Reference no: EM132957541

Read the following short case study, and post your response to the questions at the end. 

 

"Frank's Fight Against Offensive Conduct."

 

 

Frank is an hourly employee in the mechanical maintenance group at a manufacturing facility of a large company. One afternoon, Frank came to the office of his supervisor, Harry, to talk about a problem he was having. At first Harry seemed too busy to listen, but Frank managed to get his attention. When Harry asked what Frank needed, Frank replied, "Some of the guys are hassling me again." 

 

Harry had heard from Frank about this before, and looked exasperated when Frank began to describe the treatment he had been receiving. Frank told Harry he had been finding pictures he considered obscene that had been torn out of magazines or downloaded from the internet left in his work station. Frank added, "This time they've really gone too far!" Harry asked, "Do you know who 'they' are?" Frank said he had a pretty good idea but couldn't be absolutely sure.

 

Frank told Harry, "I know I'm religious, and some of the guys make fun of that...but I'm married, I have kids, I'm not a prude, I'm not totally naïve." Harry countered, "Well, Frank, you can be a little 'holier than thou.' Don't you think you bring some of this on yourself by the way you react when the guys do this kind of stuff to you?" Frank replied, "So I blew up one time, what of it?" 

 

At this point Harry was really frustrated with the conversation. He blurted out to Frank, "You know, you're the only one who complains about this kind of stuff. Not even the women in the shop are complaining! Don't you think you're making an overly big deal of it?"  

 

Frank felt he was getting nowhere with Harry, even though this was the second time in a month he had complained to him about the situation. Frank stormed out of Harry's office and slammed the door behind him.

 

 

So the discussion questions are these (and it is necessary to respond to all three):  

 

• Did Frank bring this situation on himself?  
• Has the law been violated?  
• What solutions do you suggest?