Lack of Communication
Introduction
Sexual harassment is an important example of power abuse that generates negative conflict and it is a highly destructive workplace process. (Shockley-Zalabak, pg. 309) Not knowing how to communicate about such a highly sensitive situation can ruin a person’s life and can ruin the credibility of an organization. It can even affect the job status and reputation of a good employee.
Overview of the Organization and Case Study
The Village of Bellport is a local government entity with approximately 150 employees that are spread out through out five different departments. The Village of Bellport has had a sexual harassment case between two employees; one is an office employee and one is a highway employee who is also the husband of the office employee’s supervisor. This sensitive situation that has happened is due to the lack of communication between the Mayor, the Board of Trustees and the rest of the staff and has affected the relationships and the morale of the employees.
Without going into too many details; the office employee stated that the highway worker sexually harassed her while her boss (his wife) was away in training. The highway worker denied all accusations but was convicted by the board without even hearing his side of the story. The board also didn’t ask anyone that worked that day what they saw or heard or they never asked about the characters of either employee.
The outcome was that the highway worker was forced to resign after 13 years of service. Since the office employee didn't get the money she was after from the start, she went after the Village for harassment, saying that all the employees were harassing her because of the situation, which wasn’t true. When the Village attorney and the board found out about her character and what type of person she really was they were mortified and they felt dumb but of course it was too late.
Identify and Describe the Situation or Problem
Knowledge
The major problem with this
Sexual harassment is an important example of power abuse that generates negative conflict and it is a highly destructive workplace process. (Shockley-Zalabak, pg. 309) Not knowing how to communicate about such a highly sensitive situation can ruin a person’s life and can ruin the credibility of an organization. It can even affect the job status and reputation of a good employee.
Overview of the Organization and Case Study
The Village of Bellport is a local government entity with approximately 150 employees that are spread out through out five different departments. The Village of Bellport has had a sexual harassment case between two employees; one is an office employee and one is a highway employee who is also the husband of the office employee’s supervisor. This sensitive situation that has happened is due to the lack of communication between the Mayor, the Board of Trustees and the rest of the staff and has affected the relationships and the morale of the employees.
Without going into too many details; the office employee stated that the highway worker sexually harassed her while her boss (his wife) was away in training. The highway worker denied all accusations but was convicted by the board without even hearing his side of the story. The board also didn’t ask anyone that worked that day what they saw or heard or they never asked about the characters of either employee.
The outcome was that the highway worker was forced to resign after 13 years of service. Since the office employee didn't get the money she was after from the start, she went after the Village for harassment, saying that all the employees were harassing her because of the situation, which wasn’t true. When the Village attorney and the board found out about her character and what type of person she really was they were mortified and they felt dumb but of course it was too late.
Identify and Describe the Situation or Problem
Knowledge
The major problem with this