I need a hug!

Shahine is a colleague of ours, he's moved from the Arab world few years back and works in the same place as we do. He's a harmless guy for the most part with the exception of extra goofiness when he's around women. But this doesn't stop him from attempting to make sleazy passes at them in the cheapest most disgusting ways you can think of

He has previously got reprimanded for harassing some of our American coworkers who didn't find a problem bringing this up to the attention of Human Resources(HR) and he got a verbal warning the first time. And a written warning the second time.

Undeterred by the HR effort he continued to crack inappropriate gender insensitive jokes and people have been kind of looking the other way because they know that he will get fired if he's reported again. Many (including yours truly) have tried to talk to him, but as we say in Arabic, there is no life to the person you're calling (La 7ayata liman tonady) A metaphor meaning fell on deaf ears.

This afternoon, the situation was different, he not only have solicited an inappropriate act from our Arab American college, when he asked her for a hug. He protested that she does this with everyone so why him!

The lady was at loss for words when he said that. Then he followed that with "Who do you think you are?", and "You should feel lucky that I thought of you". Just to add insult to injury.

The lady, came to my office, in disbelief, cursing and kicking. I just didn't know what to say. Or how to even say it. She started swearing that she's going to take this to HR and she will get him fired. Apparently there was some detail that she left out from the story, It might have included indecent attempt to feel her or something. But she didn't say. But I have a feeling that it was his intention.

I went to his office, and because he's sharing it with someone. I asked him to go for a walk. I went downstairs, and even though everyone knows that I stopped smoking. He made sure that he lights up a cigarette and puff right in my face. I was really at the end of my patience at this point and gave him an earful!

What I didn't say earlier was that the lady colleague that came to my office, started her protest with "All you Arab guys are ....." and a slew of the worst adjectives lined up after that.

Not only did he act inappropriately, and AT WORK, but he brought shame to every single Arab guy and caused the lady a lot of avoidable grief!

Anyway, he's not out of the woods yet, and the lady insists on informing HR. But quite frankly, I just can't sympathise with him!