Phone Calls
charlieb
4 Posts
At my company we have a supervisor who is walking a fine line. This supervisor has called a third-party, uninvolved employee and asked personal questions about another employee who she is having problems with. This supervisor has asked if this employee is dating anybody at the company. Futhermore, the uninvolved party who received the call was asked not to mention anything about the phone call. Is this harrassment by the supervisor? The statement of "please don't mention this phone call to anybody" seems to indicate that she knows that she is doing something wrong. I am having problems finding where to look for state statutes discussing this topic for the state of Oregon.
Comments
It sounds more like the type of talk -- gossip -- employees generally engage in. The fact that it is a superviosor of course raises a question that
woud start inquiring of other employees about their personal knowledge of a third employee.
Look, it seems that the supervisor is a friend of the employee to whom she talked. The employee about whom she is inquring sounds like is also a friend to this employee. Employees often check out what's going on with other employees.
Right now I don't know if you have enven anything there to worry about. If you feel, however, that there is a need then conduct a quick investigation and see what's going on. Is the supervisor using her position to get non-job related information about an employee? But then be prared t dela with more of these issues when one emplyee starts asking another employee about a mutal friend emplyee.
What did the second emplyee tell the inquiring supervisor?
I am just curious as to what kind of privacy we can expect at a work environment. Should our supervisors be allowed to call or email other members of the company and ask personal questions about other employees private relationships and who they are involved with? How much of our private lives can be infringed upon?
Could you take a proactive stance on this and maybe transfer the ee to another area? Or even the supervisor? If that is not an option, maybe you could talk with the supervisor in a big picture kind of way, review how things are going, see if she wants/needs to address any problem areas, and maybe she'll give you something to work with?
good luck.
As HR Director at our small company, I frequently consult with managers regarding how they are handling various issues. Our Senior Management team meets weekly and we have open dialog about all areas of operation, including HR. They frequently call me for advise BEFORE they proceed with an investigation, disciplinary action and ALWAYS before they terminate an employee.
I would take the direct approach and let the manager know that I was aware that he/she is inquiring about an employee's personal life from third party employees and that I had some concerns about the methodology. I would offer assistance - for instance, if there was the possibility of some serious misconduct and it was necesary to interview other employees, I would suggest that it always be done with a witness (preferably someone from HR).
Asking the questions is not necessarily wrong (unless there is some personal motivation from this manager). The methodolgy may be in question. In this case, your manager may be trying to head off a sexual harassment suit (if he/she suspects a volatile dating relationship between two employees).
Offer assistance, not criticism until you know the facts. If you find there is some non-business or personal motivation, then counsel the manager. If there is substance and need for further investigation, the you are involved and can guide things so that they are handled professionally, with appropriate documentation, etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if gossip about this "investigation" has raced throughout the supervisor's department, and everyone's jumping to conclusions about the supervisor's motives, just like we are.
Yes, poor judgement.
James Sokolowski
HRhero.com
If the supervisor tried to take it to the next level, his/her agenda would be exposed and her boss can deal with the fallout.