OMG! Are you kidding me? How could anyone even remotely think this is okay??

Hmm, I'd have to know more but if it made somebody uncomfortable, period, then it doesn't look good.

If getting spanked isn't sexual harassment, is punching him in the face not assault?

While this behavior is incredibly offensive, it is not sexual harassment when applying the legal standard.

The company that she works for sounds like a frat house! They made them wear diapers and eat babyfood??? what is going on here? That is the most insane thing I've ever heard!

It may not have been "sexual harrasment," (as the woman was not singled out, but treated equally) but it was certainly inappropriate. She would not have been out of line to decline to participate and look for a new job. I hate "forced bonding" activities, they waste time and are guaranteed to leave someone feeling annoyed (at best).

I'm sorry... But I consider my ass a part of my "sexual organs." No, I don't have anal sex... But my boobs, vagina, stomach and my ass are all apart of my "You touch them and I will b*tch-slap you" areas...

Are we going to teach our children that getting spanked in the ass by anyone other than a parent (which I would never do) is okay?

I think not.

It's "sexual assault" to be perfectly blunt. And I would re-sue if I were her.

I was always under the impression that if you did something that made another person feel uncomfortable, that could be deemed sexual harassment. I mean, in 8th grade we learned that if you licked your lips at someone, that was sexual harassment and I immediately was like, "what if my lips are dry and they misinterpret?" anyway, i too hate forced bonding situations and getting paddled on the butt by people I'm probably not that close with is not something I'd want to experience either. Whether it's sexual harassment or not, I understand and can accept the legal explanation given by the court who overturned the ruling, the whole situation is weird and awkward.

I don't think it's ok either.
Horrible...

It might not be sexual harassment. The harassment, after all, wasn't necessarily sexual or gender based ... but it was still completely inappropriate. This woman needs to bring a hostile work environment suit instead of sexual harassment.

The headline was a little misleading to me I am sorry when you said she was spanked I fully thought it was with someones hand not with a sign. I do think the whole thing was stupid, sexual harrassment no but if your uncomfortable speak up at the time this kind of crap is taking place. I have little sympathy for people that don't stand their ground then sue.

Awful...

I think it's appalling and I wouldn't work for a place that did it but if they were doing it to everyone then I don't think it was "sexual harassment" but you would think it could be labeled as a hostile work environment or something like that.

This sounds like something Michael Scott would do at Dunder-Mifflin. Tobey would say over and over not to do it and then go to event and shake his head with his teeth showing...and then Michael would use it as an example of sexual harassment and that really this was sexual harrassment training. And Dwight would be there with a real paddle, or switches, because we all know how Dwight is.

This is insane and I can't believe anyone would even participate, let alone this be a company sponsored event.

Who doesn't enjoy a nice spanking every now and again?

She was offended at the spanking but not at having pies thrown at her or wearing a diaper?

What?

What I can't figure out, even beyond this obviously ridiculous company, is why any of the employees agreed to this in the first place? There is nothing about this scenario that any thinking adult should willing participate in. Either on the loosing side, or the winning side.

I can only imagine what the employee reviews must be like...

Given the situation as described above, I don't think this is "sexual harrassment." Nevertheless, it is inappropriate. Particularly the wearing diapers part and (certainly!) the spanking part. They stepped over the line. The people that were humiliated in this manner probably have a good case.

Frivolous suit much? I'm SURE her dignity was the reason she sued, not the money. I guess I was just raised to solve problems OUTSIDE the courtroom.

Oh you have got to be kidding me.

Are the people who set this "corporate bonding" up idiots? Yes.

But I cannot stomach a 1.5 million dollar sexual harrassment suit for it. Puhlease.

Technically speaking this isn't sexual harrassment. First of all it wasn't repeated so she didn't have a chance to object and then have it happen again. And the situation didn't have a sexual overtone to it. So the ruling is legally sound.

However this is obviously not appropriate behavior for the work place and the woman should have brought suit against the company for the multitude of valid charges against them. I hate the idea that a company can get away with this type of humiliation of it's employees simply because the claims laid against them are worded improperly. Obviously none of this should have taken place ina work environment are we now going to have to lobby to have anti - hazing laws extended to private businesses as well as college fraternities?

What the heck?? This does sound like a college fraternity...

Based on what they said about it being part of a team building exercise, I would say that awarding $1.5 million is kind of ridiculous. I mean, she could have just refused to participate.

I think overall it was just a case of really poor judgement when it came to choosing an activity for the staff. Any moron could have figured that something that involved smacking a bum might offend someone.

But I don't think it warrants a $1.5 million settlement.

Isn't that typically called hazing? Or maybe degrading. They aren't in 2nd grade on Field Day.

its wrong

I wonder if she had refused to participate if she would have been fired for "not being a team player" or singled out by her co-workers as frigid. I'm not sure if this is really a sexual harassment issue, but in general when adults speak of spanking one another there is a sexual overtone. Would the company have felt this bonding activity was appropriate if they happened to have all male employees? We have no way of knowing and therefore no real way of understanding the situation.

it sounds like there's more to this story than meets the eye
i feel as though there might be some details missing that will keep me from making or forming a decision or opinion

where the rules of the game outlined clearly before hand?
did she originally agree to take part in this game? and then decide she didn't want to?

overall i think the company's procedures are in poor taste

This woman has a horrible lawyer. I can see why she wasn't sexually harassed, but she was obviously in an insane work situation. I bet she never complained until one day she decided this would earn her some money. Learn your lesson ladies! Complain to your boss at the time, don't put up with it and think it'll go away!

Hopefully the company learned its lesson and will stop allowing this hazing (which is what it actually is).

I want to work there!

Sexual harrassment....Panda

THe whole incident sounds awful. If that's not sexual harassment, I'd re-sue them for assault.

The minute weird stuff happened, she could have opted-out--no one was forcing her to.

It seems that everyone here is getting worked up, but it seems like a good portion of this story is incomplete, Savvy.

Being struck for ANY reason is physical abuse and can be ground for having said parties fired. Suing is about seeing how much a jury would award. I would have waited until the "fun activity" was over, then gone in the NEXT DAY and done the same thing right back at those who assaulted me in the first place. Had they then complained, I would calmly say - "Well, just TRY suing ME!" It was wrong and someone should have stopped it. Yes, it sounds like "Animal House" activity. Stuuuuupid!