Hostile work environment.
I started a new job in a drapery workroom this past December. The staff consists of the owner, a number of staff designers, two front office personnel, a few outside installers, a shipper/reciever, 5 women, four whom are Greek and one Hispanic...and myself.
Initially it looked like a somewhat nice place to work and I was hired almost immediately. However I was called to Federal Jury duty in the hiring interm, and thought I had lost the position...but they either could not fill it , or simply waited for my duty to finish.
The 'Head" Greek is a woman who came here in her 20's from Greece and is now in her early 60's. At his point she can not passibly read or write in English, and her comphrehension is very low after being in the states for over 40 years. This woman initially worked for the current owners father until he passed and now works under the son.
She is impossible to deal with, speak to, or reason with. She bullies, uses language I would be ashamed to use ( extreme profanity in the workplace...F word, racial slurs, etc )...However the current owner turns a blind eye and simply says " She means well"...She is not afraid to scream at or berate anyone at any time, including the owner who simply walks away.
The current owner feels that if she leaves the business will go under. My observations are that it would repair itself and the workers, and thrive if she were not there.
I am writing thistoday because I was asked by the owner to take this woman in my personal vehicle to pick up a number of items from a vendor that was going out of business. Without having to argue til I was blue in the face I simply bit my tongue and took her. I was parked facing the wrong direction so she informed me of an altenative route, which ended up being a waste of time since she simply did not know where she was taking us. We arrived at the location only to be shortly THROWN OUT by the owner over something she had said to him...I was not present. On the way back she began to berated him for doing so. I tried to mention that maybe he was angry because we were a little late due to our 'side trip'...She then whacked me across the chest while I was driving ( a standard ) and told me to shut my mouth and I don't know what I am talking about. My initial thought was to pull over and ask her to get out of my vehicle, then forcefully pull her out if she did not...however I bit my tongue and drove back to the shop furious.
She berated the gentleman to my employer and he simply laughed, then received a call from the vendor expressing his dissatisfaction...which he then joined in berating him...saying only" he just might have misunderstood her"
I am not happy about being 'smacked', I do NOT look forward to work due to the constant anticipation of a fight or incident with or from this woman. The boss wil absolutley do nothing to resolve this for his fear of losing her, and I don't want to lose a good paying job in this economy.
This woman seriously needs anger management training along with reading and writing comphrehension...not to mention a good taste of reality so she will stop treating others the way she does.
Do I have any options to pursue?
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