Post
Ka
Kajalla
1y ago

being harrassed by a person with mental disabilities

Hi, my question will be somewhat delicate. I’m not quite sure whom to turn to or what to do next, so guess I just need some opinions on the matter.

I work in a library, and we have a mentally handicapped man working with us. I don’t know the details of his condition. He’s in his forties but acts like he’s 16. All my other colleagues are middle-aged women, I’m the only one without a family or kids. When I took the job, that man immediately took a liking to me and it sort of became our routine to chat a bit in the morning and after work. Nothing personal, we talk about favorite music and TV-shows. He tells me what he had cooked for breakfast (he lives with his mother) and the new Lego set he had bought. Initially I thought it was normal work chitchat, especially when we both get bored with repetitive daily tasks. But lately our communication has turned to direct flirting on his side. He always wants to help me with something, even though I don’t need any help. I tried to be polite and friendly, but eventually snapped a couple of times telling him he was distracting me from my work. He got offended and ignored me for several days walking back and forth past my working desk twenty times a day with a blank face. It was actually a relief, but it was not for long, and meanwhile my colleagues kept joking that I’d been rude to “our Jeff”. I secretly hoped he’d stay offended, but he showed up with a rose instead and doubled his flirting. He also became more aggressive, last month he came to work and put his arms on my shoulders asking for “free hugs” all the while smiling like it was something natural. I didn’t know how to react and tried to detach myself as quickly as possible. My colleague who was standing next to me patted him on the back and told him to go do his job, which he did. She finds his attentions to me “cute” and reminds me that he doesn’t fully understand the full consequences of his actions. I’m not sure this is true because he doesn’t act the same way to any other woman, but I never gave him any reasons to believe I’m interested. I took two weeks off before the holidays, hoping that we’ll all take a healthy break from one another and things might change for the better. My friend advised me to treat the man as I treat my female colleagues, to be very reserved and focus on my work. However, I find it hard to follow! I began avoiding our small cafeteria on the first floor and take the pains to have lunch at the mall next to the library, just to avoid any communication with Jeff outside work. It’s both longer and lonelier. I feel uncomfortable when he is around. Two days ago, he grabbed me by the hand near the elevator and tried to hold me, making inappropriate comments about my skirt. I told my manager about it, she shrugged it off, like all my other colleagues do. They think he’s harmless, and I almost feel ashamed for complaining to them. I tried to casually lie to Jeff that I have a boyfriend and am about to get married, and he didn’t show any signs of comprehension at my words, as if I were talking about my brother or about pizza. I feel like I’m some sort of trophy, and I’m supposed to be kind and understanding because I have no mental issues and he has.

So, how to handle this situation appropriately? I don’t want to get Jeff in trouble, but I don’t know how to stop it, without quitting my job? Or should I quit? The pay is not worth it, and the only reason I took it was to pay the bills quickly and because I thought it’s a great relaxing job.

Specialist answer
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Veena Choudhary
1y
Specialist

Hi,


set boundaries. clearly communicate to that person what you don't like explicitly and calmly. as they wont understand till you don't explain them clearly. They may not understand sarcasm, rudeness in certain cases as they wont understand what is appropriate behaviour. In this case you can just help them by stating that you feel so so is an inappropriate behaviour and you don't like it.


You can even consider conflict resolution. You can speak to a neutral third party who can help you both by addressing these concerns. A person who can explain your concerns to another person in a better way. person who knows you both well like any of your colleagues or superiors at office or an h.r


see if either of these steps could help you.

Ru
Ruby lj
1y

Hi, I had a similar experience with a mentally ill girl. She wasn’t doing anything unpleasant, just showed some disrespect to private space and had a tendency to touch people. She’d see my new watch and would immediately want to touch it and would make signs that she wanted to try it on. I asked the mother of the girl, and she told me I should say “no” or "please don’t do it, I don’t like it" without hesitation. She explained that a direct and clear negative response is effective, and it’s much worse to say nothing or try to give less evident clues. Some people miss cues, and especially people with certain mental disabilities find it hard to adapt to social norms. You should learn to be rude. It’s a skill that will help you in life ;)

Ch
Christopher
1y

Since it’s happening at your job, your employer has a legal obligation to protect you against unwanted attention. You don’t need to complain to your colleagues, file a formal complaint. It’s the right thing to do. Even if you leave, there will be another girl in your place

no
nobody04
1y

Hey, the subject is definitely touchy. I admire your patience, but you need to think about yourself. You don’t own this guy anything, and you certainly don’t have to endure repeated assaults. I would recommend speaking with your manager about this behavior. Not in the manner that it makes you uncomfortable but say that you’ll leave the job if the man is not removed or dealt with.

Vi
Victoria
1y

Your compassion for this man despite the circumstances is very sweet, it reminds me of how I was at my first managerial job at 25. Managing people is difficult! I always tried to be nice to everyone, which was perhaps a decent thing to do, but it stressed me out immensely. I believe it's fine to be firm and explicit. You can say to Jeff politely that his physical actions are inappropriate. He definitely needs to learn not to grab women by the hand.

99
99uwu66
1y

I’m a social worker and have to communicate with disabled people on a regular basis. We’ve taken professional training where we’ve been taught to set our boundaries with our clients. In a way, you’re helping that person when you’re telling him what to do and what not to do. And you’re doing him a disservice when you overreact or keep your thoughts to yourself because you think he won’t understand. Trust me, he will. You may need to repeat it several times to get to him, but eventually it’s possible to make people do what you want them to do regarding your professional interaction. Don’t be afraid to be impolite!

Fe
Fergus MacWilliam
1y

I don’t understand your colleagues who say “he doesn’t know any better”. Do they think they act heroically if they treat him like a child? You say the man is in his forties. He deserves to be treated likewise. They are basically denying him any chance to learn appropriate behavior that will help them in life. They’re acting like mothers who hover over their children long after they’re of age, thinking they help, but in reality never teaching their children any responsibility. Looks like you are the one who has to take this burden on your shoulders, while your middle-aged wives keep being ignorant...

Le
Lee White
1y

This stuff shouldn't happen to anyone, no matter what. I'll just be upfront. You’d be better off quitting this job, in my opinion. Library work is not as interesting and relaxing as it might seem to the outsider (to visitors). I bet you already know this.

hu
hunted and two faced
1y

Your own mental health is at stake. If nothing else helps, offend that person once again and this time try to genuinely hurt his feelings.

I’m sorry to say this but I see no other easy way

Ka
Kajalla
1y
Author

@Ruby lj Hi, thank you! Yes, I’d probably need a special course on how to be rude:) I still freeze when people are mean or rude to me. I suppose I suffer from a mentality that tells me “be quiet, endure it and move on”. If this situation at work were a one-time thing I’d probably never do anything about it.

Ka
Kajalla
1y
Author

@Christopher I thought about a formal report, but won’t they fire him over it? I don’t know, maybe his health status gives him some privilege, I’m not sure I want to be the one who made him leave. I will feel out of place if this happens and will quit anyway. I was hoping to find another solution

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