Statehouse women demand changes
Thirteen Ohio female lawmakers and 22 female legislative staffers have signed an open letter saying more than training is needed to end harassment in the workplace.
“This behavior exploits an elected position of power to create a hostile and intimidating work environment for women whose jobs are often in the hands of the perpetrator,” said the letter, written by Sen. Charleta Tavares, D-Columbus.
She urged lawmakers, state employees and constituents to “intervene and to demand better.”
The letter makes no harassment allegations, except to say that some who signed the letter have experienced it. It also acknowledges that Republican leaders of the House and Senate have indicated they plan to hold mandatory sexual harassment training for all lawmakers and staff.
The training decision came in the wake of the resignation last month of Sen. Cliff Hite, R-Findlay, for repeated sexual advancements he made toward a staffer, and the recent revelation that Rep. Michael Henne, a Dayton-area Republican, lost a committee leadership post last session following a complaint about comments made during a luncheon.
“Although a start, sexual harassment training will not be enough to change the culture,” Tavares wrote in the letter, signed by members including Rep. Kristin Boggs, D-Columbus.
Tavares pointed to a 2016 study by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: “While trainings may help participants understand what constitutes workplace harassment, there’s no good evidence that trainings change attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.”
As assistant minority leader and as a woman who has spent years around the Statehouse, Tavares said she has been privy to many discussions with women. “I know that this has been going on, is going on, and we’ve got to do something to stop it.”
Some, she said, don’t know that what they are saying or doing is considered harassment. It’s more deliberate for others, she said, because it has been tolerated and no one has been held accountable.
“We’ve got to change the culture and the tone of any of these organizations and businesses,” Tavares said.
Tavares said she and others are working on legislation to address issues that can stifle the harassment culture. That includes strategies used in other states, such as penalties and processes for reporting harassment.
“Do I think one thing is going to address this? No,” she said. “The tone is set when we have men and women saying they are not going to tolerate this, and we will make whoever comes forward comfortable.”
Sexual harassment has attracted a national spotlight in recent weeks, following accusations against highprofile men in Hollywood and elsewhere.
The issue has spread into statehouses. For example, just this week, the Kentucky House speaker stepped down from his leadership post following a sexual harassment issue.
In Ohio, Hite was encouraged to resign by Senate President Larry Obhof, R-Medina, when a woman came forward in mid-October with allegations that he hugged her, brought her flowers and repeatedly tried to convince her to come to his Columbus condo for sex. Though he did not agree with all that was alleged, Hite apologized for his actions.
“We should all work to ensure a safe and respectful workplace environment,” Obhof said in a statement. “That’s why I immediately took action to encourage the resignation (of Hite) ... and I was the first to call for more extensive training of our members and staff.”
Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, said harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated.
“That is why the Ohio House quickly and thoroughly investigates all allegations and complaints of harassment whenever they are brought forward,” said spokesman Brad Miller.