MAD boyfriend

T

I have 2 employees that "hang out" together. This past weekend they had an arguement and ee#1's boyfriend went to ee#2's house making threats to the whole family. EE#2 called the cops. Well, now it's Monday morning and they have to work together, so far that is ok. EE#2 talked to me about this on Monday and was somewhat concerned that ee#1's boyfriend may try to come to our worksite and cause a "stink" with her. Do I have an obligation here? I told the ee not to walk to her car alone if she knows the boyfriend is in the parking lot. What else should I do?

-t

System

Where is the worksite? Is it where anyone can approach employees while they're working? I'm going to assume that the employee has a crew leader or supervisor or someone in charge of the work. Notify him/her and explain that there can be no visitors during work. There should be a system in place that deals with hostile or threatening situations on a worksite. It should include what to say, what not to say, at at what point the police should be called. Of course, notify the next supervisor up. If not, make a policy and educate your staff - immediately.

dchr9203

Nothing. This is a domestic, non work-related issue (unless the two employees bring it there) that occurred over the weekend and has probbably cooled off by now. Just monitor internally, ensure both employees are acting professionally, and provide escort to vehicle if employee requests it. If the boyfriend shows up at your place of employment and is inappropriate or aggressive, call the police and report him as a trespasser/unauthorized intruder, whatever. Other than that, it really isn't your problem until the employees make it yours by acting out while on company premises, etc.

T

This is the response I was hoping for. We do have a policy about visitors in the building, but if everyone knows that he is a boyfriend of an employee, then they're more likely to let him in. I did tell the ee to request an escort if she needs one. Hopefully, everything will be fine, I just wanted to make sure that I have no obligation.

Thanks.
-t

Don D

"T": It's a dangerous thing to shop for the answer you want. You might be better served by searching for the answer that makes the most sense. I would advise against doing nothing. An employee has advised you that she fears retaliation and you know that it is likely that the unruly man may well come on your property. You would be very foolish to stick your head in the sand until you see the splash of blood or the pop of a cap. Be proactive. Nobody can criticize you for being that. Do what makes sense. Don't search for somebody to tell you to do nothing and find comfort in that. Just my 1 cent worth.

dchr9203

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 05-06-05 AT 12:20PM (CST)[/font][br][br]T: I didn't presume that you were looking for validation to "do nothing" or "stick your head in the sand" insomuch as you were looking for counsel as to whether or not your company had a responsibility to get involved in a personal, domestic conflict that occurred off of your company's premises on your employee's own time and if there was anything else you needed to do beyond what you have done. I'm confident that you interpreted my advice as it was intended; not to do nothing, but be aware and prepared to act in the event it escalates within or on your company's property/premises. Other than that, I'm not convinced that there is anything else you, as the employer, can or should do beyond what you have already.

System

That's how the post looked to me too. It was posted right after advice to do 'nothing.' Putting other personnel on notice is advice to do 'something.'

Don D

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 05-06-05 AT 02:17PM (CST)[/font][br][br]I must have misread the first word in post number 2 above.

The cemeteries are full of dead people who worked at places where the general thought, particularly in Personnel, was that 'everything will be fine', 'he's not a risk' and 'this really isn't our problem until he acts out'.

T

I understood your reply to "do nothing" did not literally mean "do nothing". I have let her know not to walk to her car alone and if in fact he shows up here, I will be on the phone with the local police.

Thanks everyone for your posts.

-t

hhaynal

Heed Don's advice. He is right on target. Don't forget, employer is RESPONSIBLE for providing a safe work environment for its employees under OSHA.

We had a similar situation about a year ago where the mad boyfriend was coming after the estranged girlfriend's father who worked at our facility. Due to the extreme nature of the threats made, the company felt a "security lockdown" at the facility was warranted. Granted, your situation that you describe in your post doesn't appear to rise to the level we faced, but take note and handle accordingly.