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<DIV><STRONG>Hi all:</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>I agree with Ralph that someone with an issue of sexual harassment
might wish to consider what they would like to get out of a
discussion.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>If they are hoping to deal with a specific incident or
pattern of incidents, hopefully the organization needs to have procedures in
place for dealing with this. For example, in Ontario, Canada, I am aware that
one of the first things that an employee experiencing harassment is asked to do
is to request in front of one other person that this person stop their
behaviour. It's a prerequisite to everything else and if the behaviour then goes
away, nothing else needs to happen. But the harasser must not be able to say
that they were unaware of the problem or to say that they didn't know their
attentions were unwelcome. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>In more than one of the organizations I know about,
that is just the first step in an escalation of procedures well defined and laid
out by the corporate lawyers.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>However, if what they are trying to achieve is some
discussion that might lead to the formulating of corporate procedures/support
for the harassee or other discussions of values in the workplace, etc., then
Open Space is a wonderful place to begin the discussion.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>Just some thoughts</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>Esther</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>Hi,<BR><BR>A number of times in OS, participants have come to me and
asked for help<BR>wording a sensitive or complex topic. Longtime amateur
wordsmith that I am,<BR>I usually try to offer simple technical
assistance. When the topic on their<BR>mind is very sensitive, I suggest
they find language that is clear but not<BR>incendiary and that when they get
into the session to make very clear what<BR>they have in mind.<BR><BR>Another
way to help such a person might be to suggest the topic be in
the<BR>strongest, clearest possible language to which they have no trouble
signing<BR>their name.<BR><BR>With regard to sexual harassment specifically,
in the US (and I imagine<BR>elsewhere) there are laws that cover such offenses
that aim to protect<BR>workers from abuse. An organization's lawyers
ought to know about any<BR>alleged incidents so they may be investigated
fully. They should also be<BR>informed about patterns of harassment,
where specifics may be hard to pin<BR>down. Open conversations about who
is doing what to whom may lead to<BR>mention of names, allegations against
individuals that cannot be supported<BR>by facts, embarrassment for those who
have been harassed, and other painful<BR>possibilities. Encouraging
simple, open discussion on any topic by any<BR>persons at any time may not be
the best way to deal with this. Let us all<BR>be very
careful.<BR><BR>This is not to say that such topics are inappropriate for open
space. I<BR>think they are appropriate. But it's a question of how
to be helpful if a<BR>participant seeks our guidance about such a
posting.<BR><BR>Ralph
Copleman<BR><BR>*<BR>*<BR>==========================================================<BR>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR>------------------------------<BR>To
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<DIV></DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Palatino Linotype" color=#400080 size=4 FAMILY="SERIF"
PTSIZE="14"><B>Esther Ewing<BR>The Change Alliance<BR>330 East 38th St., Suite
53K<BR>New York, NY 10016, USA<BR>Telephone: 212-661-6024, Fax:
866-296-6712<BR><BR>Assisting organizations to build capability<BR><A
href="http://www.changealliance.com/">www.changealliance.com</A></FONT><FONT
lang=0 face="Palatino Linotype" color=#400080 size=4 FAMILY="SERIF"
PTSIZE="14"><U><BR></U>Certified Panoramic Feedback Distributor (360
instrument)<BR><A
href="http://www.panoramicfeedback.com/">www.panoramicfeedback.com</A></FONT><FONT
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<BR>Certified Kolbe Distributor: <A
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