When I hired him, my instincts were at war. I had definite strong feelings that he'd be trouble, but something inside me was shouting "hire! hire!" and that second voice won out. He'd interviewed fairly well, giving all the predictable responses and acting pleasant enough. He'd dressed up nice for the interview, expensive white shirt, well-knotted black tie and sharply tailored gray suit. I wondered how he could afford such clothes, given the sketchy work background on his resume.
So I hired him. His name was Jeff. Jeff Gordon. 23 years old. Blond hair, blue eyes, smooth clear skin, cute I suppose.
He hadn't been on the job a week when the first complaint came to my office. This was from Talia Graysmith. She blushed when she told me that he had patted her behind at least three times. It crossed my mind that Talia wore very tight skirts over her firm little backside, kind of inviting it, but you wouldn't dare say that today. Not PC!
Talia didn't mention harrassment or law suits or doing anything about it. She just said she had a complaint on the new guy and spilled out the story. I think she was embarrassed.
Two days later Andrea Block came in. Red haired beauty. Now, Andrea did NOT invite attention in her dress. Smart, business clothes, but nothing provocative. And SHE said Jeff Gordon had PINCHED her butt! Those were the words she used "he pinched my butt!" She was outraged.
Well, the third's a charm. A day after Andrea had shown up with her complaint, a much older woman in the office, MRS. Brenda Haverstock, asked to see me, setting up a formal appointment. She looked entirely composed, with no embarrassment, as she told me that Jeff had placed his hand on her ass (that's what SHE called it!) and left it there, even letting slip down, pressing her skirt between her legs. And Mrs. Haverstock DID mention _s_e_x_ual harrassment. She said "To ME, that is a clear cut case of _s_e_x_ual harrassment!"
Well, then I knew I had to do something! I put a note in Jeff's mailbox, told him I needed to see him at the end of the work day.
He showed up in my office about 4:45. I guess he hoped to keep any meetings with me short, sparing only 15 minutes.
I was cordial at first, shook hands and grinned, told him to sit down opposite me. I asked him how it had been going so far.
"Fine," he said, with an inquisitive expression. Was THAT all this meeting was about?
"Good, good, Jeff! Well, I'll get right to the point. I've had complaints - three of them - that you've been acting inappropriately with some of the women in the office. What do you say about that?"
Gordon grinned at me. The expression seemed to say - "hey, we're both guys! We know how women are!" but he DID admit to something.
"Oh, I may have given a pat or two here or there!"
"More than a pat, from what I understand. Since you are still on your initial three months' probationary hiring, I'm afraid I am going to have to let you go!"
For the first time, I saw something genuine on his face. The charm disappeared and was replaced by outright fear.
"Oh please don't do that, Mr Phillips! I really do NEED this job! I'll lay off, leave the girls alone!"
"Well, that's all well and fine," I said. "And don't refer to them as 'girls' again, Jeff! Most of the women in the office are older than you! But what assurance do I have that you will really lay off? I do NOT want to find this office in a lawsuit for _s_e_x_ual harrassment!"
His eyes moved desparately around the room. "Well.....well.....maybe there's something I could do - or YOU could do - to make you confident in me. Something I won't forget."
He didn't have a clue.
"What would THAT be?" I asked him.
"I don't know!" he almost seemed angry. "Anything! Anything at all that you can think of!"
I paused at that statement. In my mind a usually reliable voice was saying. "You've got to get rid of him!" but I noticed with considerable surprise that another opinion had arisen in my pants!