2 ms·

Nor in Australia, is HR your friend. I had a very similar situation to this, as a male, in a software development environment. Even down to the bullying and the

Nor in Australia, is HR your friend. I had a very similar situation to this, as a male, in a software development environment. Even down to the bullying and the silently deleted files and commits. The thing I learnt about HR is they are not professionals. They do not exist to perform the professional duties associated with Human Resources. They may tell you and themselves that, but they are the formalised face (at an arms length so a claim of 'separation' can be made) of the power in upper management and their wish to do away with people they don't like. In fact a lot of this story rings true with my past experience. It sounds to me like a toxic workplace with a bad management culture. And it is also sexist to add insult to injury. I would like to say that these people will reap what they sow, but I've found organisations like this tend to protect the sociopaths who abuse their power. A culture like this normally extends all the way to the top. So I agree nothing is likely to happen. In fact quite the opposite. Those bullies will be protected and promoted. Any claims of bullying will be dismissed by HR. The messenger will be shot. The truth tellers will not be greeted with laurels. I would say the only thing to do, if you are in a situation to do it, is legal action. It's the only thing people like that understand. Power and money. So take their money if you can. And find a better place to contribute your skills. There are better places to work out there. They may not be as glamorous, but they will be much more enjoyable places of employment, and much more appreciative of what you have to offer.

lgleason 13y ago
I do agree that the bullies will be protected and promoted. Unfortunately the legal action doesn't really solve the problem. Usually the companies just find loopholes around whatever they were sued for an it is business as usual. For most companies once you get large enough the question is not if you will be sued, but when you will be sued. The incentives need to be changed to change the system.....which would mean a shift away from the winner takes all capitalism that we are in.
- kansface 13y ago
  Your comment makes no sense to me. How would throwing out capitalism take sexual harassment with it?
  - lgleason 13y ago
    It doesn't take it with it directly, but it dismantles some of the extreme power differential.
- retrogradeorbit 13y ago
  In my experience they usually settle pre-trial. They did in my case. Especially if the litigant has a strong case. Better to pay out than to risk a negative judgement. The point is that questions get asked at a high level and internal changes can be triggered by a pre-trial settlement. As I said, it's the only thing people like that understand. They won't take you seriously unless you take their money.
michaelochurch 13y ago
I would say the only thing to do, if you are in a situation to do it, is legal action. It's the only thing people like that understand. Power and money. So take their money if you can. And find a better place to contribute your skills. There are better places to work out there. Unfortunately, at least in the US, most employers will not hire someone who sued an ex-employer, even when the suit was clearly justified. It's actually legal (amazingly) to discriminate against people who used legal process. I don't know who's right and I like Github, but a future employer with moral courage would take a chance on someone like JAH (who hasn't sued to my knowledge, but is still probably blacklisted, to tell the horrible truth) and at least hear her out, and hire her if she seemed well-matched to the role. Unfortunately, moral courage is incredibly thin on the ground. Most people are useless cowards.
- dllthomas 13y ago
  Both with regard to stuff like this and whistle-blowers more generally, I kind of wonder why more companies don't hire former whistle-blowers as a signal they've nothing to blow whistles about.

lgleason 13y ago

I do agree that the bullies will be protected and promoted. Unfortunately the legal action doesn't really solve the problem. Usually the companies just find loopholes around whatever they were sued for an it is business as usual. For most companies once you get large enough the question is not if you will be sued, but when you will be sued. The incentives need to be changed to change the system.....which would mean a shift away from the winner takes all capitalism that we are in.

kansface 13y ago
Your comment makes no sense to me. How would throwing out capitalism take sexual harassment with it?
- lgleason 13y ago
  It doesn't take it with it directly, but it dismantles some of the extreme power differential.
retrogradeorbit 13y ago
In my experience they usually settle pre-trial. They did in my case. Especially if the litigant has a strong case. Better to pay out than to risk a negative judgement. The point is that questions get asked at a high level and internal changes can be triggered by a pre-trial settlement. As I said, it's the only thing people like that understand. They won't take you seriously unless you take their money.

michaelochurch 13y ago

I would say the only thing to do, if you are in a situation to do it, is legal action. It's the only thing people like that understand. Power and money. So take their money if you can. And find a better place to contribute your skills. There are better places to work out there. Unfortunately, at least in the US, most employers will not hire someone who sued an ex-employer, even when the suit was clearly justified. It's actually legal (amazingly) to discriminate against people who used legal process. I don't know who's right and I like Github, but a future employer with moral courage would take a chance on someone like JAH (who hasn't sued to my knowledge, but is still probably blacklisted, to tell the horrible truth) and at least hear her out, and hire her if she seemed well-matched to the role. Unfortunately, moral courage is incredibly thin on the ground. Most people are useless cowards.

dllthomas 13y ago
Both with regard to stuff like this and whistle-blowers more generally, I kind of wonder why more companies don't hire former whistle-blowers as a signal they've nothing to blow whistles about.