job might be easy to replace. We’re probably talking about a few weeks of pay—around $3,200. The legal fees might be higher than the damages themselves. Still, consulting a lawyer could help you negotiate for a severance package that makes the transition to another job smoother.
It doesn’t hurt to talk to a lawyer, but if the cost and time of a lawsuit seem like too much, you could go through state or federal agencies. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has resources for sexual harassment victims, including contact info for state and federal agencies.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act has a rule against retaliation. Since you reported harassment and then lost your job shortly after, you might have a case. You should consult with an employment lawyer, especially since the law allows attorney fees to be covered if you win. Start by filing an EEOC charge, preferably with a lawyer’s help.
@Jai
In Texas, you could be let go because the job is no longer needed. You aren’t in HR, so you don’t know if they were let go for sexual misconduct. Why would the girlfriend have been fired too if she wasn’t part of it?
@Parker
I guess I left that out. A few days ago, I met his girlfriend. She had heard I didn’t want to work with Tim anymore and asked me some inappropriate questions about it. That’s why they were both let go, although I know they had other issues at the company before this.
It’s possible that by reporting Tim, you gave the company reason to let him go. And maybe without him, they couldn’t justify keeping you around. I’m not sure if that gives you a legal case, though.
You can sue for anything, but proving your case is the hard part. If they can show they had legitimate reasons for letting you go, you’re out of luck. Just my two cents, though.
This sounds like retaliation for reporting sexual harassment, which is illegal. Getting fired should usually be a last resort, especially after just one complaint.
>The reason for terminating my position is supposedly because the office wasn’t ready for my position yet and they couldn’t give me the hours I needed, but something feels fishy, and I’m wondering if I have grounds to sue.
You should talk to a lawyer to figure out if your case will hold up. Since your manager asked you about the harassment claim, it seems like they knew about it, which could work in your favor. It’s possible the job situation is more complicated than it seems, but eliminating your position right after your report does look suspicious. A lawyer will be your best bet.
You should contact an employment lawyer. Your state might have laws in place that could help you, and they may allow for legal fees to be shifted to the company if you win. These cases aren’t always easy, though. The company could argue they hired you to work with Tim, and since Tim was fired, the position is no longer needed. If you’re lucky, they might offer a few weeks of severance to avoid legal action. A lawyer could send a letter demanding more, but you’ll likely end up with a few thousand dollars at most.