Wk 8 EOC: Workplace Harassment

The comedic film Nine to Five presents many real life situations of harassment in the workplace. The instances, though placed in a comedic light, are far from funny when actually occurring or experienced in reality. There are many examples in the film that show harassment and sexual harassment, these occurrences are performed by the boss onto his female employees. The first example is the instance where the boss continuously passes his best employee over for promotion. Instead treats her as a personal assistant, when she tries to deny his demands he threatens her job, giving her no option but to follow his requests. When an employee made a mistake or didn’t know how to do something he threatened their job and made them feel like they couldn’t go to him for help. Another instance is where he refers to his employees as ‘his girls’ and doesn’t treat them as equals. He makes continuous sexual advances toward his assistant. He buys her gifts, touches her inappropriately, and speaks to her with inappropriate language. He continues this behavior even after she pleads for him to stop and to leave her alone. The boss would speak to his female employees inappropriately, with sexual comments and unsolicited compliments. Sexual harassment and any kind of harassment is an issue that must be taken seriously it not only affects the employee who is being harassed but also the workplace as a whole. Employees become timid of their boss and have to deal with the stress of continuing to work with them or lose their job. This is a serious subject that still to this day occurs, though we have laws to protect employers and employees alike from harassment and sexual harassment. This issue needs to continue to be taken seriously and consequences need to be greater for individuals who don’t follow the rules, it will make the workplace a safer and comfortable place for everyone.