...on the immediate future of women in the workplace?

 

The reason I ask is because one of the women I work with just said, "Like it or not, you know that all if these allegations are going to lead to hesitancy towards hiring a female candidate when there is another similarly qualified male candidate for the position."

 

I honestly don't know what my personal thoughts are about that statement yet, but I felt like it could make for an interesting discussion on here.

Maybe. I would like to think stupidity is somewhat limited to the males that think they can take advantage of their positions when dealing with women and not present in the normal people that would be making hiring decisions but who knows?

There probably will be several things that happen. Hesitation with hiring women especially when there are other qualified candidates, and cracking down in harassment in the work place, which should happen anyway.

We are a pretty open and relaxed group where I work. Still, we had a conversation the other day as to where you could touch a woman and be appropriate. Someone stated that you could only touch a woman on her elbow to get her attention. Crazy stupid. I am glad that the light is being shed on this problem, but things always swing too far in the other direction when it does. Just be people, people and if someone makes you uncomfortable speak up.

We are a pretty open and relaxed group where I work. Still, we had a conversation the other day as to where you could touch a woman and be appropriate. Someone stated that you could only touch a woman on her elbow to get her attention. Crazy stupid. I am glad that the light is being shed on this problem, but things always swing too far in the other direction when it does. Just be people, people and if someone makes you uncomfortable speak up.

 

If only it were that easy.

We are a pretty open and relaxed group where I work. Still, we had a conversation the other day as to where you could touch a woman and be appropriate. Someone stated that you could only touch a woman on her elbow to get her attention. Crazy stupid. I am glad that the light is being shed on this problem, but things always swing too far in the other direction when it does. Just be people, people and if someone makes you uncomfortable speak up.

 

Our elbows are close to a lot of other things on our body. No way in the world would I reach towards a woman's elbow to touch her. That is flat out crazy talk.

...on the immediate future of women in the workplace?

 

The reason I ask is because one of the women I work with just said, "Like it or not, you know that all if these allegations are going to lead to hesitancy towards hiring a female candidate when there is another similarly qualified male candidate for the position."

 

I honestly don't know what my personal thoughts are about that statement yet, but I felt like it could make for an interesting discussion on here.

 

I have talked with a couple of successful businessmen in the past few weeks about this and both of them stated there is no way they will be hiring any women and they won't even consider it. They both stated they have too much to lose if someone makes a false allegation.

I have talked with a couple of successful businessmen in the past few weeks about this and both of them stated there is no way they will be hiring any women and they won't even consider it. They both stated they have too much to lose if someone makes a false allegation.

 

To piggy back off of that, it doesn't even matter if the allegations are true or not. Just the mere allegation is going to ruin someone. Heck, we've got some on here who have said every person accused has to PROVE their innocence. Not be proven guilty, but proven innocent. That's scary. Can you imagine if we approached all crimes/accusations that way? Guilty until proven innocent. Yikes.

To piggy back off of that, it doesn't even matter if the allegations are true or not. Just the mere allegation is going to ruin someone. Heck, we've got some on here who have said every person accused has to PROVE their innocence. Not be proven guilty, but proven innocent. That's scary. Can you imagine if we approached all crimes/accusations that way? Guilty until proven innocent. Yikes.

 

Exactly!

I have talked with a couple of successful businessmen in the past few weeks about this and both of them stated there is no way they will be hiring any women and they won't even consider it. They both stated they have too much to lose if someone makes a false allegation.

 

This will spark another controversy. Women will not be being treated equally.

 

However, I agree with the guys you mentioned above, why take the unnecessary risk of a false accusation.

We are a pretty open and relaxed group where I work. Still, we had a conversation the other day as to where you could touch a woman and be appropriate. Someone stated that you could only touch a woman on her elbow to get her attention. Crazy stupid. I am glad that the light is being shed on this problem, but things always swing too far in the other direction when it does. Just be people, people and if someone makes you uncomfortable speak up.

 

Playing the other side here. Did they tell employees how to contact a male employee if they needed their attention?

I have talked with a couple of successful businessmen in the past few weeks about this and both of them stated there is no way they will be hiring any women and they won't even consider it. They both stated they have too much to lose if someone makes a false allegation.

 

That’s the negative from all this.

For instance, if a boss has to be tough on a female employee because of slacking or sloppy work, they could possibly retaliate with a false claim of sexual or other forms of harassment. To keep the boss off their case they could simply threaten to do it. As a result the boss finds it easier just to let them continue their slacking ways but decides to not hire anymore females.

I'm not sure that I've ever touched a colleague to get their attention. I usually just say their name. Silly me.

To piggy back off of that, it doesn't even matter if the allegations are true or not. Just the mere allegation is going to ruin someone. Heck, we've got some on here who have said every person accused has to PROVE their innocence. Not be proven guilty, but proven innocent. That's scary. Can you imagine if we approached all crimes/accusations that way? Guilty until proven innocent. Yikes.

 

Good points. I agree with you.

I worked in an office and/or plant environment for over forty years. I saw a lot of people get themselves into trouble. I never once saw a women get in trouble over harassment, but I saw plenty of men get in trouble even when it was the woman who started it. My best advice to men is keep your work life separate from your social life in all cases. Don't engage in suggestive conversations, and never touch a fellow worker except with a handshake. But, by all means, hire and promote the best candidates male or female.