SavvySugar

Have You Been Sexually Harassed by a Co-Worker?

SavvySugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:15:30 -0700

Sexual harassment in the office is usually a little more subtle these days compared to the blatant skirt-chasing on Mad Men, but there's no question it still exists. Whether it's in the form of inappropriate comments over instant messenger, email, text message, or in person, Forbes points out that a flirtatious "omg, u look gr8" can land someone in a ton of trouble and possibly cost them a job. Has a colleague ever crossed the boundaries of appropriate office behavior?

Photo courtesy of AMC

First Arrest (Ever!) For Sexual Harassment in China

SavvySugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:09:36 -0700

Many US employers have been requiring their male and female workers to attend sexual harassment seminars to help prevent nasty lawsuits surrounding the issue. China's companies aren't responsible for harassment among staff, but the country has taken a huge step in the right direction to address the crime of sexual harassment.

The country passed laws banning harassment and domestic violence three years ago, and the first arrest has just been made under these laws. An office manager swayed a new female employee into his office under the premise of discussing work matters, and once behind closed doors he admitted that he wanted to be her boyfriend.

The manager reacted to being turned down by grabbing the woman's neck and kissing her. A scream led co-workers to call the police, and the man has been sentenced to five months in jail.

Source

Spanking Isn't Sexual Harassment?

SavvySugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:24:35 -0800

In a sexual harassment case last summer, a woman was awarded $1.5 million because she was spanked in front of co-workers. The California Court of Appeal recently overturned the decision because the spanking was part of a larger "camaraderie-building" exercise that included other male and female staff at the home security company Alarm One Inc.

According to CBS News, "Employees were paddled with rival companies' yard signs as part of a contest that pitted sales teams against one another. The winners poked fun at the losers, throwing pies at them, feeding them baby food, making them wear diapers and swatting their buttocks."

What do you think of the appeal court's decision?

Source

Is Work Bullying Worse Than Sexual Harassment?

SavvySugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:31:09 -0700

A new comprehensive Canadian study, based on 110 studies over 21 years, has found that work bullying might be more harmful than sexual harassment. Bullied workers are more likely to quit or be less satisfied with their jobs than sexually harassed employees. According to the authors, work bully can mean "persistently criticizing employees' work; yelling; repeatedly reminding employees of mistakes; spreading gossip or lies; ignoring or excluding workers; and insulting employees' habits, attitudes or private life."

Source

How Not to Behave: Career Questions From Mad Men

SavvySugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:00:40 -0700

January Jones Wanted to Be a Storm Chaser - What About You?	Have You Felt Discriminated Against at Work?	Do You Attend Conventions For Work?
Did You Intentionally Choose Your Career Path?	Have You Ever Had a Drink While on the Clock?	Do You Know Which Co-Workers Smoke?

How Not to Behave: Career Lessons Learned From Mad Men

SavvySugar — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:00:00 -0700

When it comes to workplace drama, Mad Men has it all: high-stakes accounts, employees fighting for promotions and power, interoffice affairs, drinking on the job, and professional talent clouded by shenanigans, secrecy, and even sexual harassment. Whenever I watch the show I am both captivated by the saucy situations and characters and thankful for how far we have come as professionals since the 1960s.

The plotlines that evolve within the powerful Sterling Cooper agency and its smart but unruly ad men and women are dramatized for our viewing pleasure, but it is true that office culture has changed substantially in the last 40 years. If it hadn't, we wouldn't be so shocked and awed when we see the way the characters talk to one another. There there are plenty of lessons we can learn from the (mis)behavior on the show. Find out what they are before you start bringing back early morning scotch breaks and get sent to HR.

View Slideshow ›

Weekend Dose of Savvy

SavvySugar — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:00:35 -0700

Sexual harassment in the office is usually a little more subtle these days compared to the blatant skirt-chasing on Mad Men, but there's no question it still exists. Have you been harassed by a co-worker?
Find out if your bases are truly covered when you discover the tricky ways some hiring managers evaluate applicants.
We can all use helpful reminders about how to establish and achieve a better financial life.
A new study has led researchers to conclude that women are responsible for their own glass ceiling.
While moving often makes the most sense, the cost of uprooting yourself and your spouse or family can be off-putting. Follow my tips for relocating on the cheap.
Planning a trip? Take an Obama-inspired vacation.

Photo courtesy of AMC

CFO Allegedly Spreads Love and STDs

SavvySugar — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:02:33 -0800

Between employees getting spanked, a company losing $7.2 billion due to fraud, and watching porn at work, we've sure had a lot to gab about lately. It makes me wonder if more companies have scandalous behavior than not. The latest? Wellpoint Inc. CFO David C. Colby was fired for misconduct last spring and we're just finding out what that means.

They're calling him the "corporate Casanova" but I'm inclined to say that he's just kinda creepy. There are a series of lawsuits against the ex-executive from women around the country that are furious with his shenanigans involving sex, lies and insensitivity. The allegations range from one woman saying Colby got her pregnant and text messaged her ABORT!! to others saying he gave them STDs, and twelve women claiming he proposed to them.

Wellpoint got rid of their superstar CFO because he violated their code of conduct, but interestingly none of the allegations against him are for sexual harassment. His womanizing was targeted at women who worked at the company but mostly women outside it, and the accusers suing Colby are doing so because they were "ill-used" by him.

Do you think it makes sense that an executive's behavior outside the office could get him fired?

Source