Hamilton woman seeks damages and an order telling the company to establish a workplace harassment policy
A female employee, who claims she was assaulted by her chiropractor, Dr Huehn, and then forced to see him for months at the bar where she worked, says that she’s relieved that her allegations are now being taken seriously – two years after she lodged them.
The allegations have not been proven, and a hearing is yet to be scheduled.
The unnamed former employee is moving forward with a human rights complaint against the chiropractor and her former employer, who she alleges failed to ensure a safe work environment and to have a clear policy on workplace sexual harassment.
“Initially the police said there wasn't enough evidence or whatever to prosecute, and then my workplace was completely ignoring me personally, so I had been looking for a sense of affirmation,” she explained.
“I lost my job over it too, basically, and there was no consequences to anyone else and no one was listening to me so of course this...was personally encouraging to me.”
The human rights complaint reportedly seeks $150,000 in damages for loss of dignity and income, a letter of apology and an order that her former employer develop a comprehensive sexual harassment policy.
“I want to stand up for myself and that's the most important thing,” she said. “Unfortunately, it's going to happen to someone else in one way or another by both parties if I don't kind of make them change their ways,” she said.
The College has declined to comment.
In her complaint, the woman alleged that:
- She approached Huehn, a regular customer at the bar, about a chiropractic treatment following a 2015 car crash;
- Huehn agreed to treat her at a reduced rate of $20 per visit;
- On her eighth visit, she asked Huehn to recommend a massage therapist but offered to do it himself. Despite his acknowledgment that it was not his specialty, she agreed because she trusted him;
- During the massage sessions he touched her inappropriately;
- After these she experienced depression, anxiety, shame and low self-esteem;
- She filed a police report about a month later. When Huehn was interviewed by police, he said any physical contact with her was part of her massage treatment;
- She also told her manager what happened, but she was still given a schedule that coincided with the time the chiropractor and his friends frequented the place;
- "Initially the police said there wasn't enough evidence or whatever to prosecute, and then my workplace was completely ignoring me personally, so I had been looking for a sense of affirmation," she said;
- She experienced a pattern of extreme anxiety, embarrassment and humiliation by Huehn’s continued present. She “was often driven to tears in front of her co-workers, some of whom thought critically of her”;
- When she eventually told one of Huehn's friends that she would not serve them, management publicly rebuked her; and
- She eventually resigned from her job.
A hearing is yet to be scheduled
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