Midge Watson has been working in the Bookkeeping Department of theBest Fits Sporting Goods Manufacturing Company for the four years since she
graduated from high school. She was bright, attractive, and popular, and haddone well in the company, as her recent promotion to senior bookkeeper proved.One of her new job responsibilities required Midge to go to the warehouseonce a week to check on and verify various inventory and shipment information. This meant that she often worked for three or four hours at a time in theShipping Office. In order to reduce the noise from the operations around it, theoffice was completely walled in. On these trips to Shipping, Midge workedclosely with the shipping clerk, Susan Adams. Susan, veteran employee oftenyears with Best Fit, was divorced. Susan maintained all the shipping and inventory information as it was processed.
Since Midge had never before worked in an actual manufacturing and warehouse operation before, she was nervous at first. However, she was very re-
lived to think that Susan was very nice and helpful. Midge found Susan easy totalk to because Susan seemed so interested in what Midge was thinking and doing.During her fourth visit to the warehouse, Midge and Susan were talking asusual about the week's shipping activity. As they were talking, Susan casuallywalked to Midges' side of the desk and sat on the edge of the desk right next toMidge.Midge tried not to feel uncomfortable with Susan so close. At a break in thediscussion, Susan looked at Midge very seriously and asked her: "Do you like togo dancing?"
Midge, a little surprised by the question, replied evenly: "Well, I like to, butI have a difficult time getting my boyfriend to go. He'd just as soon go drin-"
Susan interrupted: "I wasn't talking about your boyfriend. Would you like togo dancing with me?"
Midge, not sure what Susan was getting at, laughed and said: "Well, sure,maybe sometime..." Her voice trailed off. She was trying to be polite but did
not really want to commit herself.Midge picked up a file and brought their discussion back to shipping information. She finished her work, then returned to her department. She was uneasyabout Susan's behavior and invitation.When she returned to her desk, Midge's supervisor, Mike Polski, noticedthat she seemed to be distracted, and asked if everything was OK. Midge ex-
8.1Ps 2 2explained what had just occurred and wondered if Susan had some ulterior motivefor asking her to go dancing.Next week, at her regular time, Midge returned to the warehouse. As shewalked into the Shipping Office and closed the door, Susan jumped up from herchair and walked briskly over to Midge, smiling. She put her arms aroundMidge and hugged her tightly. After stroking Midge's back and patting her onthe rear end, she looked into Midge'seyes and told her: "Midge, I really missedyou. I'm glad you're back."Midge was completely startled, shocked, and afraid. She wiggled free andbegan to cry. Dropping the file she was carrying, she ran from the office back toher department. By the time Midge arrived, she had calmed down to some degree but was still upset as she entered Polski's office to describe what justhappened.
CASE QUESTIONS
L. Is this a case of sexual harassment?
2. Does the company have a responsibility and/or
liability?
.3 What should the supervisor do no