Cain is not Able… It costs more than money to defend an accusation…
Cain is not Able… It costs more than money to defend an accusation…
Cain is not Able… It costs more than money to defend an accusation…
This message is not about political spinning, indictment or accusation. Instead, let’s reflect on what Herman Cain said as he suspended his campaign. The constant accusations of sexual harassment and the endless distractions of such accusations became too much to bear for his family and his campaign. Despite the ground swell of popularity in the last weeks, a charge of sexual harassment has unraveled his White House dreams.
While every man is innocent until proven guilty, the court of public opinion has voted, and continues to swing its support to other Republican candidates. Since these charges of sexual harassment from Ms. White, Herman Cain endured a 15 point drop in support in Iowa. The number of voters who once wanted to see Cain in the polls, dropped from 22 % to 8%.
But on the other side of sexual harassment, over the years, sexual harassment claims at the EEOC have actually declined. The 2000 fiscal year reported close to 16,000 sexual harassment cases. The 2010 statistics report just under 12,000 claims with the EEOC. The workplace might be evolving into a more women friendly environment as women are officially over 50% of the workplace.
But on the other side of sexual harassment, over the years, sexual harassment claims at the EEOC have actually declined. The 2000 fiscal year reported close to 16,000 sexual harassment cases. The 2010 statistics report just under 12,000 claims with the EEOC. The workplace might be evolving into a more women friendly environment as women are officially over 50% of the workplace.
Nonetheless, even with the 20% decline in reported sexual harassment cases over the last decade, the single one that winds up on your door step is the one that looms the largest in your memory. Remember Brett Favre, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback who was mired in constant allegations of sexual harassment. Bill Clinton paid $850,000 to settle the Paula Jones sexual harassment case.
In 2008, eight women charged that two male supervisors at Aqua Tri Pool Company in Irvine, California pressured them for dates and sex, touched them inappropriately and offered promotions in exchange for sexual favors. Aqua Tri Pool paid $463,000 to settle a sexual harassment case. The cost doesn’t stop here; this number doesn’t include the loss of productivity during discovery and deposition stages. Even in the best case scenario, any organization charged with sexual harassment in court often foots $100,000 in legal bills just to defend the charge harassment, discrimination and disparate treatment. Organizations need to be poised to stop the problem before it starts.
· > First is the human resources department staffed to offer regular training? If not, has the organization budgeted for outside trainers to educate managers and staff to keep everyone compliant? Remember, anti harassment policies are only as strong as the people applying these policies to your workplace.
· >Maintain a culture of transparency so all staff feel encouraged to discuss the organizational culture internally, instead of filing external complaints with attorneys.
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>Take complaints seriously. If staff think that HR will only support the organization, the staff won’t report small instances, and come forward once a small brush fire of a problem explodes into a conflagration of legal issues.