It is the time of the year, that my office requires all staff to take an online class or or two. Usually ethics, every second or third year workplace behavior. This year's issue is sexual harassment. This has drawn the typical jokes, like we don't need training on that, we are pretty good at it without training, and others are offering tips on how to breeze through the 30 minute online curriculum in under 10 minutes. I want to tell them to quit joking and take it seriously. It is a very serious issue, I have told few people about this but I was sexually harassed and it is a miserable experience that leaves you feeling powerless.
My harassment came from a licensed clinical social worker, who was the sole expert witness in a case I was court appointed in. He was the social worker at the nursing home where my client lived. The first time I met him was in his office at the nursing home, his fly was unzipped and he was noticeable aroused. On the day of the trial he followed me into the men's room in the Court House and stood next to me doing things you shouldn't do in public. Later in the hallway outside the Court Room he made remarks about it. His acts were unwelcome and made me feel very uncomfortable.
I reported the behavior to my boss who laughed and said to stay away from him. Difficult to do when he is the sole expert witness in the case. I thought about reporting to the judge, or his employer, but couldn't get the words to come out. He made me feel debased and powerless. I am usually very strong, especially when I am angry, but this was different, I felt powerless against a predator.
No one should ever be made to feel the way he made me feel. Here I am 10 -12 years later and it is still hard for me to talk about.
A year or so later the nursing home closed and was torn down. I mentioned to a friend that I hoped the staff social worker was inside when it was torn down. She said, oh him. Everyone knew he had problems.
Sexual harassment is very serious issue. It hurts people, it is not fun, or funny. Don't stand for it, stand up for those who are preyed upon.
my previous job - the boss was like this: "girls can't do anything", "girls should dress this way", "girls should not be more intelligent than men"...on and on and on. and the bastard did it with no one else present too.
ReplyDeleteI up and quit one friday night with no advance notice. he was fired a few months later and hasn't worked since. and that was 13 years ago.
PS - sweet bear, beware of that devil!
Interesting post.......and one that opens up a can of worms...
ReplyDeleteThe most shocking piece of this story is the laugh from your boss...
This underlines that now sexual harrassment is often seen as only a male to female thing.
The gay element to the story is interesting too
It has elements of that jodi Foster movie ..where people automatically thought she was asking for it......
All harrassment should be reported...all
What a very unnerving story - not to mention usual. It's a tragic fact that sexual harassment is very often not taken seriously, most especially if it happens to a man.
ReplyDeleteyes it does hurt. very much so.
ReplyDeleteit is worse I think for men in a way for men who are harassed often aren't taken seriously.