What can I do if my supervisor called me a monkey so I went to report at HR but they did nothing about it?

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What can I do if my supervisor called me a monkey so I went to report at HR but they did nothing about it?

I have witnesses.

Asked on August 31, 2015 under Employment Labor Law, North Carolina

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

IF your supervisor called you a monkey due to your race or sex, or disability, or age over 40, or religion, though those are less likely reasons--the slur "monkey" is more often a racial slur than one based on those other characteristics, then this may be illegal workplace discrimination and you may have a legal case. If this were the case, then you should contact the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEOC or your state equal/civil rights agency to inquire into filing a complaint.
However, if your supervisor called you a monkey simply because he or she doesn't like you, or is generally a mean, abusive, bullying person, then there is nothing legally to be done just as one adult can generally be mean or insulting to another, a supervisor can be mean or insulting so long as it is not harassment aimed at you specifically because of a protected characteristic like your race and that is perfectly legal just like it is legal for a supervisor to not like certain employees. Morevover, your company does not have to do anything about it the company e.g. HR, or upper management can let the supervisor insult, etc. you if they want.


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