Don’t believe the hype — Valentine’s Day may be for lovers, but for employers, it’s only trouble. Indeed, back in 2011, I highlighted the perils of Valentine’s Day for employers recapping various cases in which Valentine’s Day played a central role. Given the day, I thought I would reprint it today as a reminder — please don’t send out hearts to your office crush.
It’s Valentine’s Day! Chocolate, flowers, what could go wrong?
There are, of course, a few of you who are scratching your head and thinking “How can anything go wrong? It’s a holiday full of love and romance!”
And therein lies the problem. It seems to be a day that brings out the inner sexual harasser in far too many instances.
Cases in point:
- So, as an HR rep, a secretary shows you a Valentine’s Day card she received from her boss that says: “But somehow it seems only right To say, today of all days, You’re someone close in thought and heart, Not `now and then,’ but always.” Suggesting that the employee may lose (allegedly) some vacation days as a result of her complaint is probably not the best way to handle the issue. Gallagher v. Delaney, 139 F. 3d 338 (2d Cir. 1998.)
- But imagine how you’d handle this one. According to the court records, “When [the secretary] asked [her boss] whether he had gotten his wife a Valentine’s Day card, he responded that he had not but he should because it was lonely in his hotel room (his wife had not yet moved to Chicago) and all he had for company was his pillow. Then [he] looked ostentatiously at his hand. The gesture was intended to suggest…..” Baskerville v. Culligan Intern. Co., 50 F. 3d 428 (7th Cir 1995). Blech.
- Valentine’s Day cards seem to be a theme too. In one case, a supervisor gave his female subordinate a Valentine’s Day card, which read “I can’t imagine loving you more than I do today . . . but tomorrow I will. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY, SWEETHEART.” The Seventh Circuit reversed a district court’s decision that had found in the company’s favor. Johnson v. West, 218 F. 3d 725 (7th Cir. 2000). In another case, the alleged victim received a large red Valentine card reading, “On Valentine’s Day, remember — candy is dandy … but sex won’t rot your teeth! So what do you say!” Pucci v. USAir, 940 F. Supp. 305 (M.D. Fl. 1996).
- Sometimes, others are upset at alleged romantic relationships. Some, even take out a personal ad in the Pottstown Mercury Newspaper containing a Valentine’s Day message which read, “Dear Sgt., Spring is right around the corner, just like me. Look outside, see your Robin by the tree. Love, Azalea.” Not too subtle when the woman’s first name is “Robin” and she lives on “Azalea Court”. Schlichter v. Limerick Township (E.D. Pa. 2006).
- And cards aren’t the only thing handed out on Valentine’s Day. Sometimes it is cookies (Seats v. Kaskaskia College (S.D. Ill. 2008)) or flowers (Lowry v. Powerscreen USB, Inc. 72 F. Supp. 2d 1061 (E.D. Mo 1999)) or flowers AND chocolate (Burrell v. CUNY (S.D.N.Y. 1995)).
- Men can also raise complaints of sexual harassment. In one such complaint (later dismissed), the male employee said that on Valentine’s Day, a female worker told him that “she had sex with a particular truck driver once a year and briefly described her favorite sexual position.” The male employee said he complained – and the case focused on the response of the company. Armstrong v. Meijer, Inc. 40 Supp. 2d 923 (S.D. Ohio 1998).
- Of course, in a few instances, the alleged victim has responded with their own Valentine’s Day card — somewhat negating the inference of harassment, particularly when accompanied by a “sternum adjustment”. (You cannot make this stuff up, even if you tried.) Escue v. Northern OK College, 450 F. 3d 1146 (10th Cir. 2006). Note: Accepting Tiffany gold earrings on Valentine’s Day will also not bolster a harassment suit against a company. Bogdan v. New York City Transit Authority (S.D.N.Y. 2005).
- Not to be outdone, Valentine’s Day also served as the basis for a national origin discrimination claim. How so? Allegedly, “Hispanic [Cuban] employees were served after the American employees when the company provided a dinner for employees on Valentine’s Day.” The Court didn’t buy the argument. Lescailles v. Ann Taylor (W.D. Ky. 2007).
So what’s an employer to do?
Each year, send a reminder to your employees with a copy of the harassment policy. And be sure to do the sexual harassment prevention training to your new employees as required under Connecticut law. But, as always, be sure to consult with your counsel or one that you trust for particular issues you have.