California Law Labor Law Frowns on Hostile Work Place

California Labor Law News: Pasadena, CA: Melissa dreads going back to work even though she loves her job. She is the only woman in her department of 7 and believes her new boss and a woman in HR have singled her out. "Because I don't want anyone else to go through what I had to, I want to pursue this issue," says Melissa, "and let these people know they have violated the California Labor Law.."

Melissa has been working in a tape duplication room for the past two years and everything was great until a new boss was hired. For some inexplicable reason that Melissa still doesn't have an answer for, he started to bully her. "He called me into his office and said 'You are staging a coup against me,' " says Melissa. "At first I thought he was kidding. Then I asked why he singled me out. 'I haven't and I will be talking to everyone else,' he said. But he didn't speak to anyone else.

In his first 3 weeks on the job, he implemented new procedures that were very radical and it was the consensus of everyone that they were unreasonable. Everyone discussed it amongst themselves and he is aware of that—it wasn't just me.

I went to HR to have his comments documented. However my HR rep said I didn't have a complaint. But I want it documented in case he might have something personal against me; I just wanted it for the record. She said, 'He is your boss and he can say whatever he wants to you.'

'I don't understand, is there nothing I can do?' I asked. 'I can hold a meeting with the three of us,' she replied. I was uncomfortable with that idea because she was obviously biased towards my boss so I asked if someone else could also attend this meeting. She offered the VP of operations and I agreed.

Three hours later we had the meeting. 'Melissa thinks you are targeting her because she is a woman', she said to my boss in a very disdainful tone. All I said to her was that I am the only woman in an otherwise all-male department, so how does that translate into her statment?

My boss was going to comment but she said it wasn't necessary. Then she said my claims did not need answers because they were not legitimate. I sat through 30 minutes of answering her questions and he didn't have to reply to anything.

After the meeting, the HR woman said I couldn't speak about this conversation to anyone at anytime. I asked her why not. 'That is just policy', she said.

I believe my boss has a personal problem with me and he is not capable of being an unbiased boss. I feel discriminated against, not just because I am female, but personally. As well, I think they are both bullying me into leaving. The meeting took place last Wednesday and I haven't gone back to work. I haven't been able to sleep and I'm so upset that I am nauseated and can't even drive due to stress. I loved my job before this man came on board but now I dread going back—I feel that he has created a hostile work environment, even though all of my co-workers respect me.

I believe he has singled me out but I honestly don't know where he is coming from. I am going back to work on Monday; if he approaches me I will not be alone with him and the same goes for HR. I will probably quit but I also don't want them to get away with this. At this point I am more upset with HR than him—she didn't do her job and I don't want anyone to go through what I had to. She shouldn't be in this position of power; I would think that in her position, she would be familiar with the California Labor Law and the section about harassment in the workplace."