My coworker is always making jokes about me being pregnant, what should I do?

L

Lynolium

New member
Joined
Nov 15, 2011
Messages
0
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Just as the title says, I have a coworker who is constantly telling other employee's that I am pregnant, even though I am not, and I have told him I'm not pregnant. It wouldn't bother me so much, but he's went around and told almost all of my coworkers that I'm pregnant, and some of them have even asked me if it was true. I'm thin, and I certainly don't look pregnant, So it's pretty apparent this guy is doing it for his own amusement or fun. I've expressed that he needs to stop and it isn't funny, but it only prompts more "baby bump" jokes.

I've told my boss about it, and when I did my boss told me he would speak to him, and tell him that the behavior is unacceptable, but it's 2 weeks later and the comments have started again.

I put in a complaint to HR, and they replied back that my supervisor would talk to the employee, but he already has, and I'm afraid that nothing serious will be done.
 
This probably falls under the EEOC regulation of sexual harassment. Go to www.eeoc.gov and read about it here: http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.cfm

Making jokes that are of a sexual nature, and that make you feel uncomfortable are illegal if they go beyond a simple one time joke. If you have told him to stop, told the manager and HR and they have not been able to stop it, then go right back to HR and let them know that you feel like this is sexual harassment under EEOC guidelines and are going to file a charge if it ever surfaces again. And if you are just done with this altogether, file the charge and tell them you are going to do so. And don't just threaten it, do it.
 
While you wait for something to be done officially (and keep working with HR to do that), just ignore all the comments from him about pregnancy. Pretend like you didn't even hear them and walk away. He probably keeps doing it because he thinks your reaction ("Stop it! That's not funny! I'm not pregnant!") is entertaining (rather like an immature older brother who teases his younger sibling). If you stop giving him a reaction, he will probably stop doing it, because there is no reason for him to keep doing it.

If coworkers ask you if you're pregnant, say, "No. (Coworker's name here) is just spreading rumors he knows aren't true, because he thinks it's funny," and leave it at that. Coworkers will soon learn not to trust anything this guy says, and then the joke's on him.
 
Those jokes potentially create a hostile work environment. You need to report this to your HR office at once.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_class

If HR does not resolve the issue, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.
 
Back
Top