Are we losing our minds or are we living a Star Trek episode?

[lfeisee]

 "I like your shoes."  Does that sound like sexual harassment to you?  More importantly, would you tell a class full of 12 year olds that the aforementioned phrase can be considered by some as sexual harassment?  Please tell me I am missing something!  Either I'm nuts or everyone else is.  Everyone else can't be nuts, so it must be me.  Here's the

Comments

[rantsofpassion]

First, what a fantastic post.

Second; I'm not sure exactly what the law states but I do know that about 15 years ago all men in my company had to attend a two day instructional class to educate them on sexual harassment and how to avoid making the communication mistakes that can be perceived as SH. About 6 years ago that changed and ALL managers and above, male and female, had to attend. It was my first time attending the semi-annual required instruction and that is very close to the main idea of what we were taught. Absolutely anything in the work place that is not work related in a conversation can make an employee uncomfortable and be construeded as SH. As managers we are to concern ourselves with the work, and not get personal.

Of course in the last 2 years they have begun the 360 reviews and low and behold, employees complain that we managers treat them like robots, not even bothering to act as if we care if they have lives outside the work place. What does Senior Management do? They tell us to be nicer to the employees and try to be more personal. WTF???

This isn't a Star Trek episode, its a nightmare.

From my POV this twisted law is only a small part of the bigger problem. The real culprit here is PC. The great big down fall began with all things PC. But I won't get into that rant here; I could write a novel on the problems with PC and how it will destroy society.

[lfeisee]

Hi Carole! Wow! Your experience at work is exactly how I would imagine it working.. We have similar training every year. But while I found the training to be a bit ridiculous (as do others), I always assumed that adults can be more discerning and usually the training is directed at those in positions of power.. the way the counselor presented it to me is that it really doesn't have anything to do with power. Simply making someone "uncomfortable" can be viewed as sexual harassment. "uncomfortable"? that's a bit much isn't it? there are lot of things that make me uncomfortable.. but that CAN'T be the standard. It's like saying someone is infringing on my rights if I am offended by their actions.. what happened to freedom? BTW, I would love to hear your rant on all things PC. maybe you'll post it one day soon..

Lila