Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT Strips 3436-3441 (13th to 18th March 2017)
bhtooefr:
--- Quote from: Akima on 16 Mar 2017, 01:25 ---I know you have the "employment at will" thing in the USA (I have no idea how MA state law would interfere), but I'd be a bit surprised if this was a one-strike-and-you're-out matter. The boss could argue that asking a co-worker to take their top off would be sexual harassment, or "creating a hostile workplace", I suppose, but considering the shenanigans people get up to in the workplace in QCverse all the time, I can't see it happening.
--- End quote ---
If it's a larger corporation and the offender is any less than an executive, insta-firing for sexual harassment accusations is actually quite common, even in states that don't have at-will employment.
Ultimately, the worst that will happen if an employer fires someone on an accusation is that, if a judge rules in an unemployment hearing that the firing was without valid cause, unemployment compensation (and potentially back pay in a state that doesn't have at-will employment) will be provided to the former employee, and unemployment insurance rates for the employer will go up slightly. And, on a sexual harassment accusation, that would almost always be found to be a termination with cause.
Conversely, if they don't fire on the first accusation, they're opening themselves up to liability for creating an unsafe work environment, which could cost them millions in a sexual harassment lawsuit.
As far as smaller employers go, there's less institutional knowledge on the correct responses to sexual harassment, there's less bureaucracy (no formal HR department) to use against a harasser, and there's more likelihood that the harasser is a higher-up in the company (which in any company is more likely to result in no action taken, because a higher-up has more ability to stop the investigation or firing, and because the company values the higher-up more). And, note that many of the workplaces shown in QC have been smaller employers...
And then, food service is another level worse than small employers in general (even - maybe even especially - when it's megacorp food service, due to how those are structured), as I understand - a lot of workers in food service don't know their rights in this regard, there's no HR department to go to, and sexual harassment also comes from the customers.
Stoutfellow:
--- Quote from: BenRG on 16 Mar 2017, 00:04 ---FWIW, I don't think Elliott remained shirtless because no-one told him to put it back on. I think he remained shirtless because he was far too busy worrying about Renee's breakdown to think clearly about the fact that he rather should be putting his shirt back on. That's because he's one of life's good guys and he is more prone to worry about others than he does about himself.
--- End quote ---
This isn't the first time something like this has happened, though; see http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1930. (Admittedly, he did offer to escort Hannelore home, but still...)
BenRG:
That previous strip seems to be more a reflection of Hannelore and Elliott's combined social awkwardness leaving them essentially high-and-dry with each other and with no idea what to do next.
It does establish a pattern with Elliott easily being locked into an indecision and hesitation loop when he's forced out of his social comfort zone. I suspect that's what's being happening today: He literally doesn't know what to do about Renee's breakdown and he's essentially locked up trying to work out what to do next. What Jim basically told him is to worry about putting his shirt on first.
So, onto another subject: Sam isn't feeling well. I'm wondering if this will 'splash' onto other cast members? Momo being roped into help as she is, by definition, immune to micro-organisms, for example? Or even something like this:
VERONICA: "I'm sorry about that, Faye. Sam's on the hard cold medication and she's a bit out of it as a result!"
FAYE: "Man! I never realised the kid knew so many cuss words!"
brasca:
--- Quote from: Akima on 16 Mar 2017, 01:25 ---
--- Quote from: neurocase on 15 Mar 2017, 20:48 ---I'd say that hopefully, this results in a firing which puts Renee on the bus, but that's probably wishful thinking.
--- End quote ---
I know you have the "employment at will" thing in the USA (I have no idea how MA state law would interfere), but I'd be a bit surprised if this was a one-strike-and-you're-out matter. The boss could argue that asking a co-worker to take their top off would be sexual harassment, or "creating a hostile workplace", I suppose, but considering the shenanigans people get up to in the workplace in QCverse all the time, I can't see it happening.
--- End quote ---
Exactly. I don't think Jim is all that pleased by this, but Renee is the Secret Bakery's Faye and like Dora Jim probably has a higher toleration for shenanigans than most bosses as long as she's a good worker. This isn't like being caught on the job drinking.
I don't care much for Renee, but I don't know why people are so eager for her to get fired over this. It certainly wouldn't help Brun's predicament much.
blt:
I know Jim's feeling in Panel 4 way too well.
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