Is it harassment to call a Marine veteran "Devil Dog"? 11-17-2009

I have an employee who was warned not to refer to one particular female as "Devil Dog". (This is a nickname for U.S. Marines.) Both employees are veterans of the Marine Corps and she doesn't mind. The CEO stated that "Devil Dog" is a derogatory term and will not be used. The male employee was angry. He performs well, but he is now aloof and has a disdain for the CEO, and does not return verbal greetings such as "good morning", when the CEO speaks to him. I was informed that on a weekend when he was off and visiting a co-worker, he commented that he will find the CEO outside of the workplace and beat him. What, if anything can be done?

Ann Kiernan replies:

My Marine friends tell me that "Devil Dog" nickname goes back to World War I, when the Germans described their American fighting foes as "dogs from the devil". While it has long been a title of honor, in recent years it seems to have taken on a disparaging meaning.

If the ex-Marine likes the name, it's not harassment. I am much more concerned about the male employee's rude, insubordinate, and threatening behavior. He should be given a final written warning that his conduct is unacceptable, and that if it persists, he will be terminated for cause. If he makes threats that you can verify, you may want to call the police, as well. Good luck.

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