Case # 1 Darlene

As part of a government program, Darlene, a grade 12 graduate, got a job with a local garden nursery. She was to help Mr. M., the owner, tend plants and shrubs, place orders and serve customers.

Mr. M's first review of Darlene's work showed that she was performing all her job duties exceedingly well. It was obvious that Darlene liked the work.

Over the next three months, Mr. M's behaviour toward Darlene began to change. As they worked, he would often put his hands on her shoulders and hips or lean over closer to her. At these times, she would quickly draw away from him. He then began to make offhand remarks about how he was sick of his wife and that he needed "satisfaction" from another woman.

Darlene did not encourage the comments or actions, nor did she say anything against them. However, she was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the situation and tried to avoid the owner as much as possible. One day, Mr. M. asked her for a kiss. When she refused, he said "I know what's wrong with you. You're scared you're going to like it." A few days later, Mr. M. suggested that she come to his apartment to have sex with him. Darlene firmly refused, saying that she was seriously involved with her boyfriend. On several other occasions, the owner tried to get Darlene to come to his apartment.

In June, of the year for the nursery.

Group discussion questions

1. Did the nursery owner violate theHuman Rights Code? If so, how?
2. When Darlene first became uncomfortable with the nursery owner'sbehaviour, why wouldn't she have said something?
3. In this situation, would Darlene have had to say anything to the nurseryowner for him to know that he might be violating theCode?
4. Is Darlene's termination a factor when assessing if her rights were violated?