Week 8 EOC: Nine to Five Workplace Harassment

In the film Nine to Five, there are many situations that resemble real life situations of harassment. “Sexual harassment relates to unwelcome sexual advances, sexual favor requests, and other verbal or physical conduct that is sexual in nature and may create an offensive, intimidating, or hostile work environment” (Human Resources, Quality Service & Training, Hospitality & Restaurant Marketing Pg. 389).  A lot of the scenes in the movie deal with the boss, a male, harassing his female employees. The first example where we see harassment in the movie is when he continually passes up the promotion for his best employee Violet. She is obviously the most qualified for the position but instead of giving it to her, he gives it to another man in the company. She asks why she didn’t get it and he gives makes up all these reasons for why she didn’t get it. The next example occurs in the Xerox room. Judy looses control of the Xerox machine and papers are going everywhere. The boss walks in and calls her a variety of names then threatens her job. He talks to Judy in a very disrespectful manner. “…signs of improper behavior leading to a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment, such as inappropriate joking, teasing, comments, or name-calling or the posting of improper cartoons, posters, or notes posted in common areas” (Human Resources, Quality Service & Training, Hospitality & Restaurant Marketing Pg. 389). The third example is when refers to his employees as “his girls”. One worker that he specifically tries to make his girl is Doralee. She is his assistant and he continuously puts her in positions where he checks her out. Whether it’s knocking the pencils of the desk so he can look down her shirt, speaking to her inappropriately, or buying her inappropriate gifts, he continuously harasses her more than the other women. This leads to a lot of gossip throughout the office that Doralee is sleeping with him. Sexual harassment is a very serious matter and when it occurs it should not just be brushed under the rug.  “It is important to stop this behavior as soon as it is noticed, and not wait until someone complains” (Human Resources, Quality Service & Training, Hospitality & Restaurant Marketing Pg. 389). If someone waits the harassment could become worse.