Explain the Hypocrisy... Bikini Calendars.

[Papa Deuce]

Ok, so I work at a TV station, and every year, the local football team puts out a calendar with cheerleaders. And every year we have a photo shoot of these scantily clad ladies, which will air on the news at least twice, but probably 3 times.

And when the photo shoot is over, there are frequently a dozen of so of these calendars brought back to the station, and left in a pile in the lunch room for anybody that wants one.

Yet, if someone were to actually hang this calendar up in their cubicles or work area, they would get hauled down to human resources for sexual harassment.

Now I am not naive. I get why we put it on the air. Sex sells. And the company obviously has a "Do as I say, not as I do" policy.

All that said, my company is laying off folks left and right. One of my buddies knows that he too, will be laid off. So he is thinking of hanging the calendar in hopes of getting fired, and then suing the company for discrimination.

Personally, I think he will lose, but I also hope he kicks their butt if it comes to that.

 

[legalsea]

Ok, so I work at a TV station, and every year, the local football team puts out a calendar with cheerleaders. And every year we have a photo shoot of these scantily clad ladies, which will air on the news at least twice, but probably 3 times.

And when the photo shoot is over, there are frequently a dozen of so of these calendars brought back to the station, and left in a pile in the lunch room for anybody that wants one.

Yet, if someone were to actually hang this calendar up in their cubicles or work area, they would get hauled down to human resources for sexual harassment.

Now I am not naive. I get why we put it on the air. Sex sells. And the company obviously has a "Do as I say, not as I do" policy.

All that said, my company is laying off folks left and right. One of my buddies knows that he too, will be laid off. So he is thinking of hanging the calendar in hopes of getting fired, and then suing the company for discrimination.

Personally, I think he will lose, but I also hope he kicks their butt if it comes to that.

Hmm. Your buddy may want to re-think his logic.

He gets laid off, he can file for unemployment and have a clean record for looking for a new job. Good references, one would hope.

However, he is thinking of putting up a calendar to try to invite a charge of sexual harrassment by a co-worker? And then, he hopes, inflame the situation to the point that he is fired? And then claim 'discrimination'?

Your instinct is probably right that he would lose. Indeed, I guess the employer can contest the unemployment benefits if he is fired for cause.

Plus, this is not a case where the calender features other co-workers in their bikinis, but cheerleaders for a local football team. They do not work for the station.

Finally, we would need pictures from the calender to make a proper judgment.

 

[Hercules10]

If'in I give ya an address can ya ship one of them calendars.....

 

[Jennasis]

Are these high school cheerleaders??

 

[ICF]

is it time to say.....

This thread is useless w/out pictures?

But as to your friend...I think the company might be in a tough spot firing him for a calendar that they themselves distributed (or at least made available for free) to the employee.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Are these high school cheerleaders??

No. The Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders.

I sure would hope there are no high school calendars of scantily clad girls.... though in high school, I surely would not have complained.

 

[Papa Deuce]

is it time to say.....

This thread is useless w/out pictures?

But as to your friend...I think the company might be in a tough spot firing him for a calendar that they themselves distributed (or at least made available for free) to the employee.

That is his thinking, but since they are on a firing / laying off binge......

 

[Darsa]

My first thought was, is he really willing to pay an attorney's fees for the principle of the thing? To make a point, when I would imagine that most people would tell him he doesn't have much of a chance in a suit like that?

I know I sure as heck wouldn't, if I were in his shoes.

 

[legalsea]

is it time to say.....

This thread is useless w/out pictures?

But as to your friend...I think the company might be in a tough spot firing him for a calendar that they themselves distributed (or at least made available for free) to the employee.

Yes! I see the logic now! I still doubt the 'discrimination' part, but he could certainly claim that by placing the calenders out in the break room for anyone to have, the implication is raised that they may carry said calender back to their office or cubicle and hang the calender for all to see.

Next, a co-worker (probably a woman) would see the calender, be offended, and file a sexual harrassment claim against either the guy that hung up the calender or the company itself. She would claim that by putting the calenders out in the breakroom for all to have, and then one person actually taking the calender and hanging it up, a 'hostile' work environment was created.

Now, your buddy would probably be held blameless, since he simply hung up a calender that was 'provided' by his employer. The woman filing the complaint, however, may be able to prevail against the company.

I still don't see how he would benefit. Someone please explain (I am no good at harrassment claims).

 

[Golf4food]

I still don't see how he would benefit.

He gets a calendar full of scantily clad cheerleaders, duh!