Nothing good comes of forcing employees to go to brothels

And, then, there are those that allegedly do. It is on those occasions that this blog can practically write itself.

Take, for example, AutoNation. According to a complaint recently filed in California state court — well, let’s just say that AutoNation better have some good lawyers.

A copy of the complaint and some crazazy unlawful harassment — allegedly, of course — follows after the jump. Along with a few employer tips on same-sex harassment.

* * *

Two men, Joshua McCarty and Kevin Petrie, filed this complaint against AutoNation for, among other things, sexual harassment. The complaint contains some incredible tales of bacchinalia:

“AutoNation and the [male] individual defendants participated in and/or fostered a sexually charged and drug and alcohol infused environment where management would force Josh and other employees to go to strip bars and brothels and would try to get Josh and others to receive sexual acts. In addition, AutoNation and the individual defendants would make sexually suggestive remarks, jokes and other inappropriate communications.”

You may be thinking to yourself, can a man sexually harass another man? Sure can. So says the Supreme Court. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. Heck, sexual desire does not have to motivate the harassing conduct. Usually, it’s just a desire to humiliate.

Your employees and supervisors may not grasp that same-sex harassment is illegal. Therefore, be sure to mention it in your anti-harassment policy. And definitely address it in your respect in the workplace presentations.