Glenn Lamar, Managing Director of PaperKlip Office Supplies, is conducting a grievance meeting with Gloria Westfield, a senior executive who has reported feeling physically threatened by a male subordinate. During the meeting various things occur: the male subordinate, John DiMaggio, knocks on the door and requests permission to participate having learned the meeting was about him.

Profile

• Glenn Lamar, Managing Director, has been with PaperKlip Office Supplies for 23 years and has been the Managing Director of North American Operations for seven years.
• Gloria Westfield, Senior Executive, was made a senior executive at the Company after being poached from a competitor four years ago. Her recruitment was the first senior-level appointment of a woman from outside the firm.
• John DiMaggio, Middle Manager, is a middle manager who has been with the Company for almost eight years. Although not particularly ambitious, John was not impressed by the appointment of an “unknown” woman above him.

Backstory

In the last month, there have been four instances of what Westfield describes as threatening behavior from DiMaggio:

• On multiple occasions, DiMaggio has entered Westfield’s office without knocking, walked right up to her desk, and hovered closely over her computer monitor before even uttering a word. In response, she has expressed her dislike of being interrupted in this way, and reminded him of common etiquette and company procedures, which require employees first to knock and then to request entry. DiMaggio’s response has been that office protocol doesn’t apply and there is no need to pull rank.
• Three weeks ago, Westfield was on her way to an important meeting, when DiMaggio blocked her progress down the corridor under the pretext of quizzing her about a sales report. She suggested if it were dire, DiMaggio should come to her office later, as she had an important meeting to attend at that moment. DiMaggio wouldn’t budge his intimidating frame, so, to avoid a confrontation, Westfield back-tracked towards the stairway rather use the elevators.
• In another instance, when Westfield tried to circumvent DiMaggio who was blocking her way down the hall, pressing her for details about bonus schedules, he grabbed her by the arm and glared, “You can’t brush me off. Answer the question and then you can go.” By luck, another colleague passed by and DiMaggio let go.
• Westfield has received a barrage of anonymous phone calls, where the caller calls incessantly but hangs up after two rings or, when Westfield has picked up, slammed the receiver down at the other end. Westfield feels convinced that the phone calls are coming from DiMaggio, but without proof she has done nothing to confront him and has held off, until this meeting, telling a superior.

Overall, PaperKlip Office Supplies is male-dominated, and Westfield feels sexism is prevalent. At times, it has been suggested that she looks far too feminine for the workplace (although her way of dressing is always businesslike), with the intimation that it detracts from her professionalism. In meetings, her voice is not so readily heard as those of her male counterparts and reference is often made to her superior “homemaking abilities” such as pouring water or organizing schedules. Most conspicuous, in its absence, has been the company’s willingness to recognize Westfield’s considerable merit to the firm by way of promotion or bonuses. In fact, she has continually been passed over for promotion in favor of her male colleagues.

Westfield admits that DiMaggio has had excellent performance with his clients. Lamar also recognizes that DiMaggio has a great track record. Since he is such a good worker, should the possible workplace harassment issue be swept under the rug? Why or why not?