Issue Date: February 10, 2008
Offended by the boss
After months of looking, I finally got a job. The problem is, my boss constantly makes awful comments about race and women that everyone else seems to be willing to brush off. Am I wrong for wanting to report him? Could I lose my job?
S.Y., Florida
For many people, "The Office's" offensive boss, Michael Scott, is all too real.
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Unfortunately, a lot of people can relate to the type of offensive boss made famous by fictional Michael Scott on TV's "The Office." But in this age of job insecurity, you can bet many of them are of the same mind-set as your co-workers: Better to grin and bear it than to risk getting fired.
Although you are right for wanting to report him, says Michael Bilello, a federal government human-resources expert, you need to go about it carefully. Start by knowing your rights. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov) can help you determine what constitutes a reportable offense and how to file a complaint. Next, talk to your officemates; find out how they feel. Don't push. Being new, you probably don't know about alliances. Then, keep track of your boss's offenses in writing, including names of witnesses, Bilello says.
Just in case, find out how long you need to be employed to be eligible for unemployment compensation before you submit your complaint. Good luck.
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