Sally was proving to be a bit of a problem. She was the new stable girl I'd hired and I have to admit her work was excellent. Not so excellent was her attitude. She could be belligerent about women's rights one moment and then flirting and teasing the next. Her constant changing was causing a bit of tension among the rest of the stable staff.
I had already asked the head boy to have a word with her about her attitude and constant teasing, but it didn't seem to make any difference. Finally, I decided that I would have to have a friendly chat with her, so I called her into my office.
"Sally." I greeted her with a nod as she came in, indicating that she should sit. We then discuss her work, which as I said, was excellent. I then moved on to ask her how she was settling in, and she said "Fine. No problems."
"Unfortunately, that is not the way I see it," I said mildly. "I do have a couple of issues that I'd like to address."
I could see her hackles rising as I spoke. How dare I think that there might be any problems with her behaviour?
"I have observed that you tend to flirt and tease the male staff," I told her, keeping my voice calm and civil. "From what I can see, you actually go a little overboard in this area, and it's starting to cause me concern."
"This is sexual harassment," Sally stated loudly. "I don't have to put up with it. If you continue with this I'll have to lodge a formal complaint."
"That is the other thing I wanted to mention," I continued smoothly. "It seems that whenever any of the lads start to respond to your teasing and flirting, you promptly get up on your high horse and complain about sexual harassment."
"Just because I'm friendly doesn't mean that they can make sexist comments and expect me to take it," Sally said, loudly. "I'm just being friendly and casual and then all of a sudden they try to come on to me. It's not fair and I don't have to put up with it."
"I think wearing loose tops and no bra and letting the boys have a free peep show goes a bit beyond being friendly," I pointed out. I was about to continue, but Sally promptly cut me off.
"How dare you." She was almost screaming now. "I just wear casual clothes like everyone else. It's not my fault that they've all got dirty minds. If this keeps up I will definitely file a sexual harassment suit. I don't have to put up with this."
"The reason I'm telling you this," I continued, exasperated but trying to stay calm, "is because I've already had two sexual harassment complaints laid. I've managed to sooth irritated feelings so far, but I don't want a third complaint raised."
"That just goes to show what a chauvinist outfit this is," railed Sally. "You should have a talk with the lads and tell them to smarten up their act."
"The two complaints that I've had were laid against you," I said dryly. "That's why I'm having a chat with you to try to get you to smarten up your act. I am officially informing you of these complaints, and if there are others I may have to let you go, which I would regret, as you do an excellent job."
Sally was flushed with fury now. People had complained about her? How dare they? She couldn't believe it.
I continued with my little lecture, explaining that sexual harassment went both ways and it was illegal for both sexes.
"I am not going to dictate what you should wear to work, although certain standards are required. You'll find them in the employee's handbook. I suggest you read it. Now I want you to try to tone down the way you come on to the lads. The rest of the female staff don't seem to have any problems."
"Cringing housewives, the lot of them," Sally snarled, "positive that the man is always correct. You're not, you know!"
"Maybe not," I told her, "but I'm the boss, and the first rule is that the boss is always correct. I suggest that you remember it."
We discussed the situation for a few more minutes. At least, I tried to discuss. Sally just kept complaining that she was being harassed by everyone. No way was she going to take responsibility.
At the end of the interview I told her again that I expected her to adjust her attitude to her workmates.
"I am giving you a second chance here," I pointed out. "If you screw up again I may give you a second warning and I may not. I certainly won't give you a third warning, so I suggest you examine your own behaviour more carefully."
After she had stormed out of the office I had a word with Tank, the head lad. Odd chap, Tank. He was huge, but gentle as a lamb and superb around horses, though I had seen him lay out an owner who started whipping a horse. One punch and the owner was out cold. We lost him as a client and I had to pay top price to buy the horse off him, but I considered it worth it.
I told Tank that I'd had a word with Sally, and asked him to keep me informed of how she went.