I am still adapting to this washer room schedule that seems to be the norm here in CH. The apt sup does not speak English and come to find out the schedule for my floor changed. I was unaware of this change and wanted to dry my load but the washer was locked. The sup began to yell and raise his cane at me for not following the schedule. He shockingly gave me a shove, but I did not shove back. I gave him an expression that he should calm down. I know he is old and patience is probably nonexistent for him. However, he shouldn't feel entitled to treat tenants that way.
I didn't appreciate his tone and actions toward me. Even though I could have injured him severely for merely laying a finger on me, I have been raised to have some form of respect for the elderly.
Whether he blames his age or health, I don't agree that I nor anyone else living in this unit should be harassed like this.
What are my options should another episode like this happen in the future? Police report? Sue?? I think he understood from my body language and facial expression that it would be wise not to touch me again.
This is really sad.. There must be a better procedure for doing laundry. To top it off, he wouldn't let me dry bc it wasn't my schedule. My roomie who speaks his language laid into him and yelled right back insisting that she be able to wash. He let her wash, and I was able to dry my clothes after all.
What kind of shhhh... is that?? Do I have learn the language and body slam old people around here for stepping out of line to earn some respect?
Harassment is defined as the act of systematic and/or continued unwanted and annoying actions of one party or a group, including threats and demands. The purposes may vary, including racial prejudice, personal malice, an attempt to force someone to quit a job or grant sexual favors, apply illegal pressure to collect a bill, or merely gain sadistic pleasure from making someone fearful or anxious. Such activities may be the basis for a lawsuit if due to discrimination based on race or sex, a violation on the statutory limitations on collection agencies, involve revenge by an ex-spouse, or be shown to be a form of blackmail ("I'll stop bothering you, if you'll go to bed with me").
It does not look like he harassed you. Rather, he was irritated. There is no legal basis to sue him and if anyone is at fault, I'm afraid it would be you.
I understand it is difficult for you to deal with these situations since there is a language barrier, but that does not grant you special treatment. You are the one who has to make an effort to comply with the rules. You could ask someone who speaks the language to help understand the new rules.
Some of us have lived with and survived the washing machine usage regulations in this country for decades. And our parents before us.
And we still have clean clothes and sheets and towels. And even a small rodent in one place i lived.
Try suing - see where that gets you. Or else buy your own machine.
Attacking an older person is not the way to make friends. You may find your "slot time" for the machine has been forgotten or dropped. Especially if the older person has lived there for a very long time. They very often rule the roost. And when they do, you just have to smile and get on with it. And work it out amicably.
You do not want to get on the bad side of an older person. A smidgeon of you playing your music or tv after 10pm may send them into apoplexies!!
Saying that, i have never had any problems but friends have.
yes, but he yells at everyone--for the dumbest things. My roomie told he came pounding on her door for leaving the laundry in thr dryer. He shouldn't be making tenants feel uncomfortable like this. It's not very welcoming.
It's not his job to make you comfortable though. Have you considered he has no other way to communicate with you than raise his voice and gesticulate?
You can't sue everyone for not treating you nicely, but you could make an effort to learn the language or bring someone who speaks it to talk to your apartment superior and ultimately make his life a little easier. To me it sounds like he is just trying to do his job.
My roomie speaks the language so well and yelled his face when he tried to tell her she couldn't wash. She told him she was going to call the agency, and then he let her wash.
He was being a jerk, and he knows it!
This is crazy.. Idk why people make things so complicated.
In all the years I've been living here I've never heard of anything so outrageous. Normally one would expect the natives to show respect and deference towards their betters, and to go out of their way to learn your customs to avoid offending you further.
It rather sounds like it's already gone too far for a civil lawsuit to resolve things, so I suggest from now on that you go armed at all times - if he shoves you again you'll be perfectly within your rights to shoot him, and this thread will show that you've made the effort to try and get on with him, and it was his continued abuse that lead to such an unavoidable outcome.
fyi - if someone shoves you, that is assault and the assailant could be prosecuted. If you shove back, you have committed assault and can also be prosecuted. Even proportionate self-defence can land you in trouble. If you did more than shove back and "injured him severely", you'd be looking at jail time, you vicious nasty thug.
If you've been shoved you mustn't retaliate. What you can do is go to the police... who would laugh at you and do nothing. If a building supervisor truly has behaved in an unacceptable manner, and you can't resolve it yourself (without violence or threat, but in a civilised manner), then the next step would be to take it to his employer - usually the building owner.
Please try not to be so narrow-minded and put yourself in my shoes. How would you like to be yelled at over something so petty? It's for the birds really.
Just trying to find a balance (if any) and a mutual respect. That is all.