Worker says UPS ‘ignored harassment’ SHREWSBURY, MA (WORMA)

TheAssasin

New Member
Worker says UPS ‘ignored harassment’

http://www.telegram.com/article/20090210/COLUMN01/902100548


T** smile***** said it took him “a very long time” to decide to file a complaint against a UPS supervisor who he says sexually harassed him.
“It got to the point where I just couldn’t take it anymore,” said Mr. smile***, a package handler at the Shrewsbury warehouse. “I had had enough.”
Later this month, five years after he reported his complaint to UPS management, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination will hear a case in which a veteran Teamster accuses his male supervisor of sexually propositioning him. Mr. smile******** said he took his case to MCAD after UPS investigated the alleged harassment and did nothing.

“UPS sends out these policies of zero tolerance of sexual harassment, but it apparently doesn’t apply to everyone,” Mr. smile******** said. “If I or any Teamster said what he said, we’d be fired and escorted out of the building.”
The “he” in this case is UPS supervisor R*** friend*, who still works in the same position.
In his complaint, Mr. smile******** claims that Mr. friend* engaged in a long pattern of sexual harassment and sexual abuse at the warehouse, and that his misconduct was condoned by his manager, Ronald Draper. The complaint alleges that Mr. D***** was present when Mr. friend* used sexually inappropriate language.
Mr. smile******** also claims that UPS took no disciplinary action against Mr. friend* and that the company ignores its own sexual harassment policy, allowing sexual misconduct to “run rampant” at UPS.
Mr. smile********i, 41, a married father from Oxford, has worked at UPS since 1986. In an interview yesterday, he said that Mr. friend* repeatedly made sexually inappropriate comments to him and other employees throughout 2004. One time, Mr. friend* complimented Mr. smile********’s posterior and crudely proposed a related sexual act, Mr. SS********** said. Another time, Mr. friend* rubbed a piece of paper against his posterior and threw it at Mr. smile********, he said. He said his supervisor has repeatedly made sexually suggestive comments to both men and women, has called male employees “******s” and regularly touched people in a sexual manner.
“Although it offended and distressed me, I did not complain for several months because I was afraid of retaliation by UPS management, which has a history of punishing employees who complain about work conditions,” he wrote in his MCAD complaint. “Eventually, Mr. friend*’s unrelenting sexual misconduct left me no choice but to complain.”
On Dec. 16, 2004, Mr. smile******** was interviewed by a UPS staffer from human resources. A month later, he said, he was told “that the conduct by Mr. friend* was not sexual harassment, that the file was closed, and that Mr. friend* was told to stop the conduct.”
Since filing the complaint, he said, he’s been retaliated against — by being forced to take entire days off rather than the two or three hours a week he requests to take his wife to doctor’s appointments. He said he’s also afraid he’ll lose his job.
“Mr. friend*’s conduct was humiliating and belittling, and higher management’s responses to my complaints made the situation worse,” he said.
Mr. friend* declined to comment yesterday. Likewise, M****, human resources manager for the district, would say only that UPS “continues to work very closely” with MCAD but that the company doesn’t comment on matters in litigation.
Mr. smile******** filed the MCAD complaint in March 2005. The MCAD found probable cause and a hearing is set for Feb. 23. It will likely last about four days. Mr. smile******** said he wants the alleged misconduct to stop. He will also seek damages and attorney’s fees.
Mr. smile******** said he doesn’t know if UPS managers would have treated his complaint differently if he were a woman, but said he believes they considered it a “joke.” He said he has witnesses willing to testify on his behalf, and that many of his co-workers support him.
“Obviously I feel very uncomfortable, but the people I work with say they’re proud of me,” Mr. smile******** said. “My motivation is for the company to treat everyone fairly.”
 
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TheAssasin

New Member
Reader Comments
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This man filed in a proper way, to the correct authorities. UPS is known to be very strict with their employees, he should make sure he does everything by the book from now on. They will be watching him, ready to pounce. He put himself out there, congratulations someone is left in society who stands up for himself. Evidently you were the only one out of many, who had the confidence to come forward. I respect you.
-stand up man
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It is the reponsibility of corporate management to make sure that employees are not treated this way, so in fact it is UPS as a whole that is at fault. Reason enough to avoid doing business with them, as far as I'm concerned.
-Walt
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It isn't likely that a female employee would be treated differently. Companies have used policies against sexual harassment and other kinds of discrimination as a shield defense shield against taking appropriate action and being held to account and it is oversight agencies and the courts which have allowed this to happen and to continue to go on.
Kudos to the MCAC for having gotten as far as they did. It should be noted however that this gentleman has an attorney representing him. It is an unwritten policy of many oversight agencies that complaints filed which are not handled by an attorney have no merit even though these agencies exist to handle these matters without the necessity or requirement of the complainant hiring an attorney to handle the case. It could well be that which has made the difference in how the oversight agency has viewed the commplaint and the actions which they take to address the matter.
Unenforced policies and unenforced laws aren't worth the paper they're written on and the problem is not isolated to sexual harassment in the workplace.
-LeBonChat
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Most people don't seem to understand what sexual harassment is and think it only has to do with sex. Not so.
People have to realize that real life is not a TV sitcom and real people do not appreciate wisecracks about their bodies, their looks, or the clothes they wear.
Americans need to re-learn to treat others with respect. Keep your personal comments to yourself and stop drooling over a good looking person. Keep your hands to yourself and do not touch, hug, or grab at any part of another person's body.
All of the above can be construed (especially if repetitive) as sexual harassment.
-Gigi
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Once the trial is over the whole truth will be out there and UPS will be seen for sleazy company it is. (At lease in Shrewsbury) They know how to protect their own, but this looks like some truth will get out. This is one of many many situations that have up till now gone unchallenged. From Bolton to Petro and now Ken Blaize have all allowed this building to operate like it's own little GITMO. I hope there is a follow up once is all said and done. I know there are many of us that will tell our story
-The One
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What can Brown do for you? Maybe just let the employees do their job, without fear of harassment. Sounds like a strange place to work. People still do this crap? With so many litigious people out there, .. I'm amazed.
-jasper
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As a supervisor in Shrewsbury I can tell you the harassment is very real. IN MY OPINION the way Russ, and Ron are depicted are accurate. I'm sure my fellow supervisors and I will all be read the riot act for stepping out of line, even though they don't know who this is. In my opinion if an employee is a problem they are targeted, we all know this. Good for Tom for bring this to light. He has the union for protection against retaliation. If we had protection more of us would be speaking up too.
-supervisor in Shrewsbury
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I know both of the supervisors involved and I'm not surprised at all. The people that say this couldn't or didn't happen are either working PR for UPS, are friends with these guys (which translates into drinking buddies), or are guilty of it themselves. I'm so happy all of my ties are finally cut from UPS because this hits the nail right on the head.
-not surprised
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any one who knows the people involved in this will have a hard time taking this seriously. this is waste of time for the columnist (although that is what she does best) the court and everyone who reads it. another case of union workers who want something for nothing. what a sad world we live in when hard working people can be stuck in an unemployment line and people like this can make a mockery of a law that is ment to protect people who are actually abused.
-sad world
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I worked at UPS for a little over 20 years. I had a supervisor that repeatedly called me the 'C' word. Don't act like a 'C' was the normal conversation for the man. i finally complained, he admitted that he said the words and then some, and nothing was done about it. The union did nothing either. I'd like to point out that I loaded trucks all the time I was there and got some retaliation every day for something I did. They are in their own little world. They also think that the law doesn't apply to them in any shape or manner. I hope you win your case, that UPS has to pay for their wrong actions for eternity, and that the case makes the front page of the paper, and former employees write in their stories. Years ago Worcester Magazine wrote a very factual article on UPS called 'UPS the down staircase.' As the man put the papers in the stores, UPS has their supervisors run into the stores and grab all the papers so no one could read it. Knowing this, I grabbed all I could carry and passed them out at work that night. Truth hurts, huh?
-rosie
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I worked for UPs for 7 years. Part of that time was in the office, part in the unload in Shrewsbury. I witnessed much harrassment of workers, both male and female in both places. Sexual harrassment and verbal harrassment were considered the norm. Any complaints were dismissed and the employee would be told that the harrassment was somehow their fault. UPS is its own little world. They do their best to keep any negative news away from the news media. I am surprised that this story even made it to the newspaper.
-bailey
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A few bad apples maybe, but we all know the rest of that saying.
-Jim Willoughby
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First, this is not how all of UPS operates. Let's wait for the details from both sides before we condemn everyone involved. UPS is an excellent company to work for if you give them an honest days work. I know after 34 years, trust me. If the story here is true, and this occured in Shrewsbury, it's not UPS as a whole. it's just
-a few bad apples.
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let's just pretend for a moment that the victim here is a woman...come on people this stuff is WRONG...shame on UPS.
-let's get real here
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some1else

Well-Known Member
>>Mr. friend* rubbed a piece of paper against his posterior and threw it at Mr. smile*******

roflmao reminds me of preload...
 
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over9five

Moderator
Staff member
The worst of it is now this sup will wind up in Chema!

They'll tell the Worma people how they handled it by firing him, but they'll just transfer him somewhere else.

Sexual harassment is OK for management, but they'll fire an hourly for the same offense. Seen it happen.
 

UnconTROLLed

perfection
The worst of it is now this sup will wind up in Chema!

They'll tell the Worma people how they handled it by firing him, but they'll just transfer him somewhere else.

Sexual harassment is OK for management, but they'll fire an hourly for the same offense. Seen it happen.

I know the sup from previous buildings (and dont start with the jokes lol). I hope he doesn't end up here in CHEMA.
 
W

westsideworma

Guest
need any preload supes in CHEMA? haha, jk. didn't know the guy and never worked for him. I've probably seen him around.
 

TheVisionary78

New Member
Let me just say I had the unfortunate pleasure of working with R*** friend*. I was a part-time sup on PD-2 in Shrewsbury and he was on PD-4. He would constantly steal my workers without asking me or the coordinator. He would smoke cigs in the building a complete violation of the building policy and code. Was fat and out of shape but thought he was better than everyone else. Often used strong language and inappropriate behavior. I know T** too though he might not remember me. He was the PD-5 Pickoff adjacent from my belt. I am assuming R*** took over PD-5. Tom was talking about filing a complaint years ago.
 
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Livin the Dream?

Disillusioned UPSer
...He put himself out there, congratulations someone is left in society who stands up for himself. Evidently you were the only one out of many, who had the confidence to come forward. I respect you....


Always remember - the tallest blade of grass is the first to get whacked by the mower.
 

accountability

New Member
I worked for UPS for three years, two and half as a supervisor (Upstate New York). They break every labor law imaginable. I had to file a sexual harassment suit when my boss called me on a vacation week. 3 times in 24 hours, two of which were at 1am and 3am and he called me a "friend-in cu*t". They have such uneducated package handlers working for them that they don't think anyone knows the law, and that they can treat people like dirt. And it's sad that they get away with it.
They've got so much money to brainwash people with advertising that surprise, it works! Advertising and brainwashing is the name of the game now'a'days. Not laws.
I would NEVER ship or support this company in ANY way.
To prove a point managers would throw dell computers around the warehouse. They would scream that they would friend*ing kill employees every single night. They would talk about friend*ing females in front of the 10 females in the entire warehouse.
Seriously, it is the grossest company I have ever known of.
If any employee brought in a camera, or if anyone actually did a real audit of UPS in upstate NY, they would be shut down without a doubt.
I would testify in anyway I could be of assistance.
 

UnconTROLLed

perfection
I worked for UPS for three years, two and half as a supervisor (Upstate New York). They break every labor law imaginable. I had to file a sexual harassment suit when my boss called me on a vacation week. 3 times in 24 hours, two of which were at 1am and 3am and he called me a "friend-in cu*t". They have such uneducated package handlers working for them that they don't think anyone knows the law, and that they can treat people like dirt. And it's sad that they get away with it.
They've got so much money to brainwash people with advertising that surprise, it works! Advertising and brainwashing is the name of the game now'a'days. Not laws.
I would NEVER ship or support this company in ANY way.
To prove a point managers would throw dell computers around the warehouse. They would scream that they would friend*ing kill employees every single night. They would talk about friend*ing females in front of the 10 females in the entire warehouse.
Seriously, it is the grossest company I have ever known of.
If any employee brought in a camera, or if anyone actually did a real audit of UPS in upstate NY, they would be shut down without a doubt.
I would testify in anyway I could be of assistance.

this is why i dont talk to supervisors or managers, nor listen to them unless they are talking directly to me. knowledge is powerful, so is the lackthereof.
 

City Driver

Well-Known Member
the first time a male supervisor made any sexual advances to me would also be the last time i guarantee it

i am not a homophobic, far from it, but im also not homosexual....and its very disrespectful to do that to somebody and put them in that situation

fire the supervisor i say
 

Livin the Dream?

Disillusioned UPSer
the first time a male supervisor made any sexual advances to me would also be the last time i guarantee it

i am not a homophobic
, far from it, but im also not homosexual....and its very disrespectful to do that to somebody and put them in that situation

fire the supervisor i say


It matters not to me one way or the other, BUT.... Just FYI, what you wrote is the definition of a homophobic. Not that there's anything wrong with that......
 

City Driver

Well-Known Member
It matters not to me one way or the other, BUT.... Just FYI, what you wrote is the definition of a homophobic. Not that there's anything wrong with that......

i disagree

id be homophobic if i said i would never work for a gay supervisor, or i would of knocked him out and called him a fa**ot

i dont think that me telling him not to ever do it again would make me homophobic
 

Livin the Dream?

Disillusioned UPSer
Seriously - I mean no insult - I wouldn't have thought twice about it if you wrote;


the first time a supervisor made any sexual advances to me would also be the last time i guarantee it

its very disrespectful to do that to somebody and put them in that situation

fire the supervisor i say
 
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