Harassment - HELP ME!!

RLCD

One member of our board of trustees has decided that he does not like our managing director. At public board meetings, in front of the press, he has said on three different occasions that the managing director is not doing his job. In addition, he is "picking on" every member of the administration staff. He is degrading them every chance he gets. Is there anything that can be done to stop this "harassment" from a member of the board?

We have all heard rumors that this board member has said he will be getting rid of every person that works in the administration office under the managing director. We all do a good job and don't feel that we should lose our jobs because one member of the board (with enough pull to influence the majority of the board) does not like our boss.

deniseE

What does the rest of the board have to say??? How much power does this one member have??

Do you have a mediator between the ee's and the board?

are you under contract or at-will???

Am attorney may be able to help you sort out your options...

RLCD

There are 7 board members. 4 of them do whatever this 1 wants (which is whatever our attorney wants). The other 2 really look at what is going on and vote the way they believe.

The managing director is the mediator between the ee's and the board.

The managing director is under contract. His contract expires on 6/30. We have heard that as soon as he is gone, we will all be walked out one at a time.

We have talked about finding an attorney, but haven't gotten that far yet. I think we are going to have to.

AJ SPHR

It's not too uncommon for staff terminations to occur when the head guy departs and a new one comes in. The Board has oversight for your employer and probably the ultimate say in a variety of issues. Though this behavior is obnoxious, if it's not targeted against specific employees based on their belonging to a protected class, it's not harassment. This may be a matter of realizing it's time to move on because of the Board members attitude and disposition.

Good luck!

Pork

RLCD: I believe that you need to do one of three things:
1) Move forward and hire an attorney.
2) Dust off the old resume and warm up you resume network.
3) Read the hand writing on the wall or the tea leaves in the cup.

Unless yours is a public held company your attorney will tell you there is not much you can do except seek EEOC relief for a hostile work environment with these ready threats hanging over all of your heads. If you and others are in a protected class, you may start now the process and maybe your threats and actions with EEOC may cause the board member to turn away from his threats. What is then lurking around the corner is a system of progressive discipline for failure to perform. Keep your nose clean and your pants loose so you can squirm out from under the hammer and anvil.

PORK