I wrote a blog post for Lemondrop about sexual harassment. Here was my thesis.
I believe the best way to remedy harassment effectively in the workforce is to quit. Companies are only motivated to change their behaviors when faced with financial implications, so I suggest that you turn in your resignation and then inform your employer about what happened. This doesn’t sound like a great solution, but I know firsthand that the cost of replacing you — and your awesome institutional knowledge
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The best part of an instant, world-wide network is also the worst part. People can take things however they want, and one whacked out or completely misled blogger can have you advocating drowning puppies while wearing crocs and a banana clip in your hair. (Don’t laugh, it’s the worst thing I could think of right now.)
Hopefully people will actually read the whole thing, and not just react to the comments, or to the interpretation whatever blogger they’ve read gives.
You rock pretty hard, and there is a good point there that can’t be ignored. Well, I guess unless you’re an Internet Lemming…
Laurie,
I could not agree with you more and I am happy to see your rebuttal. I tried to navigate through the muck of comments posted on the original post and gave up – too many people who missed the point that you make here: only I can control my circumstances!
I have always felt that if an organization is willing to bring in the folks that would do something shady, they are not judging character well. (This is often a confession of those hiring – not knowing how to tell who someone really is.)
Good for you! I preach regularly – control what you can control…
mandycooley
Thanks, Kelly. I think it’s scary to drown puppies. I don’t own crocs, but I admire people who do — it’s pretty gutsy to wear those shoes, yo.
Mandy, the good news is that some people are thinking and reading with a critical eye. I can’t ask for much more than an honest discussion, yo…
Like Mandy, I couldn’t finish wading through the silly comments left on that site — people completely missing the point, whether intentionally or not, and apparently having no room for nuance in their stances at all.
I still agree with you.
Laurie, I am in your corner…companies only care about “protecting’ their own butts…from an experienced butt coverer…
I applaud you writing on the edge…and individuals should not stay in toxic environments whether it be harrassment or any other type of bad situation…
M
@Ask Thank you. We live in a nuance-free world, don’t we?
@Mark You *are* an experienced butt coverer. I love that.
People were bound to freak out and misinterpret what you said. You still kick ass!
@Minion Thanks. You know, I am struck by two things.
1. I used to think it was the communicator’s fault when people misinterpreted a point of view. Like, “Wow, that dude failed at articulating his point.” Now I am not so sure about that.
2. I have a thinner skin than I suspected. Boo! I need to work on developing a thicker skin!
I’m glad you are here & so supportive, Shauna. Thank you.
The article was spot on and you are my hero. The comments section is perfect – for Scrubby to poop on, that is.
Thank you for being the kind of HR blogger who speaks the truth about HR reality and doesn’t just rattle off laws and corporate handbook entries and pretend like it’s real advice.
You rock!!!
I’m new to your blog and I appreciate your personal responsiblity POV. It’s very refreshing!
I started to make my way through the comments but stopped at page 1. People can be mean. Forget them, you ROCK Laurie.
@Jenn I think Triumph should be the next president of SHRM. He is so amazing.
@Breanne Thank you! xo
@Shelley Thanks so much for being new and leaving a comment. Awesome!
@Lisa Thank you, too. Some of the stories in the comments were sad. People under great duress at work. Shoot, I understand that hostile work environments aren’t always a work issue — they are a people issue. Some people just need a good kick in the head.
I was shocked at those comments. I knew there would be SOME, but I didn’t expect so many to miss the point entirely. It’s a shame, because that’s really, really important advice that people needed to hear.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make ‘em drink, y’know?
I think that the comments were a sort of closed loop of missing the point. Once one commenter went off the deep end everyone starts responding to their point instead of the matter at hand.
I think it was a great point and I’m not even in hr
@Kerry I’d like to drown some of those horses. Sheesh. The good news is that I’m learning from this experience, thinking about how I can communicate for a broader audience, etc. It was a good learning experience.
@Lexy Thank you. How are you?
I’m gainfully employed and got a nice raise last year so I certainly have no right to complain. Not that that’s ever stopped me
Man, if only I had read this 3 years ago! I was fired after reporting (many,many times) SH. I was broke, unable to afford an attorney (because I was FIRED-go figure), and had a big strike against my resume. It still haunts me to this day. If I had read this 3 years prior I would have sucked it up long enough to save money for an attorney, find another job and quit that blasted place!! The people posting negative comments about you have no idea what they are talking about. Keep up the good work. Maybe you can save someone from getting into the situation I ended up in.
Angela
@angela thanks & so sorry to hear about your horrible experience. ugh.