Harassment, HR Law Training & Investigations, Sexual Harassment

Court rules calling women “sensitive flowers” shows gender bias

By R. Makana Risser Chai

A woman in New York City brought a claim of gender discrimination. She alleged that her supervisor insulted and excluded her, concealed information from her, and denied her requests for…

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment Costs Honolulu Employers $200,000+

By R. Makana Risser Chai

Sexual harassment, including hugging of employees, cost a Honolulu restaurant a quarter of a million dollars in 2023. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that Mexico Restaurant, a Kalihi-based…

Harassment, Sexual Harassment

Be Fair to Men Accused of Sexual Harassment, Court Rules

By R. Makana Risser Chai

In the #MeToo environment, good employers are committed to giving fair hearings to victims of sexual harassment. But a court decision makes clear that fairness works both ways—the accused must…

Harassment, HR Law Training & Investigations, Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment is Prevented with Tools

By R. Makana Risser Chai

When it comes to preventing sexual harassment, bullying, and disrespect, people need more than policies and platitudes. Training alone isn’t enough. “Tools trump training” according to Marcus Buckingham, author of…

Harassment, Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment and Aloha

By R. Makana Risser Chai

Sexual harassment training takes skill to be effective. The other day I facilitated a Train-the-Trainer for experienced sexual harassment trainers. There were people from Hawaii, the continental US, Guam, American…

Harassment, Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment HR, Attorney, and Bystander Fail

By R. Makana Risser Chai

Sexual harassment sometimes is very obvious, yet HR, attorneys, and bystanders fail to take appropriate action. In a case decided in 2019, two women who worked at a law firm…

Harassment, Sexual Harassment

Anti-harassment training in the era of #MeToo

By R. Makana Risser Chai

Since #MeToo exploded in October 2017, many employers have been thinking about updating their anti-harassment training. If you haven't made changes to your anti-harassment program lately, now is the time.…

Sexual Harassment

Are we rushing to judgment?

By R. Makana Risser Chai

The incident last weekend at the Lincoln Memorial had many people making judgments based on a single image or a few brief seconds of video. Once they decided how they…

Sexual Harassment

How Boards Can Protect Themselves from #MeToo Surprises

By R. Makana Risser Chai

Boards of Directors are often surprised to hear of sexual harassment complaints against their companies. The decisions to settle, or not, are not ones they typically get involved in. Yet…