this post was submitted on 12 Feb 2024
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So I just discovered that I have been working next to the waste of oxygen that raped my best friend several years ago. I work in a manufacturing environment and I know that you can't fire someone just for being a sex offender unless it directly interferes with work duties (in the US). But despite it being a primarily male workforce he does work with several women who have no idea what he is. He literally followed a woman home, broke into her house, and raped her. Him working here puts every female employee at risk. How is that not an unsafe working environment? How is it at even legal to employ him anywhere where he will have contact with women?

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[–] [email protected] 263 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Because he’s either innocent until proven guilty or he’s served his time. You can discuss it with HR and express your concerns about him, but unless he’s continued to behave predatorily he’s likely just only going to be subjected to increased scrutiny

[–] [email protected] 57 points 9 months ago (4 children)

The last time he raped someone he was in prison for less than 2 years. Considering that wasn't his first offence I highly doubt that changed him. Also HR is already aware. Apparently they fired the last person who brought it up to them.

[–] [email protected] 47 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Oh then yeah I’ve got no fucking clue, firing the last person who brought it up absolutely should be illegal.

[–] [email protected] 46 points 9 months ago

Depends on the details of why they were fired. We're obviously only getting one side of the story here

[–] [email protected] 26 points 9 months ago (2 children)
  1. Be in an industry and location where finding a backup job is not impossible
  2. Record yourself telling HR you’re afraid for your coworkers and yourself
  3. Email HR a summary of your meeting

Optional subsequent steps

  1. Get fired
  2. Take the audio to a labor attorney who will take your wrongful termination case for free
  3. Profit
[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

HR hates this one weird trick!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

Civil rights attorneys love this one weird trick!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Also make sure you live in a one-party consent state.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Repeat offenders are the one I'd be worried about, america isn't known for functioning reform system.

I hope your friend can heal, sorry for what your dealing with

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

functioning reform system

Sounds like you want them staying a Club Med and being waited on hand and foot. Gimme a break! Jk it is an absolute catastrophe and the US should know better since it’s such a fucking pro at locking up about 1/200 citizens. (!!?). sorry.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

Where I work, most positions do not require a background check so we have a mix of people (men, women, trans, nonbinary) with criminal convictions, including sex offenders.

The only thing that matters is their behavior in the workplace. You get fired because of attendance or poor performance.

The biggest problem people at my workplace are the people who try to make someones past an issue.

Also, your statement that you "highly doubt that changed him" is very telling. Basically it shows that you are the one with the problem. Unless you have firsthand knowledge then you are trying to justify your negative feelings.

Maybe this last time changed them. Maybe they got help. Maybe they're in therapy and are trying to change.

This person and your employer are under no obligation to do what you want when there is no justification other than your own personal judgement.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

Because he’s either innocent until proven guilty or he’s served his time.

presumed innocent until proven guilty... Is a procedural doctrine for courts. It doesn't change the reality of whether or not the individual committed a crime.

You murder someone, you're a murderer, regardless of if you have really good attourneys or you're really good at hiding the body, etc. the presumption of innocence it to protect the rights of accused people; but has no bearing on actual guilt- even if the court of law finds them not guilty.

while the guy presumably has served his time and deserves fair treatment... the OP is also justified in raising this concern with management. Not that management will do anything, because they've already determined it's not a problem. They will, perhaps, accommodate the OP in scheduling them on opposite shifts or placing them away from him.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I mean you are making a fair argument that there's a distinction between your own morals and the binding rules in place. You are free to feel a lot of things that are very bad, but when you act on them you will bump into reality.

That said I think the original comment was meant to say that the only reason he is here is because society through the legal process has found him to be safe to work there.

Now to get beyond the feelings against him OP can obviously talk to HR and make sure they get some distance, but if the courts found him not guilty, he deserves to be there. Imagine serving years in prison, working on yourself until the government finally finds you fit enough to enter society again, only for ppl to kick you out of your job again because of something you tried so hard to leave behind. That's why the prison system usually focuses on rehabilitation instead of punishment in most civil countries.

What I'm saying is, the court's ruling does not have to change the way you feel, but the court also says you have no right to take his job from him unless he commits crimes again. No feeling can measure heavy enough to weigh up against the right for him to live a normal life.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 9 months ago

Yeah, exactly. Rehabilitative justice is hard. His victims should never be expected to be near him again, but society needs to give people chances to demonstrate rehabilitation. Denying someone access to half the population guarantees they never rehabilitate. But it’s also fair to say that in America we don’t really bother rehabilitating people and if someone has been to prison multiple times for rape well, I don’t want to be alone with them either and I’d be uncomfortable with my employer forcing me to be alone with them. And that’s the situation as OP has clarified and yeah it definitely sounds like it may be a hostile workplace.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You're absolutely right, that this guy deserves a fresh start. but the OP also deserves - and has a right- to work in a place they presumably feel safe. If I were the OP... my response would be to bring this up with HR; document every interaction with this guy while also actively avoiding interaction with him as much as reasonably possible, and most importantly shut the fuck up about it.

HR can assist with avoiding him, if that's reasonable. (opposite shifts, putting out at opposite ends of the facility, or in places where they're unlikely to cross paths, etc.). But ultimately, the guy deserves a fresh break and OP deserves a place they can feel safe. but if its a one-or-the-other, OP needs to understand; they already hired both of you, so from a business standpoint, that decision is going to come down to... whose loss would be less detrimental to the company's profits.

Terminating the guy simply because she's uncomfortable and he's a convicted rapist... is, unfortunately easily defended in court. If he's also exhibiting patterns of behavior that suggest he's not reformed... (catcalling. derogatory/misogynistic remarks.) it's even easier.

But the other side of that is too: Terminating OP because she harassed a guy is... also easily defended in court.

the company will fire whoever impacts their profit margin the least.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 9 months ago

Correction, right to a safe work place, not feel safe. Feeling safe and being safe are different things. And this disconnect is actually a real problem.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It doesn't change the reality of whether or not the individual committed a crime.

But YOU cannot know that "reality" unless (either you are the judge or) you have knowledge of the court's verdict.

Calling someone a criminal without any such knowledge is a false accusation.