Let this be a warning to you all, calling a female co-worker on national TV "sweetcakes" or an "a**hole" is a violation of the FCC's guidelines, creating a hostile work environment. This is exactly what happened to Ron Franklin for his inappropriate comments to fellow broadcaster Jeanine Edwards. During the Fiesta bowl game, an inappropriate comment was made by Mr. Franklin, and went something like this:

Franklin: "Why don't you leave this to the boys, sweetcakes,"

Edwards: "Don't call me sweetcakes, I don't like being talked to like that,"

Franklin: "OK then, a**hole."

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a hostile work environment is when harassment--including unwelcome comments or conduct based on sex, race, or other legally protected characteristics--unreasonably interferes with an employee's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

For example, according to the FCC website, the following events, comments, or actions "may" create a sexual /hostile work environment:

• Leering, i.e., staring in a sexually suggestive manner;
• Making offensive remarks about looks, clothing, body parts;
• Touching in a way that may make an employee feel uncomfortable, such as patting, pinching or intentional brushing against another's body;
• Telling sexual or lewd jokes, hanging sexual posters, making sexual gestures, etc.
• Sending, forwarding or soliciting sexually suggestive letters, notes, emails, or images

For more information about this incident, or other work related events which may have created a sexual/hostile work environment at work for you, contact Mark & Galusha, LLC by filing out our "contact us" page, or by calling 908-626-1001 or 973-440-2311.