Systems must be in place to deal with cases of harassment at a grassroots level
The controversy over the alleged sexual abuse and harassment by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein may quickly subside as Ayesha Hazarika suggests( perspective ,18 October ). Of course she is right to point out that the root of the problem is male dominance in positions of power in the entertainment business.
But if the problem is as wide- spread throughout workplaces as she thinks, then she needs to focus on something a bit more prosaic than producers, actresses and the film industry. That is, how useful current sexual harassment policies in the public and private sectors are at deterring offenders and relieving distress. Many employees may not be able to refer to one at all because they work in enterprises that are too small, or are on zero-hours contracts. Some may be aware that one exists but are reluctant to use it because they think it is weak, unlikely to really challenge abuse of power in the workplace, or the embarrassment involved is just too much trouble. In some cases they may even be concerned that the career prospects of the perpetrator may suffer if matters are taken too far.
For organisations that are hard pressed to justify their performance at all levels, harassment policies may seem just another intrusion. If they are to work effectively there needs to be designated individuals in the workplace to deal with complaints, provision for confidentiality, clear definitions of what is regarded as offensive behaviour. It needs clear direction from the top that the policies are regarded as a key part of a drive to bring about equal opportunity.
It is not easy because each organisation has its own history and culture. The way they operate is hardly the exciting material journalists and TV executives like to focus on. But they need to be taken seriously if the fears Ayesha Hazarika has highlighted are to be tackled. The publicity about Harvey Weinstein may quickly fade, but employees everywhere still have to live with the challenge of dealing with the problem at grassroots level.
BOB TAYLOR Shiel Court, Glenrothes