Comments on: Answers to tricky HR questions: No. 1 cause of sexual-harassment lawsuits?

By: Male Matters

Male Matters — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:51:48 +0000

For an answer to most of the questions posed here — and in the hopes of mitigating the gender divisiveness created by the issue — I recommend:

“The Sexual Harassment Quagmire: How To Dig Out” at http://battlinbog.blog-city.com/the_sexual_harassment_quagmire_digging_out_with_true_equali.htm

By: Jane Doe

Jane Doe — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:48:29 +0000

I had some poems that i had written over time hanging in an inconspicuous area of my workspace. No names were mentioned, no titles, no nothing. I was gone one Friday. My boss evidently went through those poems because the following Monday i was accused of sexual harrassment against HIS boss, also a man. They both proceeded to write me up and put this accusation and form into my personnel file. There was no investigation done, nothing. I was accused, judged and sentence issued by my accuser and supposed victim. I’m a woman.

By: David Saroff

David Saroff — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:19:02 +0000

I am saddened that neither female torch blazers or indignant males responding to my comments did not take the time to read the complete text of both my comments. I believe in the ideal regarding HR policies but I am realistic about our progress (society as a whole) towards these ideals.

The discussion of the last 10 – 15 years of progress is interesting to read and to some extent I am pleased that even my misread thoughts have sparked such a diverse and thoughtful discussion.

We are human beings. Men and women are two different sub species. Add in the Gay alternatives and the soup of humanity gets really interesting. Each one of us is never going to be 100% comfortable with every conversation heard or thought expressed. With the exception of extreme thoughts , I would rather that people around me feel comfortable to express themselves and therefore create a productive environment versus a atmosphere of fear which is the result of obsessive political correctness.

The HR policy manual is getting thicker and work place reality is getting more confusing as the behavior contradicts the policies more frequently.

By: denise

denise — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:58:00 +0000

I am a female HR Manager and I have sent more than 1 female employee home for innapropriate attire. David needs to wake up and get real.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:34:49 +0000

I couldn’t agree more KP. I’ve been doing this HR gig for 30 years now. Needless to say I should have written a book by now. The stories I could tell from 30 years ago until now. Things have certainly changed in the last 10-15 years but the stupidity of employees never cease to amaze me. That’s why we in HR will always have jobs!!!

—Brian

By: Chris Davis

Chris Davis — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:49:35 +0000

Tony,
You might want to stop generalizing about female managers. Throwing all of them into the same category just confirms their greatest concerns. Maybe you haven’t had a good experience with women in supervisory position but maybe it is because you are approaching it so negatively. I work for a place where 50% of the leadership is female and amazingly enough we make it work.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:00:06 +0000

I am absolutely incensed that David, Tony and MW are so blind that they can’t see what changes have been made in the last 10 years. I am a female and I have been an HR professional for many years. Harassment is harassment, whether male, female or cross-gender and they are all treated with the same fairness and discretion. When I began my career 20 years ago, most of the sexual harassment complaints were either handled casually or ignored unless there were witnesses. Our company has a dress ploicy and I have had to ask both male and female workers to change their clothes because they were too revealing. We have had to investigate all kinds of harassment, from male to female, female to male, male to male and female to female. I don’t where you have been for these years, but it’s time that you got your head out of the sand and really looked at what’s been happening. We have made great strides in making the workplace a better and safer environment. We may have a long way to go yet, but please don’t lump all of us together.

By: MW

MW — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:43:48 +0000

I agree with David. We kid oursleves that things have improved so much. At time subtle, and at other times overt double standards exist. This is congruent with other areas we claim to have come so far as a society in. PC run amuck.

By: Tony V, CPA

Tony V, CPA — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:23:38 +0000

I agree with David – In my opinion, female HR people make it these harassment situatuions worse. all too often, the “victims” bring on their own problems by dressing provacatively, and flirting. When a man flirts back – it’s harassment! Shame on us for reacting. Women managers can’t take the truth asa they are always checking each other out. Not once in my career have I ever seen a female HR “enthusiast” send a female worker home for underdressing and showing too much cleavage or booty. I’ve seen it all. Nothing was different 15 years ago, when most of these HR “Professionals” were playing with their barbie dolls. Sorry ladies. You go David!

By: Chris Davis

Chris Davis — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:17:03 +0000

“H/R drops their pants”? Interesting choice of words considering the subject matter.