Sexual Harassment - Corporate History
Lone_Wolf
Arizona
If memory serves - The issue of sexual harassment became a big time topic in the corporate world in the early 1990's. Justifiably so too as some dudes did get pretty handsy with the ladies and managers using their power to get pussy was rampant. Some big court cases were won by the harassed honeys and corporations went into high gear to mitigate their liability.
Suddenly, we were required to take monthly (yes, monthly) training sessions teaching us about appropriate behavior. A hot line was setup and people were encouraged to report sexual harassment. We had to sign a document that we understood the issue and could get fired. A bunch of people started getting fired after accusations were made. Some of the firings were justified some not so much. Any accusation required a full investigation and was in the personnel file forever regardless of outcome.
There were some consequences to this though. Suddenly any woman that was being punished for poor work performance by their manager was being "sexually harassed". I saw women that acted and talked like horny sailors on leave suddenly act offended by someone telling a dirty a joke to try and get their boss fired or get out of trouble. This became common in fact.
At the same time, some of the dudes being fired for supposed sexual harassment started winning law suits for wrongful termination costing the corp millions.
Slowly it morphed into a woman needing substantial, tangible, proof that their "supervisor" was trying to get pussy from them. Accusations didn't automatically result in an investigation. The monthly sexual harassment training turned into annually and ended up fading away entirely.
All the sexual harassment stories in the news reminds me of this frenzy in the early 90's.
Any of you folks have any memories of this?
Suddenly, we were required to take monthly (yes, monthly) training sessions teaching us about appropriate behavior. A hot line was setup and people were encouraged to report sexual harassment. We had to sign a document that we understood the issue and could get fired. A bunch of people started getting fired after accusations were made. Some of the firings were justified some not so much. Any accusation required a full investigation and was in the personnel file forever regardless of outcome.
There were some consequences to this though. Suddenly any woman that was being punished for poor work performance by their manager was being "sexually harassed". I saw women that acted and talked like horny sailors on leave suddenly act offended by someone telling a dirty a joke to try and get their boss fired or get out of trouble. This became common in fact.
At the same time, some of the dudes being fired for supposed sexual harassment started winning law suits for wrongful termination costing the corp millions.
Slowly it morphed into a woman needing substantial, tangible, proof that their "supervisor" was trying to get pussy from them. Accusations didn't automatically result in an investigation. The monthly sexual harassment training turned into annually and ended up fading away entirely.
All the sexual harassment stories in the news reminds me of this frenzy in the early 90's.
Any of you folks have any memories of this?
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15 comments
Another problem as pointed out by the OP is the backlash when it all goes overboard. The best example now is the education business, particularly colleges and universities. What started as a reasonable attempt to protect and provide some measure of justice for mistreated women evolved into almost a situation where it seemed barely safe for a man to flirt with a woman. The pendulum seems to be starting back to a reasonable medium, since a few stories are coming out about men wrongfully accused who are finally being heard.
Another thing I found interesting, not entirely related, but which shows how the old manufacturing corporations have been leading edge for major change. Government bureaucrats, especially in the State Department, are screaming about Rex Tillerson’s attempt to streamline what he sees as a “bloated bureaucracy.” Is anyone surprised at what he’s doing? That’s what he did at Exxon and what happened at every other oil company, chemical company, auto company, and a lot of other companies. I am constantly amazed at other places that can’t see the bloat in their own businesses. Printed media is feeling it. Pharmaceuticals and technology will eventually. As one who has lived through that and as a taxpayer, I can only say, “Go git ‘em, Rex!”
When we got the word in middle 90s that we could no longer entertain customers or visiting dignitaries in strip clubs because of the sexual harassment stuff, it was a very sad day.
I suppose when I hired a girl I used to bang in college as my admin assistant and pimped her out to other guys at work, that was probably a bad thing. However, she was working a mild form of P4P out of the deal, so she wasn't complaining.
I remember one year when the company was so afraid of making women mad they ordered flowers for EVERY female employee on Secretaries Day. Well, one of those female employees was our VP of Quality Control and got pissed as hell.
SJG
Over the next few decades, I knew several guys whose careers were derailed or who were fired for things like telling risque jokes and being overheard by a female employee. I also witnessed plenty of situations where very senior mgmt guys remained serial harassers and HR shuffled them off to another division and protected them.
I still think some sexual harassment training useful. Lots of inexperienced young women who set the bar way too low.
Massage Chain Being Sued. Of course this one is zero mileage. One of very few such. The rest, the mileage shops, are all independently owned, and never would massage girls mount such a suit.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/nationwi…
SJG
Gimme Shelter ft/ Grace Potter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ps9xy2i…
And then I've listened to SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg talking about the pastings from lower courts that she'd administered to the airline industry over their policies, going back to that 80's and earlier.
Work place sexual harassment, as defined by the courts, has to be either quid pro quo, or hostile work environment.
But often what is also going on is just sexism or sexual discrimination.
SJG
Things changed dramatically in the 90s. Things had to be toned down, and appearances were more important. Things have remained very non-sexual through the past few decades.
However, the rules are far different for senior mgmt. If a senior person is harassing a lower level employee - they will generally payoff the lower level employee and have the lower level sign an agreement to not sue and to not disclose any details. The senior person will generally not be touched - unless it’s a continual issue - then they will weigh the revenue generated vs paying off more accusers.
I’m fascinated how Washington is so far behind the Times with harassment.
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/11/27/…
Black Workers at Tesla File Class-Action Lawsuit, Saying Tesla Is “Hotbed for Racist Behavior”
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Black workers at Tesla’s Fremont, California factory have filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Tesla of being a “hotbed for racist behavior.” A former African American worker at Tesla says he was routinely called the N-word while working at the factory, and that after he complained, he was fired for not having a positive attitude. Tesla is also facing lawsuits accusing the company of discriminating against LGBT workers and older workers.
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A most curious development.
SJG