Discrimination!

[Otto]

My wife has worked for a food service company for close to 15 years, She has always gone in to work extra when they were short and has stayed over to make sure everything was clean for the next day. She has always received favorable feedback from customers, workers, and management. That is, up til this past year. The problem is not with the company, but with one of the middle managers working within the location that my wife is employed. This manager cusses at the staff, belittles and berates the workers, and basically terrorizes everyone she comes into contact with. Recently the manager I am referring to has been overly abusive to my wife in the form of verbal barrages and threats. She has written my wife up for stiuations apparently reported to her by "other" employees. My wife is an extremely hard worker and has done everything she has been asked. I forgot to mention that she is from Thailand and has a limited understanding of the english language. I have contacted the company several times about this manager and the situation. Yet, the cruelty continues and my wife is now reduced to tears on a nightly basis.

[Karel]

This is not a we problem in a legal sense and to some extent for a spouse to get into middle of a workplace situation is sure to invite retaliation for meddling --if seen it happen when a guys wife kept calling  management and HR about how poorly her husband was being treated---problem was solved by letting husband go!

And it would not surprise me that if your wife worked 50% harder than the rest of the staff that the rest of the staff is setting her up for failure.  I've been places where folks who work too hard are victims of "sabotage" 

I have no doubt the managers skills are short on grace . Maybe in some places that a style you need in food service.

I'm not sure its discrimination along a protect line..and I suspect after 15 years  most folks learn well enough language for a food service workplace.

If manager picks on everybody--it probably not discrimination in an actionable sense.

Its hard for me to suggest what to do--but I sure as heck suggest  less direct meddling!

Write ups for what ? Real or imaginary issues?

Perhaps a thick skin, deaf  ear, and try to stay off managers radar screen

[reid]

blelaw:The problem is not with the company, but with one of the middle managers working within the location that my wife is employed.

If this middle manager is employed with the same company, then the problem is with the company.

blelaw:Recently the manager I am referring to has been overly abusive to my wife in the form of verbal barrages and threats. She has written my wife up for stiuations apparently reported to her by "other" employees.

A more explicit example is needed of what you mean by "verbal barrages and threats" and what "situations" involved. 

Don't contact the company on behalf of your wife.  That will only infuse the problem she apparently is facing.

Has she attempted to discuss her concerns with HR?  Or is she only responding to write-ups?

[Wanahton]

The boss is mean and unreasonable. Those are management issues, not legal ones.

[Fahey]

Being from Thailand doesn't instantly create the conduct discrimination.  The supervisor needs to be managing her in this way SINCE she's from the diverse country.  <br />
"This supervisor cusses in the team, belittles and berates the employees, and ostensibly terrorizes everyone she makes contact with."<br />
Because you suggest that the supervisor reacts badly to all of the team subsequently it's unlikely to become illegitimate discrimination.  There's nothing illegitimate about poor management.  <br />
"I've approached the organization many times about that supervisor and also the situation."<br />
Poor idea.  the organization does not have any legal responsibility to go over something along with you even though your need to assist and guard your spouse is excellent your efforts at treatment probably created things worse for her.<br />
"However, the cruelty proceeds and my spouse has become decreased to holes on the daily basis."<br />
When the supervisor is that this poor then it's time on her to consider another job.  Work regulation doesn't tackle poor management.