Ginger Skinner, NY, USA, SSH Blog Correspondent
Last May, just seconds after hopping on my bike in front of my Brooklyn apartment, I hear, “Mmm. Can I go with you?” I slow my bike and turn around to see a FedEx driver staring back at me. I yelled, “You really shouldn’t harass people while you’re on the job.” His response: “F**k you.” Followed by several more “f**k you’s.”
The driver’s comments were no different than those hurled at me almost daily from row house stoops, in corner stores, supermarkets, parks, gyms, and on and around public transit. “Hey baby’s,” “How you doing’s,” and “Mmm mmm mmm’s,” that seem innocuous, yet too often leave long-term side effects: anger, anxiety, shame, and hypervigilance. Still those men had not delivered packages to my home. Packages I regularly signed for. I worried that my speaking up and defending myself might have inadvertently encouraged more harassment.
Five minutes later, I was on the phone with a FedEx “specialist.” After opening a claim that included a detailed description of the delivery person, the specific location, and time of day, she repeatedly assured me that FedEx would handle the situation according to their policies, and that they’d follow up with me. She ended the call with “FedEx takes these matters very seriously.” Weeks passed. No follow up.
Had I done the right thing in reporting the harassment? Yes. I think so. Street harassment is often a precursor to more aggressive forms of violence. Had I really wanted the driver to lose his job? Certainly not. What outcome had I expected? At the very least, I knew that I wanted to be listened to and believed—and for FedEx, as promised, to take the matter seriously.
A basic search of Twitter turned up people who clearly wanted the same. A jogger who was catcalled by a FedEx driver. A woman aggressively catcalled by a FedEx worker inside her apartment building. A man whose wife was sexually harassed by two FedEx drivers. A woman who tweeted at FedEx after one of their drivers made kissing sounds at her. Another woman who upon calling FedEx to complain about harassment was “pretty much laughed at” by the customer service rep. This story. And this one. And here’s one about a UPS driver. And this incredibly disturbing story about a U.S. Postal Service worker.
No complain alert line for customers?
Like most companies, FedEx has an employee policy in place that addresses workplace sexual harassment. The anti-harassment policy on the company’s website states that:
Unwelcome sexual advances and other inappropriate personal conduct are prohibited. We strictly prohibit, and will not tolerate, any type of harassment or any acts that create the potential for harassment, either in terms of individual employee morale or in violation of applicable laws.
There’s also a mechanism for reporting violations – the FedEx Alert Line.
I wondered, did the same policy apply to customers? So I reached out to FedEx’s media department, but after two weeks and no response, I ended up on the phone with Dave from Customer Advocacy. I asked, “Does FedEx have policies or other measures in place that protect customers and communities members from harassment by FedEx employees?” Dave responded, “We are not able to reveal FedEx policies over the phone or on our website. Our policies are confidential.” Then a long pause, and, “We will deal with a situation when we have one.”
I ended the call with Dave, disappointed, but with a clear message for FedEx and other companies that claim to take harassment seriously:
Whether or not it affects to your bottom line, your employees’ actions directly impact your company’s reputation. At the end of the day, the employee that harassed me is wearing a uniform and driving a truck clearly marked with your company’s name. I urge you to consider stronger policies that discourage harassment by your employees and protect the communities you serve. By not addressing it, your company is essentially doing its part to preserve rape culture.
Ginger is a full-time reporter and long-time New Yorker with over 10 years of experience writing about health and wellness. Ginger is also a member of Brooklyn Movement Center’s No Disrespect anti-street harassment team, and is dedicated to deepening the conversations surrounding the causes of gender-based harassment and violence, and the intersections of race. Follow Ginger on Twitter at @ginger_skinner.
