Is this against the law?

[GeneralElectric]

I had a debacle of a weekend at work. I don't feel like typing out the specifics right now, but I plan on going to my boss tomorrow night about it.

Anyways, she screamed at me Friday night in front of another employee, and then Saturday afternoon in front of 2 other employees, and then again Saturday night in front of another 2.

As I understand it, my boss is allowed to yell at me, but not in front of other employees, and someone told me that it was against the law for her to do so. I don't plan on suing her but I'd like some leverage so she can learn to treat me with respect.

She already tells other people I go above and beyond everyone else who works there, and got angry when I went to Utah because she didn't know what to do without me there doing everything I do to keep the place running. (I take care of her internet, I tell her what she needs to buy, specials menus, prep work, cleaning air vents, mopping the floor with boiling water, scrubbing and cleaning out everything) I get paid to cook, everything else I do is because I became friends with my boss and I like keeping myself occupied. We now have an open mic night, and I bring my half stack and a bass down every weekend without a running car, and I don't get paid or a thank you.

Everything that happened this weekend for the most part (one minor thing on friday concerning an order, but that was because she changed her mind on how it was to be made and declined to tell anyone; I've been making the dish the same way since August) is not my fault FWIW. I'll type it out later if anyone wants, but basically she didn't do things she needed to do as a small business owner and then decided to lay the blame on me, and then forces me to stay all day Valentines Day when I was doing her a favor by coming in to cover for her for the morning so she can go food shopping because she didn't go all week and the walk in was almost empty.

I feel I'm going to be numbering my days there soon enough.

[bassrique]

It wouldn't be illegal in FL.

[G00D+~VIBES]

Probably not illegal most places. Impolite? Juvenile? Everywhere.

[algernon]

Hmm, it would be a great thing if such a law would exist; it's just common sense NOT to yell at yer employees in front of yer other employees

It's not mine to give you advices, but I wouldn't stay there much longer.

Good luck,
Adrian

[Smurf-o-Deth]

I'd start peeing on the seat cushion in her office chair.





While she's sitting in it.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I doubt that it's illegal. Your boss is incompetent, but you probably already grok that.

[standupright]

getting yelled at while working as a cook in a kitchen is par for the course. nothing you can do to change it.

[buzzbass]

harassment is in the eye of the beholder, you're perfectly fine threatening legal action. She has created a "hostile work environment", and that's harassment. Although, you'd be burying yourself there. You can probably count on finding a new job.

[karrot-x]

The manager at the KFC by my work yelled at her employee in front of everyone. I thought this was incredibly rude to both the employee and the customers. If someone is doing something incorrectly they need to know about it, but they do not need to be harassed and embarrassed in front of others. More importantly the customer does not need to see this; it really puts doubt in the product of the company. I know this is KFC and I wasn't expecting much but I was a little worried about ordering after the incident. You never know what will happen when you have a pissed off employee in the food industry.

[RWP]

Just know that as a small business owner her life sucks way worse than yours.

[Geddyfleaharris]

Originally Posted by buzzbass

harassment is in the eye of the beholder, you're perfectly fine threatening legal action. She has created a "hostile work environment", and that's harassment. Although, you'd be burying yourself there. You can probably count on finding a new job.

+1 to the above. As a business owner I do not get into the whole yelling concept. Very few people have ever yelled at me but as soon as they have their message was lost. All I heard was noise. Most people either react like that or feel threatened. Either way whatever message is trying to be sent won't be getting through. If she has something to say it should be between you and her in private.

Yelling at an employee, whether you are an owner or supervisor, is a form of bullying and shows no respect for the other person whatsoever. Especially doing it in front of other employees.

[David1234]

You do need to talk to her in private and say if she's got something to say to you, you welcome it since you're her employee, but you respectfully request that it only ever be in private since otherwise it does more to stress you and undermine morale than it does good. She'll probably listen and even if she agrees to it and later forgets, you've done both of you a favour by being honest and direct.

Critical feedback should always be private: Nobody's good at playing fair when fighting in front of an audience.

[standupright]

anyone in this thread so far ever work in a kitchen as a cook?

something other than fast food?

[zenrad]

Originally Posted by buzzbass

harassment is in the eye of the beholder, you're perfectly fine threatening legal action. She has created a "hostile work environment", and that's harassment. Although, you'd be burying yourself there. You can probably count on finding a new job.

+1

It could also be construed as sexual harassment. But like buzzbass says, I wouldn't count on remaining employed there if you decide to try to press charges. Better off going to HR (if you have an HR dept) if discussing it with her doesn't help.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Originally Posted by RWP

Just know that as a small business owner her life sucks way worse than yours.

True, even if that suckage is due to her own behavior. A lot of small business owners stay small for a reason.

Originally Posted by David1234

You do need to talk to her in private and say if she's got something to say to you, you welcome it since you're her employee, but you respectfully request that it only ever be in private since otherwise it does more to stress you and undermine morale than it does good. She'll probably listen and even if she agrees to it and later forgets, you've done both of you a favour by being honest and direct.

Critical feedback should always be private: Nobody's good at playing fair when fighting in front of an audience.

+1

[Phalex]

I used to work with a grizzled old man about 20 years ago. (Well, I worked with him for ten of those 20 years anyway.)

One day the boss started reaming him out for something on the shop floor. Al was visibly pissed off. He pointed at our supervisor and said "Your office. Now." and walked away to the supervisors office where they proceeded to have a discussion behind closed doors.

I don't know exactly what went on in the closed door session, but he never got yelled at in public again.

God! I miss that old codger!

Anyway, your bosses behavior is bad form, it's bad for morale, and it's just plain bad management IMHO.

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by standupright

anyone in this thread so far ever work in a kitchen as a cook?

something other than fast food?

Yep. It's par for the course, but it's just because of the fast pace. It's not (or shouldn't be) demeaning.

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by RWP

Just know that as a small business owner her life sucks way worse than yours.

So true, As a small business owner myself, I can tell you that the employees don't know 1/10 of what is really going on. I could be in my office on the phone for 20-30 min with the city, the bank, the CPA, the insurance agent, a lawyer or any number of people that can wind me up. Then if something goes wrong with a employee I can go off like a rocket. I always feel bad about it later when I cool off and if I went off on the person privately, I apologize privately, but, if I went off on them in front of people, I round every one up and apologize in front of everyone.

As a employee, I worked for a guy that would always do that stuff and be a real jerk. I knew he needed me more than I needed him. So when he would start going off on me for nothing I would just start rounding up my stuff while he was still yelling and head for the door. He learned after a while that I would walk out as soon as he started his stuff. If you deserve a butt chewing, take it like a man and learn from it. If it is uncalled for, walk. Unless "whipping boy" is in your job description.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Sleep with her.

[ksandvik]

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

I doubt that it's illegal. Your boss is incompetent, but you probably already grok that.

Yes, just be the professional one and don't yell back.