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I'm from Germany and I find it sounds disturbing as well, never heard of such thing before. However according to some this apparently is common industry practic

by bauerd 8y ago

I'm from Germany and I find it sounds disturbing as well, never heard of such thing before. However according to some this apparently is common industry practice. So I wonder, what exactly happens at a sexual harassment training?

jtbayly 8y ago
You are taught what sexual harassment is and how to do it.
ocdtrekkie 8y ago
svachalek's answer is pretty good: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18408466 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18408466 It's usually an incredibly boring hour-long-or-so presentation employers expect everyone to go through somewhere around annually. It discusses inappropriate behaviors like quid-pro-quo, retaliation, inappropriate comments towards other employees, etc. The general assumption behind it is that some people may not know their behavior is appropriate, and presumably, to remove the "I didn't know that wasn't okay" defense on any future violations. Of course, the issue is everyone knows that things like what Harvey Weinstein or Matt Lauer did aren't okay, but they still happen anyways. I don't feel I benefit from it in any way after the unteenth time I've been through them, but if an employer pays me to be there, it's on their dime. The college I go to also tries to require a sexual harassment training thing, and I have declined to participate since I pay them to be there, not the other way around, and the dean's office has admitted to me in an email that the "required" training is "not mandatory".
michaelt 8y ago
I find it sounds disturbing as well, never heard of such thing before. Here in the UK, you go to an independent mechanic, maybe somewhere in the workshop they have a calendar with pictures of topless women. On the other hand, you go to a national chain, the calendar has a message about the importance of embracing teamwork. Sexual harassment training purports to transform organisations that behave like the first one into organisations that behave like the second one. How much of the difference in behaviour is a consequence of the training and how much from other factors is obviously difficult to measure.

by bauerd 8y ago

jtbayly 8y ago

You are taught what sexual harassment is and how to do it.

ocdtrekkie 8y ago

svachalek's answer is pretty good: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18408466 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18408466 It's usually an incredibly boring hour-long-or-so presentation employers expect everyone to go through somewhere around annually. It discusses inappropriate behaviors like quid-pro-quo, retaliation, inappropriate comments towards other employees, etc. The general assumption behind it is that some people may not know their behavior is appropriate, and presumably, to remove the "I didn't know that wasn't okay" defense on any future violations. Of course, the issue is everyone knows that things like what Harvey Weinstein or Matt Lauer did aren't okay, but they still happen anyways. I don't feel I benefit from it in any way after the unteenth time I've been through them, but if an employer pays me to be there, it's on their dime. The college I go to also tries to require a sexual harassment training thing, and I have declined to participate since I pay them to be there, not the other way around, and the dean's office has admitted to me in an email that the "required" training is "not mandatory".

michaelt 8y ago

I find it sounds disturbing as well, never heard of such thing before. Here in the UK, you go to an independent mechanic, maybe somewhere in the workshop they have a calendar with pictures of topless women. On the other hand, you go to a national chain, the calendar has a message about the importance of embracing teamwork. Sexual harassment training purports to transform organisations that behave like the first one into organisations that behave like the second one. How much of the difference in behaviour is a consequence of the training and how much from other factors is obviously difficult to measure.