Managing The Workplace: Manager’s Nightmare—Reprimanded Employee Becomes The Boss

While Joni Grand was the acting jail administrator for the city of Glendale, she warned a subordinate, Marvin Quarles, about his inappropriate conduct toward female employees. She reported Quarles’ actions to her superiors who cautioned him as well, but ultimately decided that his actions didn’t amount to sexual harassment. A year later, Quarles became Grand’s direct supervisor and allegedly threatened to stab her in the back and kill her. Grand also claimed that Quarles illegally tape-recorded her private conversations and intentionally scheduled her to work with another jail employee who physically intimidated her. Grand complained but said the city did nothing to investigate her complaints. After Glendale refused to transfer her to another position, Grand quit and sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress.The city claimed Quarles’ comments were just a joke, but the jury apparently disagreed and awarded Grand $385,000.