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Sexual Harassment: Enough Is Enough (Blog Post)

October 18, 2017

I recently gave a speech where I called for organizations to adopt a “zero tolerance policy” for practices and behaviors that marginalize women—all the inertia that pushes men forward into leadership while pushing women out of the way—and challenged men to step up and be counted as champions of gender equality.

When I returned to my seat, I was approached by a man from the audience—let’s call him “Joe”—who wanted to share his story. Joe told me that early on in his career, one of his top performers—let’s call him “Ted”—was being accused of sexual harassment. As a new executive, Joe felt that the performance of his business unit was more important than holding his “star” Ted accountable for his actions. Joe protected Ted and in his words, literally “paid the woman to go away and stay quiet.” Years later, another man who had been Joe’s protégé faced similar allegations. This time when asked by his company’s chair of the board what they should do, Joe replied, “He had to go.”

I share this story because we should not fool ourselves into believing that sexual harassment is a phenomenon restricted to Hollywood or the entertainment industry. And we should not be naïve enough to accept that the biases women face in workplaces are all unconscious. Let’s call it what it really is—sexism. It is conscious, it is real, it is pervasive, and it affects women from all walks of life and in all industries. Just take look at the #MeToo stories about sexual harassment or sexual assault trending currently on social media.

The truth is that the leadership of organizations worldwide is predominantly male. And that means that men continue to hold power over women’s careers as well as their physical and psychological safety in the workplace. Research shows that sexual harassment remains a widespread problem, and at least one-quarter of women have reported some sort of harassment on the job.

From a business perspective alone—not putting aside the dangerous and long-lasting impact sexual harassment in the workplace may have on a woman—this inappropriate behavior costs employers in many ways: increased absenteeism, persistent job turnover, and low productivity and engagement. Individually, women may become depressed, experience anxiety, or quit all together in the hope of avoiding continued harassment.

Weinstein and his company’s all-male board of directors are reminders that legislation and company policies are necessary but not sufficient to ensure workplaces where women are free from bias, stereotypes, discrimination and yes, harassment. For some, highlighting women’s representation on corporate boards and in the C-suite is seen as a fight that is not relevant to the daily lives or careers of many working women.

But here’s the thing: we need women in leadership because power must be shared. We need to create workplace cultures where inclusion becomes the corporate equivalent of the “checks and balances” that are the core of democratic institutions. Because in a truly diverse and inclusive culture, it is harder to “circle the wagons” and protect and promote only those who look, sound, and think like you. And it’s easier to say “no” when you find yourself in an uncomfortable position, knowing that you will be believed, and that your career will not suffer the consequences we unfortunately associate with coming forward.

So, the fight for gender equality in leadership is a fight for all women, including the brave women who boldly came forward to share their truth about sexual harassment as well as the women who remain silent.

But we cannot do it alone. We need men to make the right decisions, not when caught in a torrential media downpour, or years later when the experiences of their daughters causes them to reconsider their ways. We need men to do their part, every day. Because gender equality is not only the smart thing to do for business, it’s the right thing to do for everyone.

To learn more about sexual harassment:

To learn more about how Catalyst supports men:

The views expressed herein are solely those of the guest blogger and do not necessarily reflect those of Catalyst. Catalyst does not endorse any political candidates. The post and the comments are presented only for the purpose of informing the public.

Deborah Gillis

Former President & Chief Executive Officer

Growing up in a tiny village in rural Nova Scotia, far from any center of power, Deborah Gillis was inspired by a group of women who successfully advocated for gender equality rights to be included in the Canadian constitution. As a result, her high school debate topic was, “Be it resolved that women earn the same as men.” And so began a career dedicated to giving everyone equal opportunity to succeed. Her early work in the public sector focused on social justice policy issues: employment equity, anti-racism, and LGBTQI rights. As a consultant and practice leader for two global professional services firms, she advised clients on strategies for aligning talent and business priorities, and championed initiatives to mentor women. Then as a candidate for elected office, Deborah first truly understood the power of role models to inspire girls and young women. That experience and surviving breast cancer motivated her to seek out more deeply meaningful work. Deborah found it at Catalyst, a global nonprofit that works with some of the world’s most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women. Joining in 2006 as Executive Director of Catalyst Canada, she became Chief Operating Officer in 2012, and then President and CEO in 2014. In her time as president, she put her passion to work as a tireless advocate, opening doors for other women so that we can change the world—one fair, diverse, and inclusive workplace at a time. A recognized thought leader and global influencer, in 2016 Deborah was named as one of Canadian Business magazine’s 10 most influential Canadians, and that same year she received the Foreign Policy Association Medal. Most recently, in 2017, Deborah accepted an honorary Doctor of Laws honoris causafrom Cape Breton University for dedicating her life’s work to advocating for women’s rights and equality. She serves on the Board of Governors of St. Francis Xavier University.