Something occurred yesterday at work that I was going to write about but I didnt get the chance. So I thought I would put my thoughts down on it now.
Yesterday, towards the middle of the day, my head boss, took all the men in our area aside and had a meeting. At this meeting his feelings about sexual harrassment were given to us and we were told the policy regarding this that he has. Basically that he wont tolerate it and it isnt something that will occurr again. Sexual harrassment can be unwanted advances of a sexual nature, touching or contact in an unwanted manner in our case, comments or language that is unprofessional and immature in nature. I believe however, that the meeting we had was unwarrented and not needed.
All people regardless of sexual orientation or nature (ie male or female) have the basic human right to work without being made uncomfortable by other workers. Jokes and stories and language can make someone feel harrassed. This is something that I wont deny, there is a time and place for everything and sometimes your place of employment ISNT the place for that joke about the priest and the hooker. Not everyone likes or wants to hear about your adventures the night before and not everyone wants to know how long your tool is.
However, when the issue of sexual harrassment is brought to bear against someone or someones for the sole reason of placing one person over another, then serious issues arrise. This is what I BELIEVE has occurred. I believe that one person was not offened by what was said and done but rather used an opportunity to get someone in trouble. When a person comes and says that they feel they have been made to be uncomfortable and sexually harrassed in the work place, the complaint can not be taken lightly. People can be fired for simply not putting stop to something like this. Our boss, whether he believed it or not, HAD to act. If he hadnt then things would have gotten bad for him. The person who the complaint was issued against, has in the past made jokes of an off coloured nature but for at least 4 years, had no complaints against him.
I believe that there is something malicious going on. I believe that someone is using the issue of sexual harrassment to get back at one or two other employees who are not liked by the first employee. I beleive that the men who had complaints made against them, were used as stepping stones by an employee who wants a promotion to the office. An this bothers me more then anything.
At my place of work now, there is an air of SERIOUS distrust. Of serious anger and there is a lot of shoulder looking. You never know who is going to be behind you when you talk to someone else, so you watch for it. You dont know who you can talk to anymore and its very strange. I personally think that something will come of this in the months to come and it wont be good.