Introduction
Carlos Gurrola Argujo, known as “Papayita,” a 47-year-old janitor at the H-E-B Senderos supermarket in Torreón, Coahuila, suffered workplace harassment. His family reported that coworkers stole his food, hid his phone, and damaged his bicycle, disguising these acts as harmless pranks. However, on August 30 of this year, the pranks escalated when someone poured grease-dissolving liquid into his electrolyte drink, causing severe internal burns, trachea, and lung damage.
Reporting Workplace Harassment: Available Resources
To address such situations, several resources are available for reporting workplace harassment:
SIQAL (Sistema de Quejas y Accidentes Laborales)
SIQAL is a digital platform provided by the Mexican Secretariat of Labor and Social Prevision (STPS) that allows workers to report labor violations and accidents with guaranteed confidentiality since this year.
Profedet (Procuraduría Federal de la Defensa del Trabajo)
Profedet is the primary institution for addressing workplace harassment cases in federal companies. They offer guidance, advice, and free legal representation. You can report by phone (800 717 29 42 and 800 911 7877), WhatsApp (5514848737), or email at [email protected].
Civil Action
If psychological, moral, or economic damages are proven, in some cases, it is possible to seek compensation for damages through civil courts.
Recent Developments and Proposed Changes
In recent news, a Senate initiative proposes imposing substantial fines on companies that tolerate workplace harassment. Additionally, the initiative seeks to explicitly include workplace harassment in the Federal Penal Code, which would result in more severe penalties.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is workplace harassment? Workplace harassment refers to any form of unwelcome behavior that creates a hostile or abusive work environment, including but not limited to offensive jokes, insults, intimidation, or physical assault.
- What is SIQAL? SIQAL (Sistema de Quejas y Accidentes Laborales) is a digital platform provided by the Mexican Secretariat of Labor and Social Prevision (STPS) for reporting labor violations and accidents confidentially.
- What does Profedet do? Profedet (Procuraduría Federal de la Defensa del Trabajo) is the federal institution responsible for handling workplace harassment cases, offering guidance, advice, and free legal representation.
- Can I pursue civil action for workplace harassment? Yes, if you can prove psychological, moral, or economic damages resulting from workplace harassment, you may seek compensation through civil courts.
- What are the recent developments in addressing workplace harassment? A Senate initiative proposes imposing significant fines on companies that tolerate workplace harassment and aims to explicitly include it in the Federal Penal Code for stricter penalties.
