Herman Cain is running for President of the United States. Historically not a politician he must now run the gauntlet of public scrutiny in a life that was generally lived in the halls of corporate America.
OMG!
So first there was the harassment and the reference to a “settlement” –confidential of course so there are no names and faces attached. This would drive a curious media mad. So they kept digging. They didn’t need to go far.
Another surfaces…and then another. The hand up the skirt and the request for well…lets keep this legal. Like out of a movie script (a lousy one at that) he says “Well you want the job don’t you!”
In the end…Four in all.
So while he was in the work place these events were apparently not a problem. Employers, Directors either knew of it or not and failed to do anything — The Joe PaternoSyndrome.
This sounds extreme and may not apply to me, Matt! But do you want to bet on it!
A candid and full assessment of what goes on in your organization is more critical than ever as people will feel empowered by these situations and come forward.
What about the iconic employee, boss, supervisor that cannot be approached without getting the ax! Enter Joe Paterno a Pennsylvania God at Penn State. He had influence throught the corridors of the legislature in Harrisburgh. And maybe in other sectors as well as the police look for an old police report that seems to have disppeared.
The point, eventually they get it and as an employer this is an easy call. If you are an employer — kiss him/her goodbye. You will do better without him or her. Really. In the ever changing world everyone is expendible — unless you married to your boss then that is a different situation all together.
But in reality sometimes employers get a bit too caught up in the potential legal ranglings and forget the goals and objectives of their buseinesse and begin to “live the litigation,” this is a syndrome I typically recognize and discusss with my clients. Life moves on. The litigation takes time and you have to continue with your life both personally and from a busienss perspective.
For the employee?
Well it is the most difficult issue you will face and you will endure these situations for years to the detriment of your health, marriage and financial success.
Check in to review the laws that protect you. You might find a rewarding exit strategy.