Sexual Harassment Journal

A New Address

2005-12-05T18:42:00.000-08:00

The Sexual Harrassment Journal has moved. The new address is www.SexualHarrassmentJournal.com

A new Campus Policy. WSU

2005-11-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

There are clearly harassment issues which have come to a head at Washington State University.

We reported that Professor Bernardo Gallegos was counseled. Now the University announces that "the WSU sexual harassment policy will place a stronger focus on victim's rights and the consequences for guilty faculty". WSU Provost Robert Bates made the campus-wide announcement recently

Two sexual harassment victims, Susan Gardner and graduate student Christina Garcia, have gone public stating they were harassed by separate professors in the College of Education. Gardner's case occurred between October 2003 and mid-2004 and involved WSU ignoring her claims and questions, she said.

Bates statement talks tough. "The goal of actions taken will be to reduce future offenses and this could include terminations of tenured professors that very rarely occur now...In some cases, we may commence termination proceedings, even for tenured faculty...In other cases, faculty will be reprimanded and required to attend training as a means to prevent future offenses"

Two key issues are obvious. Why hasn't this been the standard previously?

Second; as a policy these are easy things to announce. The more critical issue will be the backbone of the University and its Provost as they are tested when another case arises.

Maine has slightly fewer harassment complaints in 2004

2005-11-23T17:31:00.000-08:00

Maine's Human Rights Commission says the number of sexual harassment complaints filed in their 2004 (100) decreased slightly from 2003, but constituted a higher percentage overall of sex discrimination charges filed at nearly 50 percent. The Commission found reasonable grounds to believe that unlawful discrimination had occurred in 40 cases, which was 9 percent of the cases they considered

Iowa Woman complains about BASF

2005-11-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

A rural Iowa woman, Krisitn Bugler, employed by chemical giant BASF for seven months until April 2004 , says her manager spoke to, and touched her, inappropriately. She complained. She says she was passed over for raises and promotions after her complaint. She has sued for wage compensation and punative damages.

Irish Police Officer Investigated

2005-11-14T14:27:00.000-08:00

A Castelbar woman accused the garda (policeman) of sexually harassing her. This followed allegations she made about being raped and sexually abused as a child. The policeman had been assigned to investigate the case. The woman took out an injunction against the policeman. But the Garda Complaints Board dismissed her complaint. A subsequent judicial review began.

Jerry Kelly, the assistant commissioner for the western region, assigned a detective superintendent from Galway to investigate the accusations after the judicial review began.

Seattle School District of Bellevue pays 14yr old 190,000 for harassment

2005-11-14T13:51:00.000-08:00

A 7 yr old girl claimed she had been the victim of sexual harassment in the Bellevue School District. In 1998, the girl failed a hearing test because she is hearing impaired. Boys began taunting her, saying crude sexual comments, drawing nude pictures, pinning her to the school walls and suggesting other boys would have sex with her.

Her mother, Barbara Crittenden complained to the Principal, Marian Peiffer. Peiffer never reported the allegation despite state law, didn't meet with the pupils involved until lawyers were involved, made a counselor handle the case, didn't punish the pupils and only, during the court case, said "she's now aware that sexual harassment can occur amongst kids in elementary school."

The school now has a sexual harassment policy and education program. Peiffer says she's had her eyes opened. The girl, now 14, is doing well academically and socially in a Spokane private school.

South Africa Rugby Boss fends off Harassment charge

2005-11-14T13:44:00.000-08:00

Johan Prinsloo, CEO of the South African Rugby Union, was found not guilty on all charges of sexual harassment at a formal disciplinary hearing held in Cape Town by his employers, the South African Rugby Union.

An official in SA Rugby's human resources division had informed Prinsloo early in September this year that a married male contract worker in the Cape IT division had laid the charge of sexual harassment.

600,000 Sioux City, win for Harassment Duo.

2005-11-09T16:28:00.000-08:00

Aramark Uniform Services in Sioux City Iowa, has lost a 600,000 dollar harassment case after a fedeal jury decided that Anita Lopez and Maricela Villalpando were subjected to a hostile work environment and eventually lost their jobs in retaliation for reporting the actions of their supervisor. Apparently the supervisor repeatedly called their breasts "chi chi's", danced suggestively behind their backs constantly, asked them to wear bikinis on his birthday, made comments etc etc.

Both women refused his advances. Both complained about him to supervisors. Both were fired.
Both feel vindicated by the result.

English Army Spy claims Harassment

2005-11-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

English Army Corporal Leah Mates, who served with the Det, a Northern Ireland surveillance unit, said she was left feeling suicidal because of her treatment by her superiors. She claims "anti-female prejudice permeates the whole Army". She also says 43 individual incidents constituting sexual discrimination have made it impossible for her to continue in the Army and is seeking £686,000 (about a million US dollars) in lost earnings.

Her allegations about time in the Det are surrounded in secrecy and will be heard in secrecy. The rest of her evidence presents the picture of an intensely male dominated society. She claims not sleeping around had her labeled "gay" and she further alleges graphic and sexually offensive behavior by colleague and superiors alike. She is mainly complaining about issues arising in different units between 1997 and 2004. She served in Britain, Kosovo and Northern Ireland.

Red Faces for Soap and Sausage maker Dial Corp.

2005-11-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

Dial Corporation, headquartered in Arizona, recently lost a sex discrimination case brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (see below) for 3.3 million dollars. It was found that in breach of the Civil Rights Act, Dial Corp had instituted an illegal test to weed women out of the sausage making workforce.

There must have been red faces all around.

Dial Corp is hailed by the US Women's Chamber of Commerce as one of their National Corporate Members. The Chamber's mission? "... to develop leaders, accelerate economic growth and provide a community voice for women." It's soap and cleaning products are specifically aimed at women.

So what went wrong at the company?

Dial Corp Strength Test Illegal; 3.3 million awarded

2005-11-09T11:01:00.000-08:00

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has won 3.3 million dollars of compensation for 52 employees of the Dial Corporation in Fort Madison Iowa.

In Jan 2000, Dial Corp, a conglomerate that owned a meat packing company, instituted a strength test in their sausage making factory. The new test required the repeated lifting of 35 pounds to a height of 65 inches.

The EEOC argued the test discriminated against women, since only approximately 40% of female applicants passed the test. Women had previously been successfully working in the sausage area. Dial claimed it was a safety issue.

Paula Lies filed the complaint. She lifted the weight successfully but at 5'2"inches was deemed too short. 51 Other employees shared in the payout. Lies had participated in manual labor all her life. A jury ruled against Dial for discrimination. A judge ruled that the test was illegal under the Civil Rights Act. Job offers have been made by Dial as well as monetary compensation.

The EEOC lawsuit is #3:02-CV-10109

Participate

2005-11-08T23:38:00.000-08:00

Participate.net is a campaign launched by the producers who backed North Country. They have pulled togther a bunch of contributors. The theme is sexual harassment and assault. It's an interesting site. Lots of posts and links. The Participant website/blog may work but it will take perseverance. It may also take some distance from the film, North Country, that spawned it, to really get some traction as a valuable entity in its own right..

Wayne State University, Michigan, embroiled in harassment allegations

2005-11-08T22:51:00.000-08:00

A college institute for Chicano studies at Wayne State University in Michigan, appears to have been fermenting with dislike and problems according to a lawsuit filed by a former assistant Director, Katalina Berdy. Berdy says she and a group of students were harassment and discriminated against by; Dr. Jorge Chinea, now director of CBS; Dr. Jose Cuello, former director, now associate professor for CBS; and Dr. Andre Furtado, former interim director, now assistant professor for CBS. She says inappropriate touching, displaying pornographic material and talking about sex with students.

The mens response to the lawsuit was to attack her. Her lawsuit alleges secret university files on the men, calendar with girls in g strings, nervous breakdowns, inappropriate bumper stickers. The lawyer for the men say she was passed over for promotion and that one investigation found her allegations had no basis.

American Apparel triumphant

2005-11-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

American Apparel issues a press release to claim that a plaintiff had dropped her sexual harassment law suit against the company, saying "The plaintiff elected to permanently dismiss her case without receiving any compensation. Presiding Judge Der-Yeghiyan agreed, ruled that dismissing the case was proper and entered an order which provides that American Apparel pay nothing to the plaintiff. "

Fox News has a case to answer.

2005-11-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

This is an EEOC case. The complaint contends Joe Chillemi, a Fox VP who supervised the advertising and promotions departments, sexually harassed and subjected Kim Weiler and other women to a hostile work environment, routinely using obscenities and vulgarities to describe women or their body parts. Its filed in the Southern District of New York. Bill O'Reilly had some problems with a sexual harassment claim before settling out of court last year with the complainant.

Formal Harassment complaints a 50 million a year problem

2005-11-08T22:21:00.000-08:00

The EEOC has estimated that formal sexual harassment complaints to employers cost 50 million a year. That does not include productivity losses due to harassment problems. The EEOC reports a leveling off of complaints nationally at approx 15,000 per year.

A Louis Harris poll reported that 31 per cent of women and 7 per cent of men have experienced sexual harassment on the job, but 62 per cent of those harassed never reported it to their employers.

California is on the cutting edge. It's the first state to require mandatory sexual harassment prevention training for supervisors. The state legislation mandates all supervisors in companies or organizations with more than 50 employees undergo sexual harassment training by Jan1, 2006.

Minnesota case show laws can take new turns

2005-11-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

Two cases in Minnesota are evidence of a rising number of new style claims under sexual harassment laws. A straight man claiming discrimination by a lesbian boss, and a barista saying she was fired from her coffee shop job because she is transgendered. The Federal EEOC says the number of cases filed by men has risen from 9% in 1992 to 15% last year.

But the vast majority of discrimination cases in Minnesota are still of the traditional variety. The state's human rights department gets 1,200 to 1,400 complaints a year but doesn't break them down by type.

New York Dectective bugs superiors in case.

2005-11-08T22:03:00.000-08:00

Joann Karmel says her career in the elite Queens district attorney's office squad took a nosedive after she complained to bosses about crude comments. She then resorted to bugging her superiors as they made raunchy comments to her. Now she hopes this will bolster her sexual harassment case

The Cayman Islands groups tackle sexual harassment problems

2005-11-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

Groups of concerned citizens mainly young professional women have formed task forces to tackle an otherwise unseen problem in the Cayman islands

Professor accused. WSU

2005-11-08T21:35:00.000-08:00

A distinguished Education Professor at WSU has been accused of sexual harassment after drinking wine and saying he found a student attractive. The college counceled him and made him attend a workshop in Idaho. This wasn't enough for the student, Christina Garcia, who wants monetary compensation and the Professor, Bernardo Gallegos fired. She has filed a sivil lawsuit and a tort claim

Charlotte, NC female police chief in firing line after allegations

2005-11-08T21:26:00.000-08:00

A senior police officer, Major Lisa Shores, the commandeer of the North East Region has been relieved of duties due to sexual harassment allegations. Police accuse Shores of creating a hostile work environment and the reasons are sexual harassment. There will be a Civil Service Board enquiry but the shore's boss has recommended her dismissal.

UK business journal summarizes new law

2005-11-08T16:58:00.000-08:00

UNDER new United Kingdom regulations, which came into force on 1 October 2005, sexual harassment has been enshrined in legislation for the first time. This article summarizes the issues.

Valentino Las Vegas settles for 600,000 with five women.

2005-11-08T16:55:00.000-08:00

One woman complained about treatment at Valentino. But there were others. The women charged that restaurant supervisors repeatedly groped and propositioned them, and made sexual remarks from 2001 to March 2003. Most of the women were in their early 20s, and most of the alleged incidents involved one manager, EEOC attorney Dana Johnson said. Apparently they felt there was no one they could complain about this treatment.

Kenya has a problem

2005-11-08T16:47:00.000-08:00

Lack of job opportunities is the major cause of sexual harassment at work places according to research by Dr. Regina Karega, a Kenyatta University lecturer. She says most bosses regardless of low or high income jobs, have a tendency to use the need for a job as a lever especially when their employees are newly employed. There is a also claim that the Anita Hills case internationalised the issue of sexual harassment.

Ms Julie Omale, Editorial Director, African Women and Child Feature Service, claims that today many organizations in Kenya incorporate sexual harassment policies and it is no longer a hush- hush subject. But she also claims that more work needs to be done because women and girls are not safe in their schools, and in their colleges.

Polygraph leads to sexual harassment suspension

2005-11-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

Confusing facts in a case. A young woman has had her allegations of sexual harassment dismissed after polygraph tests of both complainant and alleged harasser. The complainant is now saying the polygraph test is unfair to her. She also says she is being retaliated against. Deputy Katie Allison is accusing Sgt. Kevin Ray of asking to sleep with her at work and allegedly grabbing her breast during an incident at Sam's Boat in Oak Ridge North, she said. And Constable Tim Holifield suspended Allison with pay on Oct. 25 after she made a formal complaint against Ray for sexual harassment and retaliation.

Pulaski County, Missouri, faces suit

2005-11-08T16:29:00.000-08:00

Tracey Rose claims that a sheriffs department employee subjected her to sexual harassment while she was working as an employee of the Pulaski County Prosecutors Office and alleges that she was terminated from her employment as a result of complaints she filed concerning the harassment.She has filed complaints with the EEOC. She worked for the county for nine months before termination. The county is claiming that no complaints were filed before Rose's termination.

Holbrook settles case.

2005-11-08T16:16:00.000-08:00

A sexual harassment complaint filed by planning board clerk Lenore Malm against the town five months ago was settled this week. Malm complained initially about the behavior of Planning Commission chairman Jamieson. She complained to the Town Administrator. She alledges he did nothing before he resigned the position. Jamieson was returned to the planning board as an associate. Malm decided to take action.

Skokie Middle school harassment issues

2005-11-08T16:11:00.000-08:00

Skokie authorities are deciding whether eight grade boys are harassing girls.

That will be hard to make a proper call.

Tewksbury to pay out 250,000 for seventh grade harassment case

2005-11-08T16:03:00.000-08:00

Two boys were caught engaging in oral sex several times over a couple of years. They were special needs children. One had learning disabilities and was born with problems. The aunt of this boy was never informed of the situation. It seems that the school and district decided the sex was mutual. The Aunt sued.

The jury took eight hours to decided that the sex was harassment and not consensual. The town's lawyer has now mounted an aggressive argument, despite losing, claiming the boy in question molested his sister and initiated the sex. The town is appealing.

Memphis Health Chief walks after allegations

2005-11-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

Clint Buchanan was on leave, then decide to leave his Health Department post after being investigated on sexual harassment allegations. It turns out that 12 years previously he had been the subject of prior unrelated allegations, lost his job then been reinstated by a review process. He claimed his pension in a lump sum on this occasion.

Shatner Puzzled about Sexual Harassment

2005-11-08T15:48:00.000-08:00

William Shatner says he's still puzzled about what sexual harassment is, depite participating in discussions with the Boston Legal TV show producers.

Somehow, that just doesn't surprise us.

Indian State wants to modify Sex Harassment Bill

2005-11-08T11:34:00.000-08:00

The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has recommended the 2005 Bill, Protection Against Sexual Harassment of Women be amended. The commission suggested that specific tribunals be set up for different sectors such as industry, media and service.

Their reason was although every company had an in-house complaint committee, these committees tended to be biased in favor of senior management personnel, and the victims seldom received justice.

Mt Vernon City Boss accused.

2005-11-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

The Mt Vernon City Manager is accused of asking a receptionist to do private dances for him for money. The receptionist also claims Roy Payne, the manager, would touch her around her neck and shoulders, would put his arm around her and hang on her, and would get very close to her face when he would talk to her. She complained to a supervisor. He waved off the claim and allegedly did nothing. A doctor put her on stress leave. Then she was fired. She filed two complaints with the EEOC, the first before she was fired. The other after she received the letter of dismissal.

North Country spotlights sexual harassment issue.

2005-11-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

Charlize Theron stars.

North Country, the film premieres.

Now, media by media and paper by paper, the film and issue are getting an airing.
Theron works in a mine. The male work force and their union are exceedingly hostile to the women miners. In fact, the women are subjected to non-stop abuse that becomes more graphic, crude and physical with each passing day. The story follows Josey as she mounts a heroic, one-woman crusade to do something about the situation.

The film, a Hollywood entertainment, is forcing a discussion on sexual harassment all over the world. Useful.

Barbados Laws "not trivial"

2005-11-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

The Labor Minister Rawle Eastmond says new sexual harassment laws in Barbados won't be about trivial issues. What does he mean?

Jail Officer allege 7 million dollars of harassment.

2005-11-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

Someone at a Westchester County Jail in 1999, wrote a series of lewd allegations via letters and drawings over a period of time, about seven women officers. The women brought the items to a supervisors attention and asked for help. He said he'd do something. But he conducted no investigation, instead made copies and distributed them to others, according to a report by the Corrections Department's Special Investigations Unit, which is referenced in court papers. The 2001 case was dismissed at summary judgment stage then reinstated by the New York Court of Appeals.

75,000 win against Amsouth Bank

2005-11-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

The womans suit, said her manager at the bank repeatedly made unwanted sexual comments and advances toward her. It claimed she repeatedly asked him to stop.The suit said the manager constantly stood close to her desk, pulled on the crotch of his pants, squatted next to her desk and hugged and squeezed her.It said he also made comments about his sexual activities and "made her feel extremely uncomfortable." The Bank fire the man. Then she claims retaliated against her. A federal court jury awarded the money.

He said, they said; Nigerian Table Tennis Harassment allegations.

2005-11-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Girl players say the coach harassed them. Table Tennis Association says the players are just retaliating because he disciplined them for breaking camp. We may never know.

Tentative move for India to have sexual harassment law.

2005-11-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

The National Commission for Women has worked up legislation after five years of discussion. Tentatively called The Protection Against Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplaces-2005, the proposed law would cover women in all professions, including casualaborersrs and prisoners even consumers. The onus of providing an atmosphere free of sexual harassment for women would be on the employer, according to the final proposal agreed upon by various womens groups. Dismissal is the most severe punishment proposed for offenders.

This appears to be a first step only move.

Sheraton settles for 172,000 dollars

2005-11-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

The Sheraton Sand Key resort settled with the EEOC for 172 thousand dollars. The litigation, filed in August 2004, alleged that male employees were subjected to unlawful sexual harassment by one their male supervisors at the Clearwater hotel. Both employees worked in the hotel's kitchen and were subjected to repeated sexually offensive groping by their supervisor, the EEOC said in a release. The SHeraton will also have to put up anti-discrimination posters.

Fort Myers farm operations feels EEOC wraith.

2005-11-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

The federal government is suing an Immokalee farm operation, claiming it sexually harassed female employees and retaliated against those who complained.The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit in federal court in Fort Myers on Sept. 29 against Gargiulo Inc. on behalf of five named women and others.

The suit claims that since at least November 2003 the women have been subjected to "unwelcome physical and verbal conduct of a sexual nature" by their supervisor, Sony Constan. The company had nothing to say.

Wall Street Veteran in hot water.

2005-10-28T17:17:00.000-07:00

The former chairman of Salomon Brothers, John Gutfreund, has been sued for sexual harassment by an employee at the boutique investment bank he has worked at since the early part of this decade. Gutfreund, 76, is a senior advisor at C.E. Unterberg, Towbin, where a female former stock broker's assistant has accused him of routinely making inappropriate remarks about her appearance and her sex life.

James Satloff, chief executive and president of C.E. Unterberg, Towbin, said on Friday he has not yet seen the lawsuit, but added that the charges were without merit. "An inappropriate comment may have been made, but nothing that rises to the level of harassment," he said.

Interesting. How can Satloff make that judgement without knowing details of the case?

Barbados to stamp out harassment

2005-10-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

Honourable Rawle Eastmond, Barbados Minister of Labour and Social Security outlines a proactive course his government is now taking to stamp out sexual harassment in his country.

Roanoke Sheriff

2005-10-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

The Roanoke sheriff has been accused of harassment His lawyer says only one complaint actually worked for the sheriff, that he denies maintaining a hostile environment and although he may have put his arm around one woman, it was only in reciprocation he absolutely denies asking her to sit on his lap. Or give him a kiss.

Nurses harassed by patients. A new study

2005-10-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

The university of Missouri Columbia has started talking about a new study on sexual harassment of nurses by fellow workers, and the even more difficult problem, patients under their care. Debbie Dougherty, MU assistant communication professor, conducted the survey and she highlighted that patient harassment is prevalent but that little training takes place.

The study will be published in the Spring 2006 edition of Management Communication Quarterly

Non profits need policy's too.

2005-10-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

The careers section of the Chronicle of Philanthropy has a useful summary of sexual harassment issues, particularly in the on profit arena.

Japanese CEO gets jail for Sexual Harassment.

2005-10-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

The President of the Hawks Town Company got a three year suspended sentence for sexual harassing the women in his office including unwanted advance and embracing them, despite their wishes. He pleaded guilty.

Oregon Universities have new rules

2005-10-25T23:41:00.000-07:00

The State Higher Board of Education has approved new guidelines regarding sexual harassment and consensual relationships between students and professors.The new policy, voted in on Sept. 9, requires campuses within the Oregon University System to set clear definitions of sexual harassment and to establish campus educational programs on the subject. The policy also mandates that resources be available to those who feel they’ve been victimized, as well as requiring an assessment of the “campus climate” every four years to determine if students and staff are satisfied with the policies.

It also governs relationships between campus employees and students with what OUS Director of Communications Diane Saunders called a “power differential.” Take, for example, a graduate student dating a faculty member who supervisors his or her research. Under the new regulation, the staff member must report this relationship to a supervisor, and either the student or faculty member would be reassigned so they would not be working together. The changes must be in place by September 2006.

Washington release harassment names

2005-10-25T23:38:00.000-07:00

A three-judge appeals panel ordered that a school district release the names of 34 teachers accused of sexual harassment, while allowing the names of three teachers to remain private. Reporters wanted the records for a 2003 series detailing athletic coaches working in Washington schools after being rebuked or dismissed for sexual harassment, according to a local paper.

Villiage Voice slapped with suit.

2005-10-25T23:33:00.000-07:00

The Smoking Gun has the news: former Village Voice editor Richard Goldstein, 61, has filed suit agains the paper, alleging that he was sexually harassed in the workplace based on his openly gay lifestyle, and that he was unjustly fired after 38 years for that reason last year. Goldstein claims that Voice editor Donald Forst created a hostile work environment with "crude" and "lewd" comments about his lifestyle. He also alleges age discrimination at the Voice. He is seeking in $1 million-plus in damages.

Sexual Harassment Prevalent in National Guard and Reserves

2005-10-25T23:31:00.000-07:00

Almost two-thirds of women, and over one-quarter of men, in the National Guard and Reserves report experiencing some kind of sexual harassment or assault. Nearly half of all incidents occurred while on-duty. These numbers come from a Veteran Affairs Department (VA) survey, conducted in 2002-2003, and released last week by Representative Lane Evans (D-IL).

Saudi Police arrest over harassment

2005-10-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

Riyadh police have arrested four men who sexually harassed Saudi girls in the capital in an incident filmed and publicized on the Internet, the state SPA news agency reported on SaturdayResidents said that the footage, also circulated via Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, showed one of four teenagers trying to touch one of two girls, while one made comments suggestive of sexual intercourse. The girls were covered from head to toe in line with strict norms in ultraconservative Saudi Arabia.

New European harassment laws.

2005-10-25T23:28:00.000-07:00

New sexual harassment legislation, aimed at tackling discrimination in the workplace, came into force over the weekend. The European Equal Treatment Directive has extended the definition of sex discrimination to cover any act that leads to intimidation or degradation. Under the new law, an employee who persists in making remarks about a woman's appearance could be accused of sexual harassment.

Michigan dismisses woman's case

2005-10-25T23:25:00.000-07:00

A woman was fired. she complained that she wasa victim of sexual harassment. Deetz was the Manager complained about. The court said "Deetz's e-mails and jokes were clownish, puerile, unprofessional, and in some instances, mildly sexual, but they cannot reasonably be described as outrageous, atrocious or utterly intolerable,'' the Supreme Court stated in its opinion. ``We doubt they would be remarkable to anyone familiar with contemporary popular culture

No lap dancing?

2005-10-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

No lap dancincg because of new UK sexual harassment laws say lawyer. James Davies, a partner at City lawyers Lewis Silkin, said that the new rules 'would give women opportunity to have another bash at third-party harassment, such as the female employee who is asked to go to a strip club in the course of employment.'

"Experts" are 'worried' that trips to the late-night 'oggle' bars could unleash multi-million pound claims from female staff as the new laws, which come into force tomorrow, allow for a 'highly subjective' view of what counts as sexual harassment.

Depends which experts and which subjectivity of course.

Malaysia doesn't have a problem apparently

2005-10-25T23:18:00.000-07:00

Sexual harassment cases are not serious in the public sector, Public Service Department Deputy Director (Psychology Services) Dr Mohd Azhar Yahya said Friday. He said the issuance of guidelines on sexual harassment for civil servants did not mean the problem was serious in the civil service.

60,000 scotish payout to scientist.

2005-10-25T23:16:00.000-07:00

A Scottish scientist who was plagued with "filthy talk" by her superior has been awarded almost £36,000 after winning her sex harassment claim. Dr Aileen Lothian, 40, of Port Seaton, East Lothian, said she was left physically ill after putting up with almost five years of harassment. She told a tribunal how Dr Stephen Newlands, the sole director of Edinburgh Pharmaceutical Processes, graphically described sex acts and details of his sexual obsessions with orgies and "swinging". There was a lot more evidence along these lines.

A studnet complains about Yale

2005-10-25T23:11:00.000-07:00

A former student of the Yale School of Drama has filed suit against the University, alleging she was expelled for complaining of repeated sexual harassment by faculty and students, including an alleged incident in which Dean James Bundy kissed her against her wishes.The plaintiff, Sally Greenhouse, who was 49 years old while a drama student and had already worked in professional theater, alleges that after reporting three instances of sexual harassment she was "berated" and warned that she would be dismissed from the drama school, which she ultimately was on May 15, 2003. Greenhouse filed her complaint with the United States District Court Sept. 12.

EEOC takes up case for male

2005-10-25T23:06:00.000-07:00

The EEOC recently filed a federal sexual harassment lawsuit on behalf of a male employee of Des Planes, Ill.-based Prospect Airport Services against a female worker there.The male worker complained the woman harassed him for almost a year between the summer/fall of 2002 until the summer of 2003, Albarran said. He said the harassment included a sexually explicit photo and more than one sexually explicit letter the woman gave to the man. Also she repeatedly asked the man for dates in sexually explicit terms, and when the man asked her to stop she wouldn't, Albarran said.

The man alleges that he told managers at the company at least four times about the conduct but that they did nothing to stop the woman's advances, and when they did speak to her about it, she wasn't disciplined for her conduct, according to the EEOC.

Since 1997 when a high of sexual harassment complaints of 15,889 were filed with the EEOC (between 1992 and 2004), the number of sexual harassment complaints has dropped. The number of cases filed nationally in 2004 was 13,136. However, workers still are complaining about sexual harassment, officials say.

"It still continues to be a problem," Santos Albarran, a spokesman for the Los Angeles District office of the EEOC, said. "You would think with all of the information out there and all the proactive approaches a lot of companies have had people would be more aware or (would) be more sensitive."

NY Police Chief accussed

2005-10-25T22:57:00.000-07:00

A woman who had once worked as secretary for the Amsterdam Mayor's office and later worked at the city's Police Department, has filed a sexual harassment claim against Police Chief Thomas Brownell

University handles harassment unusually.

2005-10-25T22:56:00.000-07:00

Madison - University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor John Wiley announced Wednesday a review of the university's policies on sexual harassment and consensual relationships, and ordered top administrators to undergo sexual harassment training.
Advertisement

The announcement came less than a week after the findings of an independent investigation of the university's handling of Paul Barrows were released.

Wiley asked Barrows to resign as vice chancellor of student affairs after a graduate student complained that he used her for sex. Wiley allowed Barrows to then take a seven-month sick leave during which he continued to be paid his nearly $200,000-a-year salary. The chancellor told him he could return to the university if he didn't find a new job.

The investigation found that Wiley worked to keep allegations against Barrows secret, that he had a hard time "pulling the trigger on Barrows" because of their friendship, and that the dean of students left because she felt Wiley had mishandled the situation.

EEOC goes after shops who try to destory evidence

2005-10-25T22:52:00.000-07:00

The lawsuit concerns alleged actions at a Littleton store in which female employees were sexually harassed by the store manager. In some cases, the lawsuit claims, the harassment was so bad that some customers complained to store management after witnesses reported it.

The EEOC alleged that two female employees complained to the district manager of the Loaf 'N Jug stores and told him that surveillance cameras captured the alleged harassment. The suit alleges that the company destroyed the surveillance tapes and then fired the two female employees.

The lawsuit was filed, the EEOC said, after attempts to voluntarily resolve the matter failed. The suit seeks monetary damages as well as legal relief that would prohibit further discrimination by the employer.

5 mill for San Antonio Utility worker

2005-10-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

A former utility meter reader said she had to stand up for what she believed in when she sued CPS Energy and a former supervisor for sexual harassment. Yolanda Olivarri said she knew what was happening to her was wrong and that she had to fight to make it right.

A jury ruled in Olivarri's favor, awarding her nearly $5 million in damages. Olivarri said she endured 2½ years of sexual harassment by her former supervisor, Alex Villafranco, including unwelcome comments and touching. She said the company did little to help her when she complained.

I bet they regret that now.

Sexual harassment problems on campuses.

2005-10-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

Sexual assaults and sexual harassment have created a legal tinderbox for colleges and universities, resulting in an "amazing increase in litigation," a risk-management expert told people gathered here this week at the national conference of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.

Evidence suggests that sexual harassment has overtaken "slips and falls" to become the No. 1 source of liability claims against higher-education institutions, said Brett A. Sokolow, president and founder of the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management, a consulting firm. The sharp increase in sexual-harassment cases, which ranked fifth just a decade ago, marks "an incredible sea change," said Mr. Sokolow, who is also a lawyer.

Raleigh Cinema harassment wins 765 thousand dollars.

2005-10-25T22:44:00.000-07:00

Carmike Cinemas says it will pay $765,000 to settle a lawsuit involving a manager who sexually harassed ten teenage employees at a Raleigh Cinema.

Madison decides to retrain everyone

2005-10-25T22:41:00.000-07:00

If you work for the city of Madison, you're about to get retrained, no matter what your job is.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz signed off on an updated sexual harassment policy Monday. The mayor says the city's old policy hadn't been updated since the early 90's.
document.

The changes come at a time when Bob D'Angelo, president of the Overture Center is retiring amidst allegations he sexually harassed a receptionist. Cieslewicz says the policy updates were being made long before this incident, but says it points out why it needed to be done. Exactly.

East St Louis Pays out 100 grand

2005-10-25T22:39:00.000-07:00

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. A newspaper reports that the city of East St. Louis has authorized a 100-thousand-dollar payment to a city police detective to settle her sexual harassment allegations against three senior police officers.According to documents obtained by the Belleville News-Democrat, the City Council voted earlier this month to pay the money to 31-year-old Detective Mattalue Ellis and to her attorney to settle Ellis' claims. The city's insurance carrier will pay an additional amount that couldn't be confirmed.

EEOC acts against Tuscon Company

2005-10-25T22:38:00.000-07:00

TUCSON, Ariz. A Phoenix paving company with offices in Tucson and Bullhead City is being sued by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for allegedly allowing a male supervisor and a co-worker to sexually harass male subordinates.The E-E-O-C says Sunland Inc. failed to stop the harassment despite employee complaints. The commission says the foreman and another worker groped male co-workers and tried to kiss them,

EEOC acts against Mandalay Bay Caasino

2005-10-25T22:36:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit accusing Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip of subjecting a female employee to physical and verbal sexual harassment and retaliating against her co-workers for opposing the conduct.

The sexual harassment alleged against Mandalay Bay consisted of unwanted touching, intimidation, and leering, according to the EEOC

EEOC moves against

2005-10-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against Simran Investments Inc., which owns several "Only $1" and "Nothing Over $1" stores, alleging the sexual harassment and retaliation against an employee at one of its Dallas stores.

The employee Morales, alleges that the manager sexually harassed her, performed lewd acts, kicked her and when she complained, turned violent.

Morales also has filed a police report and the Dallas County District Attorney's Office has brought sexual assault charges against Samnani. A criminal case is pending, the EEOC said

One has lead to more in Madison

2005-10-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

More allegations of sexual harassment are leveled against Bob D'Angelo, the out-going president of Madison's Overture Center.In addition, on Thursday afternoon Mayor Cieslewicz announced an investigation into the Overture Center's work atmosphere.

The mayor has picked his Chief of Staff Janet Piraino and Monona Terrace Director Jim Hess to head up the investigation.
document.

D'Angelo announced his retirement on Tuesday which will be effective in November, then on Wednesday a sexual harassment complaint filed against him by Monica Everson, an Overture Center receptionist, was made public. On Thursday two more women came forward with similar allegations of harassment.

On Monday the mayor will release newly revised city policies regarding sexual harassment and discrimination, which is the first major revision since 2000

LA has a problem.

2005-10-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

1 in 6 city employees has alleged that theyy are the victim of secual harassment.

A report released Thursday by the Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women shows that harassment claims have dropped by more than 50 percent since 1992, the last time the city conducted such a study.

But Paula Petrotta, the commission's executive director, said the problem remains serious.

In 71 percent of the cases, the alleged behavior involved teasing, jokes, remarks, insults, questions or sexually charged language. Nearly 30 percent reported suggestive gestures, ogling, whistling or other sounds, and four women reported attempted rape or threats of violence.
Petrotta said she asked Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to appoint an ombudsman to look into the problem.

Wisconsin Cultural Czar acused.

2005-10-25T22:24:00.000-07:00

A receptionist has accused her former boss of groping and fondly her and then being told to keep quite by the human resource people. The boss retired abruptly. He was then praised by the civic leaders.

Receptionist Monica Everson is off the job, and away from the gleaming new Overture Center, in large part, because of what she alleges in a formal city complaint, was sexual harassment at the hands of Overture Center Director Bob D'Angelo

Methodists have problems, too

2005-10-25T22:20:00.001-07:00

A methodists commission ran a survey. about harassment. The types of harassment ranged from leers to unsolicited touching, and in a few cases, rape, according to UMNS.

Exactly 67.3 percent of respondents said they experienced such harassment at least one time. About 51.3 percent of students, 50.6 percent of church employees and 38.9 percent of laity said they were harassed. A higher ratio of clergy – 72 percent – said they experienced sexual harassment themselves.

In most cases, the type of harassment reported was unsolicited sexual comments, most incidents occurred at local churches (60 percent of the “perpetrators of the harassment” were lay members; 35 percent were clergy), and the most common response to the harassment was to ignore it.

NY Montessori School owner accused.

2005-10-25T22:20:00.000-07:00

The former BusinessCoordinator of the West Hills Montessori, Paulina DeMarco, filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accusing owner Kevin Gersh of committing gender and pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation against women at the Company.

The accusations this time enviable strippers, pornography, lewd situations, inappropriate comments, sexual advances, conquests and comments: and that the human resources administrator of the school, the owners niece, dismissed DeMarco's complaints. DeMarco has Park Avenue lawyer

CompuLaw Accused

2005-10-25T22:11:00.000-07:00

Elleesa Wilson - the Company's former Controller, office manager and head of human resources - alleges that CompuLaw Founder and CEO Kalmick created a sexually hostile work environment. She details a series of lurid comments and activities. She claims she was constructively terminated from her employment.

Roanoke Sheriff Says nothing happened

2005-10-25T22:06:00.000-07:00

The sheriff says hearing the accusations is upsetting. "When I saw it I could have bit nails in two," he said. "I was extremely upset."

McMillan's lawyer says his accusers never complained to the city and no one ever complained to him. "I can look you in the eye and say none of them were harassed," McMillan proclaimed. "None of them have ever come to me with any, none of them had any problems of that nature when they were at my office."

McMillan says what really happened will come out when the case goes to court

Roanoke Sheriff accused.

2005-10-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

Four women have now come forward alleging sexual harassment by Roanoke City Sheriff George McMillan. McMillan says he believes the allegations are politically motivated. Some of the women say McMillan inappropriately touched them on the breast or buttocks, made sexual come-ons and offered money in return for sex.

The Baltimore Sun editorialises against military academy harassment situation

2005-10-25T21:58:00.000-07:00

Baltimore Sun editorial. Apologists for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point say the schools and their respective branches of the armed forces are doing all they can to stop sexual harassment in the ranks. Try again.

Sure, mids, plebes and others now have to take classes to learn what are illegal acts and what’s just plain wrong behavior toward their colleagues. But according to the latest in a decades-long string of reports, it still hasn’t taken hold.

More than half the women surveyed (and 11 percent of men surveyed) at the two schools and at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., said they had been sexually harassed at school last year, according to a report released late last month by the Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies.

Thirty years after the first women entered military academies the climate hasn’t improved as much as it should have.

Sexual offenders over the past decade have not been “consistently or effectively held accountable through the criminal justice system,” according to the report. It recounts offensive jokes and tales of sexual exploits denigrating women and consistent, unwanted propositions for dates and sex and offers to trade academic favors (good grades) for sex.

The number of female cadets and mids – and especially officers – may not have reached the “tipping point” that would naturally force a change in attitude; we agree with the task force’s recommendations that the academies seek out more women to study and to teach at the institutions. But in the meantime, 17 percent of officers in training are women. It’s just plain foolish to treat them as unworthy of respect now, and then demand they command the respect of their companies later.

Media sues Administration over harassment case

2005-10-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville is suing the state over sexual harassment documents it says the Bredesen administration is withholding.

The governors office got embroiled in the way it handled a sexual harassment case. Gov Bredesen has said he is reviewing the way the state handles sexual harassment investigations. He's ordered a stop to the practice of shredding documents in some cases involving employees who are not part of the civil service system

San Diego court tosses 7 mill damages.

2005-10-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

Two teenage girls worked at a local cinema. They claimed the manager at the Ultra Star Theatre in Poway "wanted to scare them and that they were scared to death," The girls said they were so frightened and humiliated they sued Ultra Star for sexual harassment, and they won -- big.
The jury awarded the girls nearly $7 million in damages, sending a message that sexual harassment will not be tolerated. The trial judge, John Meyer, upheld the verdict but tossed out the award. The girls are outraged, as is their lawyer. The defendant agrees with the judge.

Orange County Sheriff accused

2005-10-25T21:42:00.000-07:00

High profile Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona's has been accused of"relentless pursuit and constant sexual harassment" in a letter sent to various people in the county.

South Africa law changes.

2005-10-25T21:34:00.000-07:00

South Africa introduced new sexaul harassment legislation recently. "The Employment Equity Act's new Code of Good Practice on the Handling of Sexual Harassment, as well as recent case law, will require employers to examine the way they deal with sexual harassment complaints.Employers' procedures will have to be contained in their sexual harassment policies and might have to make some changes to cater for the code's requirements." says SABC news. They're clearly surprised the law has had an impact.

Nevada Tourism head sued

2005-09-14T22:41:00.000-07:00

The head of Nevada's overseas tourism initiatives has been named in a sexual harassment lawsuit by a former employee who was fired in late June. The suit alleges that the employee felt that the boss was trying to set up romantic situations in the workplace, on the job and overseas. She claims to have rejected his advances and was then fired. The employee worked the suit through her employers human resource and then the Nevada Equal Rights Commission. The boss says he'll defend the case and the claimant is just disgruntled. There are nine damages claims, 50 grand asked for compensatory and unspecified punitive and exemplary damages.

New Zealand politician shoots his foot

2005-09-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

Denying sexual harassment claims a New Zealand politician manages to upset a TV interviewer with totally inappropriate comments, opening up the whole issue again and making his political position a whole lot worse.

Iowa old people being watched

2005-09-14T22:33:00.000-07:00

Sexual harassment and abuse at Iowa residential facilities is being examined nationally by the U.S. General Accounting Office.

Apparently some resident have been behaving inappropriately badly. It'll be tough to decide issues when many of the resident will have impaired facilities because of age related problems

Report says sexual harassment is bad for Business

2005-09-14T22:24:00.000-07:00

Sexual harassment is not only bad for victims, it's bad for business. Eliminating sexual harassment not only makes good moral and legal sense, it also makes good business sense, particularly for teams. These are the two major conclusions of a recent study titled "Beyond the Individual Victim: Linking sexual harassment, team processes and team performance." conducted by Jana L. Raver, an assistant Professor of organizational behavior at the School of Business of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and by Michele J. Gelfand, associate Professor of industrial and organizational psychology at the University of Maryland.

The study was conducted at a major food chain involving 27 teams and 230 people.

In all, 31 percent of the women reported at least one sexually harassing behavior in the past two years. Of that number, 26 percent experienced sexist hostility, 17 percent sexual hostility and 10 percent unwanted sexual attention. Five percent reported sexual coercion. "The higher the conflict, the worse the financial performances of the team," said Raver, who drew her conclusions from the company's financial records of goals each unit had to meet.

The study appeared in the Academy of Management Journal.

It's always been obvious that sexual harassment disturbs good order in the workplace and upsets the smooth running of business and organization. Now, this report quantifies the disturbance.

The report targeting sexual hostility, such as "telling offensive jokes, making offensive remarks or gestures, is linked to greater conflict, diminished team work and inferior financial performance." as the biggest financial problem.

Sexual harassment claim an issue in NZ election

2005-09-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

Claims of sexual harassment prove useful for opposition candidates and parties at election time.

Oregon Campus affairs have new rules.

2005-09-14T22:15:00.000-07:00

The Oregon State Board of Higher Education has approved guidelines on faculty-student relationships following a scandal involving a professor and his student at Western Oregon University. The new policy stops short of banning all sexual relationships between professors and students. Instead, it requires faculty members to disclose any romantic relationships with students they teach, employ or supervise so alternate arrangements can be made.

Western Oregon student Rosemary Garcia sued professor Gary Welander for sexual harassment. The state paid Garcia $65,000 to settle the lawsuit, and the university punished Welander by placing him on unpaid leave for spring term. Welander, 59, is due to resume teaching this month, but he does not have any classroom assignments.

Campus relationships can be hard to manage. It will be interesting to see if disclosures help. Or if in fact, anyone does disclosed their relationship.

India's public service defines harassment.

2005-09-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

Indian civil servants have been reminded that it is an offence to ogle or hug colleagues without their consent Â even to stick out your tongue at them. Also prohibited are lewd hand signs, dirty SMS messages, asking for sexual bribes and even cracking off color jokes. The head of the Indian Public Service has issued a comprehensive range of first ever guidelines about what constitutes sexual harassment in the civil service Indian has 1 million public servants.

English Secretary loses soccer case.

2005-09-14T21:58:00.000-07:00

A Football Association secretary, Miss Faria Alam, 39, had claimed she was the victim of constructive dismissal from the FA following high profile affairs with England soccer manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, 56, and the organization's former chief executive, Mark Palios. She filed a claim. Unfortunately, evidence existed that contradicted her claims.

Witnesses disputed her claims, her emails to Eriksson were quite friendly and her personal circumstances were at odds with her claims. After the decision her PR spokesman said she was happy to get her side of the story out despite losing.

Clearly, the British tribunal decided that on the face of it, Ms Alam was a willing participant in the affairs and general sexual activities. Therefore she lost.

Former Isreali Politican and Soldier escapes further punishment

2005-09-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

Maj.- Gen. (res.) Yitzhak Mordechai was Isreal's Defense Minister in 2001. Then he was convicted of two counts of sexual harassment by a civilian court. Now a military committee decided he wouldn't be further punished by demotion of rank because although his future in the Isreali Defense Force had been permanently halted, Mordechai bhad rought honor to Israel throughout his career and thus earned his rank permanently.

Czechs find words hurt.

2005-09-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

Words, not deeds, are the most common components of sexual harassment in the Czech Republic's workplaces, a government report has found. The report says a half to two thirds of all workers have been subjected to jokes, banter, innuendo, comments and personally intrusive speech. 60% of women and 40% of men report being offended by dirty jokes in the workplace.

Women in poor economic areas or with high unemployment felt especially pressured by male bosses. Overall the report found 25% of workers had been subjected to physical sexual harassment. And the report notes that while words were the most usual harassment; "Sexual harassment often has a cumulative character, growing step by step from less expressive to more severe forms," the study said. But because sexually harassing speech is so widespread, the study said many workers who feel victimized try a more common and perhaps practical solution; hunting for another job.

The number of workers under sexual harassment pressure seems very high. Perhaps Czech workplaces are not that culturally sensitive to difference.

9th Federal Court changes Harassment Standard

2005-09-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeal says that simply because men and women are treated badly together doesn't mean that sexual harassment hasn't occurred. The court cited case from two other courts of appeal. The court also said a man could use bullying in a female workplace to create sexual harassment.

The case is Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. National Education Association, Alaska, 04-35029

2 New books on Sexual harassment

2005-09-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

Catharine A. MacKinnon, Women's Lives, Men's Laws (Belknap Press 2005)

Theresa M. Beiner, Gender Myths v. Working Realities: Using Social Science To Reformulate Sexual Harassment Law (New York Univ. Press 2004)

(click post title for review at Find Law)

Small city police face allegations in Maryland

2005-09-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

Not a big police force and only nine women on the force but at least one has been harassed, she, the complainant, says. The Frederick force has just completed an inquiry into internet porn with the Chief restricting internet access and taking other action. Processes to investigate the sexual harassment allegation are underway.

Sexual harassment by teachers in Japan increases.

2005-09-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Japanese Government's Department of Education released a report showing 166 teachers had face disciplinary action over sexual harassment of students in 2004. 95 were fired. The number of cases was up 16 on 2003 and 136 on 1995. A spokesman for the Ministry is quoted as saying "the reality is probably far worse than what the report shows."

Really? How do they know? And if they do know something, why isn't the Ministry doing something about it?

Settlement costs LA County 300 thousand

2005-09-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

Diane Lee, the Chief Information Officer for public works in LA County complained in March 2004 about the behavior of Thomas Remillard, a deputy director in the department. The County hired an outside compliance firm to investigate. They found 14 other women who also alleged sexual harassment. Under the settlement, Lee will receive $265,000 and up to $20,000 to pay for psychological counseling in the wake of the harassment. The county will also pay her attorney $15,675. County Lawyers recommended the settlement (LATimes)

Mixed Chicago decision; payout $35,000

2005-08-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

A federal jury handed down a surprise verdict on Monday in a sexual harassment case involving three former workers at an Addison food company.

Sal Ciccone, who began his own Italian food company in suburban Addison, was accused of yelling profanities at the women, asking them if they wanted to have sex, and slapping them on the buttocks.

The jury found that the three former employees did face sexual harassment, but said they were not discriminated against based on their sex. They received a total of $35,000."I raised my voice, but I've never swear," Ciccone said. "I never swear to nobody --I just raised my voice, that's part of the business."

There is a chance that Ciccone may have to pay part or all of the plaintiffs' attorney fees (NBC5.com)

It would seem that the case was proven but not by much, according to the jury. Clearly there was a moral victory which was not matched by a clearcut financial victory. The plaintiffs has asked for millions of dollars in both compensatory and punitive damages

China Outlaws Sexual Harassment

2005-08-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

China outlawed sexual harassment on Sunday and pledged to improve women's poor representation in politics to help make good on a national policy of equality between the sexes.

In a recent survey only 21 percent of women said they had never faced sexual harassment, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The new policies were part of an amendment to the law on the protection of women's rights, passed by the standing committee of China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC).
"It is the first time we have written rules against sexual harassment into law, because it is a concern of society," Xin Chunying, deputy director of the standing committee's legal work commission, told a news conference. (Reuters)

Look at it another way. 79% of women say they have been harassed at some stage. That's a very high number. No wonder the Government decided to "do something". It will be interesting to follow the progress of the first claim. (If you can!)