Law changing regarding sexual harassment training

If you are an employer, a professional practice owner, business owner – or even a “mom and pop shop” you need to be aware of a significant change in the laws regarding sexual harassment training of your employees.

Although for years I’ve been saying “it only takes two people” to have a complaint of harassment, some employers have failed to train their staff because up until January of 2020 the law demanded training only if you had 50 or more employees.

As of January 1, 2020 any company with 5 or more employees must offer a full two hour training to prevent harassment, discrimination, bullying, or abuse – sexual or otherwise.

The #Metoo movement has had a powerful impact on this issue.  People active in this movement are determined to protect us all from sexual misconduct.  They now have the law on their side.

SO, I strongly urge you to make sure all your employees are trained.  There are several options available to you.  If at all possible, have a face-to-face training.  That’s the best because when I do them they are highly interactive with lots of group discussion and role-playing.  People really come away understanding the issues – and not wanting to hurt others – they start to behave more courteously and professionally.

Your second alternative is to go to Illumeo and purchase on-demand courses for your employees.  I’ve created a few different training programs.  One is one hour – which will be obsolete by the beginning of 2020 and the other is a two hour training for staff.  That’s the one you will want.  There is also a two hour training for supervisors. Managers and owners. 

Please don’t wait for a complaint to lead to ill-feelings and a lawsuit.  Train your people as soon as possible – and every other year thereafter.

Contact me for more information:  ArLyne@DiamondAssociates.net and for on-line training, contact Joh Kogan:  Jkogan01@Illumeo.com.

Who was Eddie Willers?

Who was Eddie Willers?

At an event recently I was reminded of the characters in Ayn Rand’s book “Atlas Shrugged” and in particular was reminded of the people I met and counseled who had what I termed “the Eddie Willers complex.”

For those of you who know  - Eddie was no slouch.  He was Dagny’s right-hand man.  Eddie was highly successful  Accomplished.  Competent.

Shmoop describes him as “every man” – but I disagree.  He was exceptional.  Just not as exceptional as the giants who were invited to Galt’s Gulch.'

Why the complex?   Because back in the days when we were all students at NBI there were so many people I met who identified themselves as failures because they were not #1 in their field or occupation.   #1 or nothing.

What does that really mean – if you are not Stephen Curry you are a no good basketball player?  If you are not Barbara Streisand you are a lousy singer?  If you aren’t Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire you can’t dance?

Of course not. 

In the business world we need people with skills at all levels, from the creative genius to the data-entry person.  Not everyone becomes CEO – but what about the Senior Vice-President of Finance or Marketing?  Don’t they count?  Aren’t they successful?  Aren’t they accomplished?

Of course they are.

Yet, even today there are so many people I meet and work with that think they are “nobody” unless they are #1.

Sad.

What do you think?

Plea Bargaining

I just learned that many people I know do not understand what actually happens in a plea bargain…so here is my short non-legal explanation.

There is an accusation.  On a scale of 1-10 (1 being mild – 10 very severe) it is given a 9 and the penalties are severe.  If the person goes to trial the odds are he/she will wind up having to pay all those penalties – including perhaps prison time.

On the other hand, the prosecution can’t guarantee that they will win at trial.

So the parties make a deal.  The person accused pleads guilty to a lesser crime – maybe a 6 or 7 instead of a 9 – and a trial is avoided by both parties.

Plea bargain never means pleading to something bigger than you have been accused of having done.

So, to those of you who are saying your friend’s loss of his license (even if temporarily) is “no big deal” – you’ve missed the point.  He pled DOWN to that – not up.