Work has become tremendously uncomfortable due to a co-worker's disgusting habit...

[loosefalcon]

Without going into excessive detail, I happened to see a co-worker masturbating after work a few weeks back. He had porn up on his computer at his tool box (clearly visible from most places in the shop), and had his arm halfway down his Wranglers. The three most troubling things about this are that he knew I was there, that a customer walked through the shop with a salesperson not two minutes after this guy "finished," and I've since learned that he has been caught doing this by another employee at least once before.

I've since reported this to the Service Manager. As tempted as I was to pretend that this had never happened, I have to work with the guy, and it's nothing short of horrifying seeing him around the shop. Seeing this in the locker room would have been one thing; seeing it in the middle of the service department, where a customer could easily see him, is another matter entirely. It creates a huge liability for the company. I'm particularly miffed about the whole situation because the Service Manager seems content to just sweep it under the rug, even though this is the second reported time that this has happened. The chronic masturbator is still employed with us, without any real consequence besides not being allowed at the shop after hours (he has already violated this at least twice).

In light of this troubling lack of action on the part of the Service Manager, the other "witness" and I are considering pursuing another course of action. My question for the forum is what, if anything, can be done about this? Would seeking legal counsel be excessive? If I'm not mistaken, this more than qualifies as a hostile work environment.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice that you guys can offer. I sincerely appreciate it. In the meantime, I'll be looking for a new job. The other guy who saw this go down (on a separate occasion) has already found a new job and left. He decided that he couldn't work for a company that completely ignored the situation and let a second person witness such a shameful display...

[Egilbe]

Human resources is there for a reason. File a sexual harassment complaint

[smittyATL]

Does your company have a policy regarding masturbation?

My wife worked in HR for an airline services industry. One of the guys who takes your luggage at the Denver airport was caught beating it when a lady dropped off her luggage. She complained of course.

Turns out they couldn't fire the guy. He was part of the union and there were no explicit rules against beating it at work.

[InternetMeme]

Two ways of handling this.

1) Report him to HR
2) Charlie Runkle him. By that I mean set up a webcam and record him, upload to youtube and email it to HR from a new/random email account.

[sg207ptg]

Was he getting porn through the company's network?

[FlyBy]

Was he getting porn through the company's network?

Bingo.

It's one thing to rub one out, but to violate a businesses internet policy would be another thing. Plus if he's not that smart, and it's on a work computer, there might be something in his cashe, cookies, temp internet files or browsing history. Or if he's really dumb, he could be downloading /saving files on a work machine.

[BetterByDesign]

OP another option is do nothing and this is what I would recommend.

It's a workplace issue, not a rubbing one out issue. Someone doing that is going to get called out by someone...it doesnt have to be you. These things tend to work themselves out.

I had a guy bring porn to work was inappropriate for over a year. I got sick of it and called him out to HR. He then announced he's gay and I was the one harassing HIM.

Guess who had to leave and get a better job?

Try to stay out of it. HR, etc. etc. People are crazy and the workplace is a JOKE. Just play it cool.

[sg207ptg]

^ I agree. If you are not part of the mgt, don't get involved. Do inform the mgt in writing that it bothers you and keep a records. That's what I am doing at my work - they don't listen certain things I recommend so I put it in writing. When the SHTF, I have something that says "I told you so".

[CruznMalibu]

This is what I’d do. If you don’t know who the Dealer Principle / Owner is find that out and get an address for them. Send them the following anonymous letter and cc the General Manager as well.

“You Mr. xxxxx have an employee working in your repair shop who enjoys viewing porn and masturbating on the work premises. This has been reported to the Service Manager Mr. xxxx
On xx/xx/xx and xx/xx/xx and there has been no corrective action and this offensive activity still continues. Please address this situation.”

Keep track of all of “your” actions; i.e. on this date I reported this situation to so and so, etc.

or find another place to work.