Glass houses

The whole CBI thing set me right off. In case you missed it, staff members of the Confederation of British Industry chose to share their complaints about sexual conduct with the Guardian newspaper rather than with the organization itself, causing the organization to question why they may have done this and to acknowledge it may point to something being wrong with the culture. Which clearly there is.

But here’s the thing - people in glass houses (and organizations) would do well not to throw stones. Everyone and their aunt has come out to criticize CBI and even declare their impending demise, but the reality is that this very thing is wrong with virtually every work culture in the world. 80% of sexual harassment targets don’t report it to HR. Why not? Because when it is reported, the person who is punished is very rarely the senior, expensive man who did the harassing and virtually always the more junior woman who was on the end of it and who is much easier, and cheaper, to say goodbye to. Most women are told to back down because there isn’t enough evidence to act upon it and many decide their only option is to leave the organization, either because their relationships there are damaged beyond repair or because they can no longer bear to work in a place that tolerates this stuff and continues to support the harrasser.

So most women do nothing. A few do report it, realize this was worse than futile and advise all other women in the same situation not to. I know of some courageous and principled heroines who have taken legal action at their own significant expense and with very big personal consequences. And then some, like the CBI staff, just go to the newspapers because they know it’s the only way to cut through the crap.

If you’re a leader of an organization, instead of throwing stones here you would do better to be grateful you haven’t hit the front page yet and have a look at your HR process for dealing with sexual harassment. I’m willing to bet your house is made of fragile glass too.