Sexually Harassed by High UPS Driver

I am very sorry to hear that you got sexually harassed by UPS, in
fact, anyone that works under the influence of alcohol or drugs needs
to get fired, for it would put a bad reputation on the company.

But I have a very small bone to pick with you...

You DID say he gave you his name after you gave him yours, right?
Well, why didn't you put his name down in the complaint, if you do
remember? Just wondering...

Personally I'm for mandatory random drug testing for just about
everything... from jobs to public assistance.


but in your case... ohhh most definitely. it's not discussed as much
as DWI is, but driving under the influence of controlled substances is
just as dangerous and illegal.

Plus... it's a bit scary that he wanted to know your number... now
that he knows where you live and all.

I haven't said much on this letter, mostly just a bunch of "I agree"
comments in response to people who had similar opinions as mine.

But this driver's behavior was so out of line, I truly think he should
be fired. If a service employee I had never met--a complete
stranger--had asked me for my phone number, I'd be at a minimum
annoyed, likely worse.

And to even make a drug reference while on the clock, to a customer no
less, is just stupid. I question this driver's ability to make decent
judgment calls and decisions if he thinks the way he talked to the OP
is acceptable.

Fire his sorry butt and let someone who can behave appropriately on
the job have it. I bet there are 100 guys at that local UPS warehouse
just chomping at the bit to get a driver position.

You said he ask you if you would "give him his number."

Do you think he was so high he did not know his own number?

Teasing I am sure you mean your number. If not then do confirm!

Anyway I have had UPS ask my name without signing. I doubt the driver
was gay either. I think they have a name on their machine and they
just ask and click in it was delivered when a signature is not
needed.

That said......

If he indeed asked you to smoke dope with him after work that was out
of line. So I agree you should make a complaint. I am not sure I
would have written or said he was high.

Don't have a opinion not the breast looking...not my cup of tea!

I think saying you suspect he was high especially based on the fact he
ask you to smoke with him after work.

Dear all,
This is the response I got from UPS. I am pretty pissed. Afetr reading
through most of the comments, I would like to clear some things up...
1. He smelled like smoke, and not cigarettes.
2. He asked me my name after he handed me the package- no signature
required.
3. I did not give him my name with hopes of having a conversation, or
going out with him.
4. The guy was looking at my upper shirt (namely breast area), so
that, in addition to the question, I feel as though I was being
harrassed i a sexual way.
5. His drug use bothers me in that if he is driving while high, and
hit a car or van and someone was killed, it would cause a lot of
unnecessary pain in peoples lives. There is no excuse for asking
someone to smoke drugs with them. NONE. Drug abuse is a problem that
not all people, and definately not me, have.
6. I tried to call UPS. They have one of those voice mail systems that
gives you the runaround, and you never speak to a real person.

I would have written this letter regardless of whether or not my
boyfriend knew. This man's behavior was completely wrong, and not
acceptable. Let someone do it to your daughter, and see how YOU feel!

BASE LINE: Anyone who is a "professional" driver should never be under
the influence of drugs or alcohol. PERIOD. What they do in their
private life is definately their business, but when they are
delivering a package, it is another story.



Dear UPS Customer,

I received your e-mail requesting information from UPS. Unfortunately
I am unable to understand your inquiry. Please provide clarification,
including the following information if applicable:

- UPS Shipper Number
- Specific details of your request
- Any related tracking numbers

Once I receive your reply, I will be more than happy to address your
request. I apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry.

Please contact us if you need any additional assistance.

Anderson G.
UPS Customer Service

I think it's been pointed out ad nauseum to the OP how wrong she is
about sexual harassment.

But what bothers me the most is that people seem so focused on
pointing out to her how wrong she is that they're completely blowing
off the validity of her complaint. Yes, he asked her on a "date" (if
you call it a date) and took no for an answer. But exact definition of
harassment or not, this driver made a customer feel uncomfortable, to
a point where she felt the need to write to the company and let them
know. And she's right to feel this way because this driver's behavior
was completely inappropriate not to mention indescribably stupid.

The OP isn't asking for the driver to be fired; she's asking for him
to be **disciplined**. And you know, if this driver is that boneheaded
that he immediately mistakes someone asking his name for interest, and
invites them to smoke a blunt with him, then he needs a hell of a lot
more than discipline. Frankly, he WAS high if he thought this was
perfectly okay.

My hope is that this driver's boss takes him aside and explains how to
deliver a package without trying to pick up the ladies with idiotic
lines. And if this driver can't understand that basic concept, then
maybe he SHOULD be fired.

[Off Soapbox]

Why are we so focused on the fact that she used the wrong term of
sexual harassment?

While it may not meet the exact definition, she was definitely
mistreated.

The letter writer says;
"drug test your driver immediately, and discipline him on his
unprofessional conduct! "
That is what she would like done. She recognizes it as inappropriate
conduct, which it undoubtedly is.

Why does it matter if she used the wrong terminology, which was
actually pretty close (except for the fact that it wasn't repeated
after she said no....), on this extremely valid complaint.

That is a horrible thing to have happen.
First, I believe that you were sexually harassed. Sexual harassment
can be used to define an employee asking out a customer while on the
clock at their place of work. Outside of work, this may have been
absolutely OK, but on the clock, NO!!
To all of the people who are justifying this, What are you
thinking?!?! Imagine if your UPS driver invited to hang out and smoke
after his shift. I would be livid, and I bet you would be too.

Secondly, it is absolutely ridiculous that he responded in such a
fashion. I know for a fact, the driver does need your name in some
instances. I process deliveries where I work, and the driver need my
last name and signature for delivery records.
A professional driver would have seen the customers confusion, and
responded with "I'll pass on providing that, however we need your name
for delivery records information"

I think the only thing he's guilty of is poor judgment. I don't see
this as a case of sexual harassment at all. I'm sure thousands of
couples have met in a similar way. I realize people have to be more
careful today, but I still think most encounters like this are
harmless. As Beeracuda mentioned, if the driver had asked her out for
a drink, I don't think the reaction would have been as harsh. I also
wonder if she would have assumed the driver was under the influence of
alcohol while on the job.

I agree with you that the driver's behavior was inappropriate, but
from the information in the letter alone, without having been there, I
think she overreacted a bit and made more of this than necessary. I
would have only made an issue of it if the driver persisted or refused
to take no for an answer, and nothing in the letter indicates that's
the case.

A co-worker told me she used to work with a guy who got fired for
calling someone a b-word. He was talking on his cell phone, during his
lunch, about one of his wife's ex-friends. Another woman overheard the
conversation, reported him, and the guy was fired within the hour.

It's possible the employer was looking to get rid of the guy anyways
and this was one way to do it. And I admit I don't know what UPS'
policies are on this. However, if the employer is looking for a way to
get rid of the driver, this could be it. And people have been called
out on sexual harassment for much less than this incident.

Again, I completely agree about this not really being a case of sexual
harassment, but if someone wanted to take it that far, I could see the
argument being made. And it seems like many commentators are just sort
of blowing this incident off. While it may in fact be harmless, UPS
definitely needs to know. And this driver needs to know this kind of
behavior is not acceptable.

First of all, this was not sexual harassment. Secondly, UPS would
have had a record of who delivered the package. - all you had to do
was call them and give them the tracking number. I'm not sure you
would have even written this letter if your boyfriend wasn't so angry
about what you told him.

Just say NO!!

This is not only NOT sexual harassment, but it's not even Harassment.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT:
n. The making of unwanted and offensive sexual advances or of
sexually offensive remarks or acts, especially by one in a superior or
supervisory position or when acquiescence to such behavior is a
condition of continued employment, promotion, or satisfactory
evaluation.

HARASS:
1. to disturb persistently; torment, as with troubles or cares;
bother continually; pester; persecute.
2. to trouble by repeated attacks, incursions, etc., as in war or
hostilities; harry; raid.

No where did you indicate that he made any sexual advances, nor was he
even persistent after you said "no".

This is a very serious allegation to make against someone. Despite a
lack of evidence, just hearsay could be enough to cost this person his
job. Is that what you want, considering the state of the economy?

He's just an idiot who doesn't know how to properly ask out a lady.

You were not sexually harrassed, you were asked out and he took no for
an answer.

Find me a UPS employee that doesn't smoke pot. This isn't exactly
Merill Lynch. I worked there for a few months in college and it was
like working with Tommy chong.

Did you call UPS right after the driver left to report him? When you
called UPS did you say that you thought the driver was under the
influence of some sort of a drug? When you called UPS did you tell
them the driver that came your your boyfriend's house was sexually
harassing you? When you called UPS did you use the word "blunt" on
your report?

You did call UPS. Right?

This was in no way sexual harrassment and I can imagine your bf was
probably furious because you told him it was.

I am not so worried about if this driver comes back to your bf's home
as I am if he is "high" when driving and can cause a horrible
accident.

And they do drug testing on drivers - my nephew drives for UPS in the
Cleveland area and all drivers are randomly drug tested .

How was this sexual harassment?What do you mean give him his number?

If you had no interest in talking to him, why would you give your name
to him then ask for his? I would have just shut the door in front of
him if he asked my name.

People throw that term "sexual harassment" around too loosely these
days. When you do that, it really weakens others' claims to true
sexual harassment. All that appears to have happened here is that he
asked for your name, then you asked for his. Then he, in his own way,
asked you out. You said no, and that seems to be the end of it. As
S.W. pointed out below, it only becomes sexual harassment if he
continued beyond that point. No means No, and apparently he knows
that, since nothing else happened. It's pretty sad in this day and
age that someone can't ask another for a date without being accused of
sexual harassment. We, as a society, really need to lighten up when
it comes to this kind of stuff.

As for the "blunt" comment, I don't see this as a big issue either.
Lots of people smoke weed during their time off. That doesn't mean he
was high at the time. After all, he did ask for you to join him
"after he got done work". Suppose he offered to buy you a drink?
Would that mean he's working his job under the influence?

Just because he apparently smokes weed doesn't mean he should be
subjected to drug testing. If you really believe that, then you
should probably being calling for everyone who drives a car to be drug
tested. After all, there are plenty of motorists who smoke weed.

That would frighten me. Delivery drivers have no right to ask that,
especially because you then have to be careful in your rejection
because they know where you live!

Asking you for your name and number does not rise to the level of
harassment. Behavior doesn't become harassment until you tell the
person to stop and he continues the unwanted attention.

From the OP's letter, unless something is missing, all that happened
is that the UPS guy asked for her number and asked to get together for
an activity that the OP didn't agree with. There's no indication that
the UPS guy was stoned while on duty and no indication that he
continued to bother her after being told no.

I fail to see the big deal and don't understand the drama, especially
in reference to the boyfriend.

Men ask women out all the time. It's not a reason to blow a gasket
even if they ask you to smoke a joint after work.

Are you sure he was not just using slang? People now use terms like
pimp, which is a derogatory word to mean something else.

Since we have a president that openly confessed to smoking weed
proudly, this really shouldnt surprise people that this may be a new
slang term.

http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Barack+Obama's+Drug+Use?t=anon



Good Day

He asked you your name because it's something delivery drivers do
now--FedEx, UPS, the post office... I have to give my name out
regularly to these people. I think Bill's onto something, the guy
thought you might be interested in him since you responded by asking
HIS name. But to offer to smoke a blunt with you... wow. I guess
it's such a normal part of his world that he doesn't see how it's best
kept on the downlow?

Laurie R.,

First reading your letter I thought maybe he needed to confirm your
name verbally with what you had written documenting delivery.

What was the reasson for you asking him his name?

Could it be that he misread your inquiry for his name as an indication
of your interest?

Stupid thing for him to say even if in jest. Sad that his whole name
is included in the public letter IMHO without him having a chance to
"splain himself".

Stop back when you hear back.

Bill R. No relation to letter writer

Was the driver high? Did he take no for an answer?