The Alcoholic, Sexual Interview

It’s time for one of those “you’ve got to be making this up” situations, akin to a previous post on “waterboarding at work.”  Some interviews can be tough.  Some can be boring.  Some can be exhilarating.  Some can be strange–a little too strange.  The interviews which are the subject of this post may also be criminal.

A staffing agency hires workers for the food-service industry.  Applicants go to the agency to interview for available positions.  A male applicant has now claimed that while he was being interviewed, the manager of the staffing agency drugged and sexually assaulted him.  Yes, during the interview.  As it turns out, two other male applicants had made similar allegations, so the agency manager has been arrested for gross sexual imposition and sexual battery. 

All three applicants say the sexual assault and battery occurred after they were given something to drink by the agency manager.  The drink apparently contained some type of drug that incapacitated the applicants, allowing the manager to have his way with them.

Other than cataloging this under the “bizarre and weird” of human resources and employment law, what can we learn?  At least two things.

First, the agency manager had several criminal convictions in his past. serving at least three years in jail.  He had also used at least one other last name in his past.  Presumably, no background check was done before the manager was hired.  If you hire an employee to represent you with the public while he is alone behind closed doors, you’re playing with fire if you don’t do a background check.  No employer should know this better than a staffing agency.

Second, the presumed drug was given to the applicants in an alcoholic beverage.  Serving alcoholic beverages in an office during an interview is highly unusual–most would say inappropriate.  If you learn that one of your managers is doing this, you need to find out what the heck is going on.  If you’re an applicant and are offered an alcoholic beverage under these circumstances, that’s a red flag.  Decline it.  Claim teetotalism.  Run out of the room.

This kind of thing is indeed bizarre.  It should never happen to any employer.  It’s up to you to make sure it never happens in your workplace.