It is disheartening to see the phenomenon of hate embraced by so many people who don't understand the origin, meaning, or impact. To grasp the significance, you must first understand what it means. It is an intense, deep-seated emotional response of strong dislike,...
MAJOR BEN’S ARTICLES
Below is a list of articles by Major Ben Brooks that have appeared in the Times Herald.
Daddy, What Time Will You Be Home Tonight?
Every family member asks this question daily. I wonder how many leaders realize the gravity of that question for their officers. When they get up in the morning, they have quiet time with their family before embarking on, hopefully, another routine day at the office....
Leaks
A leak is an unintended hole, crack, or fault that allows a substance- such as a liquid, gas, or light- to escape or enter a container or system. As a child growing up in the rural South, I watched my father build his own home. At that time, he installed a tin roof....
Masks and Officer Safety
As a career law enforcement officer, I am perplexed by the recent debate over officers wearing masks. Everything I learned about law enforcement involved honesty, integrity, and, most of all, transparency. The federal government has a duty to present law enforcement...
Bias Understood
As an international speaker, trainer, and consultant, I have been intrigued by the lack of understanding of various terms, with people using them without knowing their meanings or applications. At one of my National Speakers Association conferences, a presenter shared...
Fear and Bias as a Law Enforcement Blind Spot
Fear – an unpleasant feeling triggered by the perception of danger real or imagined. Origin - past experiences (0-6) History - nomadic days (fight or flight) Survival function - to protect us, triggered by a significant event, i.e., hot, cold, wet, trauma Source: New...
DEI America’s Biggest Blind Spot
In 2016, I took a course with AARP in defensive driving. Having been driving since I was sixteen, I was curious about what the instructor could teach me. I signed up for the course to get a discount on my car insurance. As the instructor went through his orientation,...
DEI, The Latest Bogeyman
DEI is the latest catchphrase that is the catalyst for the present state of the divided states of America. We raise and salute the flag as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. As patriotic as that sounds, it is far from our day-to-day...
The Reality of Community Policing
Many police executives approached community-oriented policing with a great deal of skepticism because they didn’t realize the critical role that the community plays in their success. Many felt they could do it on their own. Dr. Lee Brown, a former police commissioner...
A Practical Approach to Addressing School Shootings
After Columbine, over four hundred school shootings were reported in America. Every citizen should be outraged that our society has allowed that to happen. Schools should be the safest place in our community for our students, staff, and teachers. It is challenging to...
Sexual Harassment: Easing Your Conscience or Addressing the Bottom Line
By Major Ben Brooks
I received an e-mail from a small organization that wanted to engage my services to provide sexual harassment awareness training to their small staff. The human resources director was very serious about undertaking the initiative since the organization had not done any training in that area. She was targeting everyone in the organization, including the CEO.
I sensed that the CEO would be a reluctant participant when the HR director indicated that he may be a part of the organization’s problem. She was quite surprised when I informed her that my sessions are three to six hours long. She was hoping to have the whole process take no more than one hour. It is interesting that so many organizations have that same mindset.
With the constant bombardment of information about sexual harassment cases that are published in the news, one would think organizations would be more vigilant. How sad that a topic that is so important and affects so many people would be given a short shrift instead of a comprehensive addressing of the issue. An hour’s presentation simply would satisfy the organization’s conscience that the issue was addressed. Instead, a fully implemented program will insulate the organization from serious liability. If the employees are the most valued assets of the company, let them know it by ensuring that each one is given comprehensive awareness education that will protect them and the organization from serious liability.
From the earliest cases of unwanted, unwelcome behavior to the recent ruling about retaliation, sexual harassment awareness has evolved over the decades, and it is time for organizations to become proactive and put more emphasis on organizational education and less on organizational liability. Here are a few simple steps to insulate your organization from serious liability:
- Develop a sexual harassment policy.
- Publish the policy to all employees.
- Educate all employees and supervisors.
- If an allegation surfaces, if possible have an outside entity conduct the investigation to ensure the highest degree of confidence and impartiality in the process.
- Take immediate action when an allegation is lodged.
- Insure that there is no retaliation
- Document, document, document.
Comprehensive educational awareness of sexual harassment is a matter of dollars and sense. Not only will it save the company or organization big dollars, but it makes a lot of sense.