In the February 13 edition of Eye on KELOLAND, Davenport Evans employment lawyer Jean Bender appeared with a group of business women discussing harassment and the on-going #MeToo Movement.
The following prefaces the full discussion moderated by KELOLAND’s Sammi Bjelland, with panelists Jean Bender, Abby Bischoff, and Brienne Maner. Watch the Eye on KELOLAND segment here via www.keloland.com.
How to Handle Workplace Harassment on Eye of KELOLAND
The topic of harassment in the workplace is something a lot of organizations are starting to tackle, however more needs to be done. One topic we discussed is what harassment looks like for women at work.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t like how somebody sent a comment in an email that wasn’t in a sexual tone, or anything like that. It can be awkward to have those points of conflict and tension,” Abby Bischoff said.
“I feel like if we would just say things when we see them, call them like they are, we would gain a lot more respect. Instead we take it back, we internalize it, we might talk to someone about it. It turns into more gossip and hearsay,” Brienne Maner said.
“But at the end of the day, we all have the responsibility, you know? The law puts the responsibility on each individual woman. Nothing can be done if she doesn’t speak up,” Jean Bender said.
Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is one of the State’s largest law firms. The firm’s attorneys provide business and litigation counsel to individuals and corporate clients in a variety of practice areas. For more information about Davenport Evans, visit www.dehs.com.