Senate passes measure requiring sexual harassment training for senators, aides

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico




By ELANA SCHOR 11/09/2017 07:09 PM EST

The Senate unanimously approved legislation late Thursday that institutes mandatory sexual harassment training for senators and aides — a potentially meaningful shift amid calls for overhauling Capitol Hill's system for handling harassment complaints.

Bipartisan talks on a plan to require sexual harassment training, as first reported by POLITICO, began as current and former female lawmakers and aides publicly shared their stories of sexual harassment on the job in Congress. Awareness of workplace harassment on the Hill is spiking as sexual assault allegations shake the Hollywood establishment and Republicans grappled Thursday with a report that Alabama Senate nominee Roy Moore initiated a sexual encounter with a minor while in his 30s.

The legislation approved Thursday, co-sponsored by both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), would require harassment training that also covers discrimination based on race, religion, disability and other criteria.

“Sexual and workplace harassment is a widespread problem that affects too many women and men in too many places, professions, and industries," Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), a lead sponsor of the legislation, said in a statement. "Everyone deserves to feel safe and comfortable at work, and the passage of this official Senate policy is an important measure to ensure that’s the case in these halls.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/09/congress-sexual-harassment-training-senators-aides-244762

[Scarsdale]

1. tRump is an expert on that, he

could hold classes. Oh, you mean PREVENTING it?

[asiliveandbreathe]

2. They had to legislate mandatory sexual harassment training..good god..

I worked for a major telco - retired several years ago..sexual harassment training was incorporated into employee training..and reviewed every year..there was zero tolerance for any sexual harassment.. wtf.....this should be standard everywhere....to think in congress they have to legislate...

Now can we get gun control legislated..

[keithbvadu2]

4. "to think in congress they have to legislate... " ... They legislate in their favor.

"to think in congress they have to legislate... " ... They legislate in their favor.

How Congress plays by different rules on sexual harassment and misconduct

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-congress-plays-by-different-rules-on-sexual-harassment-and-misconduct/2017/10/26/2b9a8412-b80c-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html?utm_term=.c2fad8a6a2d8&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

If Whitehouse had chosen to pursue a complaint against the senator, she would have
discovered a process unlike other parts of the federal government or much of the private
sector. Her complaint likely would have been thrown out because interns have limited
harassment protections under the unique employment law that Congress applies to itself.

Congress makes its own rules about the handling of sexual complaints against members and
staff, passing laws exempting it from practices that apply to other employers.

[asiliveandbreathe]

7. Thank you keithbvadu2...I have been enlightened...I feel like an alien in my own

country these days....and they go to congress to do the most good for the most people...and yet, someone, somewhere in govt. thought it was a good idea interns should have limited harassment protections...asiliveandbreathe.....

tks again...

[ancianita]

3. Imagine our own leaders require harassment and race discrimination training. Who ARE these people??

[negoldie]

6. Unbelievable

that in 2017 grown men and women need training in how to treat each other. We've elected a bunch of god damn heathens. What the fuck is wrong with these people that they have to be told how to act toward the opposite sex. God damn ignorant fuckers.

[BigmanPigman]

5. They had to do this at the school I had been teaching in

for over 15 years when I reported a male custodian had harassed at least 3 women that I knew of within 3 months. They wouldn't report it but I asked them if they would mind if I did as long as I didn't name them and it was OK with them. I went to the school site's union rep (I was the alternate) and the district had a mandatory meeting for the entire staff including the harassed. It never happened again as far as I know.

All work places no matter how big or small, public or private should have mandatory meetings like this regularly as a form of public safety and health.