Suffering harassment
Chapter 7
The complaint process continues.
A couple of weeks after Steve's visit to Monica, Edward contacts Chandler to ask him to meet him because he has some news, but in a safe place.
"Do you want to come to my house?" asked Chandler.
"No, she knows where you live and I don't trust her." Edward's answer surprised and at the same time worried Chandler.
Finally, they met in a small cafe on the Upper West Side.
"Hello Edward, how are you? Why so worried?"
"Since you filed the complaint, she's become more and more untreatable. She clearly suspects all of us, that we can help you or tell you something," explained Edward.
"I asked you to meet me to tell you that after you resigned, another copywriter joined the group, Tomas Wilson, more or less your age, who came from working at an advertising agency in San Francisco, he was good at what he did, his line of thinking is very similar to yours, and Priscila began to reject everything he did, even from the beginning she was worse with him than with you."
"I don't understand Edward, why does she hate us copywriters, humiliate us…"
"My younger sister studied Psychiatry, I told her and she told me that she is obviously a person with serious disorders, probably psychiatric, the Agency should examine her if it doesn't want more problems."
"The thing is that Tomas quickly got fed up with her treatment, he spoke with a friend who told him to put cameras in his office and go to meetings with recorders, and like you did, she advised him to keep all the rejected proposals. He did that for a month and then he quit, but he had no intention of filing a complaint, he thought it was pointless, until the day he came to collect his salary, I found him outside the company and told him about your complaint. He was interested in the subject and wants to talk to you and your lawyer, since in the short time he was under Priscila's orders he gathered a lot of evidence that could be useful to you. I wanted to know if you are interested and if I can give him your phone number." Edward concluded
"Yes, of course, even my lawyer told me that if new evidence appeared we could add it" answered Chandler excited about the news
"What I don't understand is the Agency's executives, don't they notice that all the male copywriters who are going to work with Priscilla end up resigning, because Alice is still there, they don't realize that something is going on with that woman, that even puts them at risk" commented Chandler
"Look, I'm not aware of what they think of Priscilla, I've only noticed a certain change in the executives, now they hired a female copywriter to work with Alice." "Maybe they're realizing that their problem is with men, and they hope that this new one doesn't resign"
After talking a little about each other's personal lives, they said goodbye and Chandler thanked him for the support he had always received from him.
A couple of days later Tomas Wilson called him to meet up.
"Thank you for your interest in my case, and if you don't mind, I would like to go to my lawyer's office together. He will explain to you what stage I am in with the complaint and how we can incorporate your evidence and even become part of the complaint."
"Sounds great, any day seems fine to me, just after 5pm, since I'm working."
"Yes, I'll talk to McNeil to see when he can see us. If you have any questions, I'll call you at this number?"
"Yes, as soon as you know, let me know."
Chandler immediately called McNeil and they agreed to meet the following Monday at 5:30 pm. He then confirmed the interview with Wilson, and that was it. When they met, after Chandler introduced him to Tomas Wilson and explained who he was, the first thing McNeil told them was "I think I know what happened to Priscilla at Mackenzie, … they confirmed to me that the Agency signed four confidentiality agreements with employees who were under Hoffman's orders, obviously they don't know what happened or how they were resolved, but all four were men, one was a copywriter and three were art directors, …. all men…. Since they signed a confidentiality agreement, we will not be able to call them to testify in this complaint" and continued
"The firm has the advice of a group of doctors, including psychiatrists, in some cases, like this one, we need their opinion" …" and we plan to ask for their opinion based on the evidence we have" … "Surely Mackenzie will have reached an agreement with her and passed her on to your Agency with some excuse so that they would believe that they had managed to steal her"
"Now, Mr. Wilson, tell me your case and what evidence you have, Chandler told me that there is a lot"
"Yes, lawyer, I held out for a little over a month. From the beginning, she harassed me, treated me badly in meetings and even worse in her office or mine. A friend advised me to film her and record her. I brought my evidence here, and I would like to know if I can join Chandler's complaint or make my own but unify them. That woman is a hyena," Wilson explained.
"I think we can incorporate him. Both situations are recent. However, I tell you, in Chandler's case, he is not seeking financial compensation, but rather public apologies and recognition of his ability and the relevance of all his proposals. If you want financial compensation, we should go separately." McNeil explained
"Look, counsel, for a little more than a month of work, and given that the harassment did not have any effects on my health, I don't think I will get much money. Like Chandler, I want her to apologize and for the Agency's directors to take responsibility for their negligence with some kind of sanction," Wilson replied.
"Perfect, we will put them together. This week we will add your evidence. Also, depending on what my medical team tells me, we will ask the EECO for a psychiatric opinion on Hoffman."
The meeting ended satisfactorily for Chandler and Tom. Both were sure that Hoffman would pay for what he did.
With the evidence in his possession, McNeil asked the psychiatrist who was advising the firm to conduct an analysis of Hoffman's conduct.
A couple of days later, the psychiatrist Dr. Parsons explained to McNeil that although he had not had face-to-face contact with or examined Hoffman, he dared to anticipate that this person probably has a narcissistic disorder, which leads her to respond with anger or contempt, without the slightest empathy, she acts with others with arrogance and pride, and, given that all the subjects of her harassment are men, she probably has a disorder of misandry. And he advised him to ask the EECO for a psychiatric examination.
McNeil adds Wilson's complaint with his evidence and requests that Hoffman undergo a psychiatric examination.
EECO attorney Justin Trocco, who is handling Chandler's and now Tom's complaint, summons the agency's attorney.
"Mr. Scheffer summoned you on the one hand to notify you of Mr. Tomas Wilson's expansion of the complaint and the evidence he has added, so that you can present your defense… but given the accumulation of evidence, I think that perhaps both parties would resolve this difficult situation through mediation. I still have to present it to the complainant, and if both parties agree, I would appoint a mediator."
"I will discuss it with my clients and I will answer them."
"Ok, I will also discuss it with McNeil," explained Trocco.
McNeil met with Chandler and Tom to tell them about mediation. "Look, when the problem is serious, the EEOC tries to take it to mediation, but whether you accept it or not depends on you. Also, if an agreement is not reached, the EEOC is the one who will ultimately have to do it." resolve"
"And who would be present at the mediation?" asked Chandler
"You "I have two and myself on one side, and on the other Hoffman, an executive of the Agency and their lawyer"
"Honestly, seeing Hoffman again doesn't excite me, but perhaps due to the pressure from the Agency she will accept hers mistake and apologize, although it seems difficult to me" commented Chandler
"My intention is to insist on mediation so that Hoffman is subjected to a psychiatric examination, I'm sure she won't like this and perhaps she will give in and accept to apologize" explained McNeil
For his part, Scheffer met with the heads of the agency to inform them of the news and the proposal to do a mediation.
"Look, I really don't understand how none of you found out about Hoffman's behavior, now the complaint by Tom Wilson has been added, who even attached videos taken in his office when Hoffman came in to harass him" explained Scheffer
"That guy didn't last long, according to Hoffman he was completely incompetent" commented Willy Baker, the president of the Agency
"Willy, he didn't last long because he resigned due to the treatment he received from Hoffman. I have a copy of the proposals from both Bing and Wilson, and they really don't seem bad or the product of someone incompetent. Have you ever stopped to read them...? I'll leave them with you and draw your own conclusions," Scheffer explained.
Everyone was speechless.
"We trust Priscilla's judgment; she comes with a very good resume from Mackenzie & Mackenzie" said Steve
"Ok, well what do you want to do, try to resolve it in mediation or submit the Agency to the EEOC's decision"
Everyone looked at each other, "Ok, let's try mediation, maybe they'll settle for some money" said Willy
"I already told you that they're not after money, they want an apology and professional recognition, for us to retract our claim of incompetence" intervened Steve
"We can give them that, but Hoffman…" answered Willy
"Okay, now you guys find out if Hoffman is going to show up, I have to let the EEOC know who will be at the hearing"
When Scheffer had left they decided to call Hoffman into the meeting room.
"Priscila, Scheffer just left, Bing's complaint was joined by Wilson's, in addition to recordings, he has videos, he installed a camera in his office" Willy told her calmly. Hoffman's face turned red, she made a face of disgust, she looked at everyone with her typical icy gaze, it was evident that she was furious,
Willy continued "the EEOC proposes a mediation, to which the Agency and you have to attend, to see if the case can be closed"
"I told them, those two useless people want money" shouted Hoffman
"No, Scheffer thinks they are looking for apologies from all of us, and public recognition of the value of their work and their competence" explained Willy
"I will never apologize, forget it" shouted Priscila again
"Look, let's go to mediation and see how it works, the mediator will try to bring the parties together, maybe you're right and they end up accepting some money" said Willy trying to calm her anger and get her to agree to go to the hearing.
"Okay, I'll go get you, but I repeat, I will never apologize. Tell me when we have to go to that pantomime." This time Priscilla spoke without shouting, but she got up and left the room slamming the door.
"And if we talk to any member of the team, so they can tell us if those two guys are exaggerating things," Willy said.
"They won't talk, no one will, they're afraid of her," Steve said.
"Are you sure?" Willy asked.
"Yes, I'm sure, and very worried. I want to read those proposals that Priscilla said were pure garbage," Steve answered.
Trocco tells both parties that the mediation will take place in a month, that he will tell them the exact date and time, and gives them the name and address of the mediator.
Chandler feels tense at the proximity of seeing that bitch's face again, but at the same time he is anxious to see her give in, although it seems to him that it will be difficult to see.
And he is also anxious because on Friday he has to go with Monica to the 5th month check-up and see if the babies show their sex, because during the 4th month check-up they both hid it very well in their crotches.
During the check-up they found that the babies were developing very well, and this time they were more relaxed and they could see the sex of both, they were two boys!
They were happy, although at one-point Chandler said to Monica laughing, "later we have to go get the girls"
"Wait champ, … now don't get so excited" and they both laughed.
They arrive at Central Perk with big smiles and tell their friends the news, everyone jumps for joy and hugs each other.