FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Identity

HR Experts Say: No, Trump, Women Should Not Get a New Job if They Are Harassed

Both the Republican nominee and his son suggested that victims of harassment in the workplace should get new jobs. Employment experts explain why this advice stinks.
Photo by Sean Locke via Stocksy

Surprisingly, the Amazon reviews for Ivanka Trump's book The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life aren't actually that bad."I really like Ivanka", opines a user called Kristen. "It's a miracle she didn't choose to act out or drown herself in drink considering the bonehead father she has."

An executive in her own right (even if her fashion line isn't manufactured in the USA), Ivanka has become the de facto women's rights spokesperson for her father's campaign. Earlier this week, she became the unwilling case study in a workplace harassment debate of Beavis and Butt-Head proportions between Trump Sr and his heir apparent, Eric Trump.

Advertisement

Speaking to USA Today about the sexual harassment case involving Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, Donald Trump was asked what he'd like to see happen if his daughter Ivanka was sexually harassed in the workplace. "I would like to think she would find another career or find another company, if that was the case."

His comments incited a swift and angry backlash from workplace rights campaigners and women's rights advocates. They pointed out that most women don't have the financial resources at Ivanka's disposal, and that even if they did, that was beside the point—the sexual harassers, not the victims of harassment, should be the ones to go. Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, Trump's long-time adversary, responded with a single word: "Sigh."

Proving that there's no limit to a Trump PR gaffe, Eric Trump waded into the debate the following day with a neat piece of victim-blaming. In an interview with CBS, Eric—hair slicked into place in a Patrick Bateman comb-over—explained the media had got it all wrong. "I think what he's [Donald Trump] saying is, Ivanka is a strong, powerful woman, she wouldn't allow herself to be objected to it [sic]."

Read more: Bank Employees Literally Spanked by Bosses for Underperforming

"Workplace harassment creates a toxic business environment," says Dianah Worman of workplace rights organization CIPD. "Staff who are being harassed—male and female—become disincentivized and disengaged. They go into defence mode.

Advertisement

"Allowing harassment to persist in your organization—because the victims of harassment will go elsewhere—is insane. It's completely archaic." She explains that companies allowing such behavior to go unchecked risk wasting money and damaging their public reputation. "No-one else will want to work for you."

Photo by Sean Locke via Stocksy

"Workplace bullies are often narcissists who hide their vulnerability underneath the shell of a charismatic personality," explains executive career coach Zena Everett. "This can make them popular, meaning they get promoted and people want to hang around them, but they're not really liked."

Everett suggests getting specific feedback when they criticize you. "Usually they aren't able to give you any, because the bullying or harassment is to hide their lack of management skills." If this doesn't work, the next approach is always to take your specific concerns to HR. "Escalate it upwards within the organization," she recommends.

For More Stories Like This, Sign Up for Our Newsletter

As a last resort (and definitely before you consider quitting), it can be good to get lawyers involved. "Take advice from a lawyer or trade union official before deciding to walk away from a job," says Juliette Franklin, who specializes in employment law at Slater and Gordon. She emphasizes that it is possible to sue your employers in the UK while still working for them. However, it's important to remember that if you're going to go the legal route, you need to be quick—under UK law, you have three months to report incidences of workplace harassment and register a potential claim.

If you're planning to sue, you should start collecting evidence. If your boss or coworker is enough of a moron to sexually harass you over email, Franklin advised forwarding everything right away to a personal account. She also recommended keeping a diary of everything as it happens—dates, what was said, who else was present.

Another helpful tip is to speak to coworkers and colleague who might have witnessed you being harassed, and following up all meetings with HR with an email recap of everything said—which you then forward to your personal email. "That way, if it's a verbal conversation, you've taken steps to record it in writing wherever possible. That can be very powerful evidence going forward."

Finally, as a last resort, you might consider walking. "If it's really so horrible, then leaving can be the right thing to do," says Worman. "Not everyone is in the position to bring suit against their employers, and even if they do it takes a lot of courage, time and evidence."

"But that's really your last option."