As a male, I have recently experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. An associate vice-president at JPMorgan Chase here in Chicago told me that she could turn free from being gay to straight, because that how good she is. At the time I was a contracted non-JPMorgan Chase employee and told her immediate supervisor about that situation. Her supervisor, who had recently promoted this offender, told me that Chase has a “Zero Tolerance” policy regarding sexual harassment; but nothing happened.
When I left Chase at the end of my contracted assignment, I follow-up with my complaint and even contacted the CEO of Chase, Jamie Dimon. I received an email that they would investigate and when I heard back, it was turned around on me and the investigator told me that I was upset because Chase would not make me a permanent employee. So after that, I filed a complaint in court that this woman was a stalker and a harasser; but in true JPMorgan Chase fashion, they lawyored up and had a legal representative for her in court and my case was dismissed. But at least I showed that I will not be pushed around and I will not accept reprehensible behavior.
Speak up sooner and never be afraid. No job is worth going through the mental torture actions like this put people through.
That this largely overlooked issue is finally getting the attention it deserves is a step forward. I do hope, however, that sexual harassment on the job is not labeled as a “woman’s” issue. Perhaps the attention being given Mr. Spacey’s behavior will drive the point home that it’s not just men who exploit their positions of power. When I was a 23-year-old getting my master’s degree, I was repeatedly harassed by my department counselor, as well as the director of the writing center where I was tutoring. Both these women were in a position to make me forfeit my scholarship (and graduate assistantship), and in both cases, their advances were unprovoked and inappropriate. I’ve asked many people – men and women – about this and was surprised to discover a lot of the men had experiences very similar to my own.
And for the rest of us - victimized in less glamorous industries - we have to plod on; ignored and shattered. I lost my dream job as a firefighter. I have been retaliated against and subsequently pushed out of the industry. My life on the fireground was put at risk by bullies and harrassers. Millions and millions of dollars have been paid out to victims through our tax dollars in compensation to victims across the country - but our "heroes" appear to be immune to any censure. I thought that maybe after Nichole Mittendorf committed suicide after her own harassment in Fairfax, VA that things would change. I was wrong. Study after study confirms the horrific treatment of women in the fire service, but the outcome is still the same. The women continue to be abused under the false notion that we are unqualified and incompetent.
2
I don't have the resources/time, but..it seems one possible explanation for having a ready supply of victims is regional gender demographics. Where are the victims/perpetrators and why are they there? Simply superimposing an assault frequency map on this one might suggest solutions:
http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/03/30/a_single...
What is happening? This man has not been convicted for anything. Unproven accusations have destroyed his life. How can it be, that the press and social media have the power to virtually kill somebody. Who will ever know, how much of what is in the headlines now, is true? And how much is just wild accusations and hypocrites using the atmophere to get an audience?
He admitted to this. There are no “unproven allegations” ruining his life. He said he did it.
1
@Karl
Well he could sue the N.Y. Times. But he was forced to withdraw the threat when he realized that even he could not intimidate the N.Y. Times. And of course the truth is likely not on his side, so he would lose the lawsuit, have to pay court costs, and still be run out of the profession.
2
Sure hope Dean Baquet addresses this exceptional reporting during his visit to Tucson this week.
Please investigate and report on allegations of sexual harassment by Trump. Or tell us why that investigation is not appropriate.
5
There's a reason why #MeToo has been such a resounding cry. The man doesn't have to have too much power and certainly not a lot of money to sexually abuse women. A little power goes a long way for men, it seems.
3
I'd like to call out the developing reaction that outing these stories will ultimately hurt women by making men afraid to meet with them. This is ridiculous.
The sooner we get rid of the notion that career advancing meetings have to happen in hotel rooms, cocktail hours or other shadowy circumstances the better.
My modern office building is heavy on glass - glass doors, glass side windows on private offices. This is aesthetically pleasing, but it also reduces the availability of closed-off spaces where bad situations can occur. We should all be working on transforming the work environment to promote transparency, if not literally, then at least in spirit.
1
@Sarah
Men will be “afraid “ to meet with women. Not at all likely—you don’t know men.
The New York Times has done an outstanding job with these stories of sexual harassment, and the deeply ingrained imbalance of power in our country. My life has been changed because of your excellent reporting. I don't think I can truly express the depth of my reaction to these revelations, analyses and willingness to "follow the story." Thank you.
7
where are the taped conversations?It seems strange considering Weinstein's reputation there are no taped conversations. on the other hand maybe the women who signed non-disclosure agreements have tapes of conversations showing they were overpowered.
@charles
Taped conversations are unnecessary. Could all of the pay settlements be bogus? What would motivate so many people to lie?
These stories are all great reporting. I hope the millennials who will benefit from these predators being exposed and others deterred will realize that this is part of why it is worth paying the equivalent of a daily soy latte to subscribe to the Times.
3
you are right. it is great reporting.but why then so few comments or at least a few more paeans from people like yourself?
1
Charles, my sense is that Times Insider does not appear in print and does not have a subscription capability to help build broad readership.
To be honest, I'm not surprised by the amount of sexual harassment in the entertainment and high tech industries. It might be helpful if an investigation looked into contrasting industries, for example, the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. My experience in those industries was that women were respected and equally rewarded. But then that's just my perspective. Maybe I'm wrong.
1
Confidentiality agreements (CA) regarding settlement terms are often required by corporate wrong-doers, insurance companies & tortfeasors. An injured person usually has no choice about signing a CA, as the wrong-doers refuse to settle or pay damages unless the plaintiff signs. Corporations & and their lawyers threaten to make a plaintiff, usually an ordinary citizen with ordinary resources, go through the expensive & nerve-wracking trial process if they refuse to sign a CA.
A main reason the law breakers require CAs and the sealing of court files is so that other injured people cannot avail themselves of the facts & evidence uncovered in an earlier case. This makes every single plaintiff have to reinvent the wheel at great personal cost.
Confidentiality prevents the public from knowing about systemic wrongful conduct. It can prevent regulators & government agencies from being able to enforce laws that protect the public. The secrecy about settlements only protects wrong-doers and law breakers.
Cases where courts have required CAs & sealing of court files include: Sexual harassment; Medical malpractice; Defective product cases; Pharmaceuticals that have killed people; Cases where people have become deathly ill from milk containing recombinant bovine growth hormone; Cases where an impaired surgeon has injured or killed patients, ad infinitum.
CA secrecy makes our courts servants & handmaidens of the wealthy and corporate criminals and makes a mockery of justice.
29
What about all those who accept the quid pro quo agreement and have found success in Hollywood? I suppose we won't hear their side of the story since it somehow taints their success? Only those who have refused Weinstein have come forward. How many more sold out and received their reward? Isn't this a story too?
6
Sure. But this story is about reality of institutionally sanctioned abuse of power and the effect of such on people's lives.
Is it? Powerful man asks for something and says it will benefit me in a particular way, I weigh my options and give in, he makes calls as needed, celebrity "achieved"?
I don't see the news there.
Aren't you missing the point: It shouldn't be necessary to have sex with a producer into order to be in a move or, more generally, to get a job. I challenge you to find one person who slept with Weinstein and became famous because of that (as distinct from becoming famous because they were great actors). Sure, some women may have wanted to sleep with him but it's pretty clear that lots of women didn't.
1
Is a "settlement" that requires someone to cover up a crime really legal? If someone entered into an agreement to not report a murder, could they really be sued if they went to the police? I think not. Sexual harassment is against the law, and I think all of these "settlement agreements" have no legal standing.
17
I was stalked and sexually harassed by the head of corporate security (of all people) at a Fortune 500 firm. When I complained, the company soon got rid of me, alleging 'poor performance'. As an aside, I was an executive in the company's law department; again, of all people. Eventually, I accepted a settlement for which I had to sign a non-disclosure. Sound familiar?
12
University career/guidance counselor and HR departments that cover graduate recruitment, please note that you now have the social responsibility to create a safe space for new graduate interviewees to question a company's sexual harassment policy, history of sexual harassment and culture against it.
6
I have read a lot of articles about the director's sexual harassment, and nobody has mentioned having him arrested and put on trial for rape. Why is this? Is it that rape law is badly written and doesn't cover these circumstances properly? What we are seeing now is public shaming, which is not really a good way to fight injustice. All the director has to do is go into seclusion, consider it retirement, and enjoy his millions.
5
It is just like CEOs and investors of private companies like Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo. the absurdity of the sudden outrage.
I'm breathless about the level of work involved: "That included, for several weeks near the end, a number of consecutive nights spent at the office until midnight or 1 a.m. Their editor, Rebecca Corbett, who heads The Times’s investigative projects desk, sometimes stayed even later." Wow! How did you make it? Oh my, so courageous. Rare is the reporter who could suffer more.
1
I must say I kinda agree with this sarcasm. After all, this was not a term paper;
the reporters were ending the career of one man and jeopardizing a powerful corporation...worth a couple of late nights I would guess.
Oh, come on. Grow up. Their superb journalism has helped put this kind of abuse at the top of the news, and we can only hope it will lead to a time when people cannot commit such abuse.
2
I feel like I am asking the stupid question.... but here goes...
This guy has not been charged or taken to court for any sexual offences. (As far as I can see . . . ).
He has lost his job and reputation based on allegations. Please, if you can, explain to me how this is OK. From where I sit, I do not see justice being done. More like "there is no smoke without fire so nail him..."
The NYT seems to be relishing the fact that their report 'brought this guy down' but they also seem to be genuinly interested in which they claim to be standing up for justice... (Which is part the reason why I subscribe)
Whoever who got paid-off by lawyers and how, surely does not guarantee that a crime has been committed? However shady it appears... And any citizen has the right to be tried and, if found guilty, punished based on the outcome of a jury of his peers.
If I am missing the point here, I would appreciate some illumination.
thanks
1
Neither his high powered job nor his reputation should be protected by a court of law. If he is charged criminally or faces a civil law suit, then yes, a court should be involved.
Many of these women accusing him risked their reputation and employment as well.
The court of public opinion is allowed to balance the two sides and decide whose reputation is more important to uphold.
2
Weinstein wasn't charged with a crime, so he doesn't need to be found guilty of anything. He is an officer of his company and as such is an agent, much like any other employee. Because of this, his actions open the corporation up to liability based on his wrongdoing, damage the company's business reputation, decrease shareholder value, make people less likely to pay to go see the studio' movies, limit the studio's ability to attract talent, etc--the list goes on. Any company with a bit of sense (never mind fiduciary duty to protect the corporations assets) would want to address and stop his behavior if they were aware of it. Firing Weinstein is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the problems the company (which likely employs hundreds of people) has in terms of containing the damage he's wrought and exposed employees and shareholders to over the 3 decades of his bad behavior.
1
Here's your illumination: The Manhattan DA declined to prosecute after the NYPD SVU did an investigation that led to incriminating evidence. The Manhattan DA took money from a lawyer affiliated with Weinstein. When the powerful own the legal system, they don't get charged with crimes.
1
Careful investigation and reporting. Kudos, NY Times!--and hats off for the courage and persistence of your reporters.
Please also provide any updates on the sexual harassment case against Donald Trump involving employee(s) at his Jupiter, Florida, club. And updates on any others that may have progressed since two weeks before the election, when you reported on the thousands of lawsuits filed against Mr. Trump.
3
How to talk about it?
Here's one way, from one of the first young news correspondents at
one of the thren three network Owned an Operated stations.
Well, I said, as the VP at that station suggested something sexual, and
apparently of a semi on going kind of thing: "Oh, but I don't think I'd
be very good at that, would be awkward and stupid at it...but I'm not
going to talk about this...just leave now. " And I left.
In fact I was a plains girl, blonde and not skinny, sexy probably and , with perfect mid western diction, ALSO I had three solid years of experience as a writer-reporter at a line bureau at then dominant UPI. GOod chance,
clearly, of sometime 'up to the net.
No more was said, but I did notice one of the secretaries, not very smart,it was thought, suddenly returned from a New York sojourn, fabuously
turned out, great clothes and make up, vacationed a lot. But stupid.
Don't know what became of her.
My harrasser did not live to an old age; plane crash someone once told me.
Probably imminently traceable if I were interested. I'm not.
3
Please investigate 45 as thoroughly as Weinstein. The Weinstein case is abhorrent but part of a trope: casting couch drama. The president-as-abuser is not; while presidents have had all kinds of sexual proclivities, 45 has both a public misogyny living out in his policy through his uncontrollable pen as well as allegations and 'whispers' suggesting the misogyny in his private life enacted by his uncontrollable...How can we talk with a straight face about the pervasive nature of sexual harassment and not address this man's past?
11
Every woman has a story!
HE SAID SHE SAID.
Video is truth.
I'm on my way to the SPY SHOP to purchase a recording gadget.
The court of public opinion on YOUTUBE is the way to apprehend a sexual predator.
Tape meetings.
Go directly to YOUTUBE where it lives on for eternity.
Send it to the newspaper.
1
Sharon, This could be a really good way out of this huge societal problem. Video recording has made some contribution already to publicizing police misconduct. Nothing more impressive than seeing the actual video. It is also making some contribution to violence directed against bike riders by car drivers. On the other hand, I worry that as soon as this becomes evident to CEOs we will have rules against video recording of meetings, interviews etc.? Video evidence also could advance the conversation about these issues by highlighting how some clearly abusive behaviors may not rise to the level of actionable by the court system, but are clearly wrong. There is a lot of concern on the part of some people (mostly men) that accusations may damage the reputation of abusers without clear evidence that they violated the law (see Cyrus Vance for what may make a winnable case). However, video evidence is pretty powerful. I remember some people trying to defend the actions of the trooper who stopped Sandra Bland, although for most people the nature of the abuse was clearly evident in the dashboard film.
1
WE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT THE SITTING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!!!! How serious are HIS threats that he has still not been removed from the most powerful office in the world today??????
The time has come...
7
I just find this incredibly cheering. It may be this kind of institutional rot has to be cleaned out before broader transformations (such as more women in politics, even the presidency) are possible. Hidden hierarchies of power do nothing for a system ideally based on merit. In the immortal words of Beyonce (at that Superbowl performance much panned for its revolutionary-looking berets), "OK ladies, now let's get information!" The value of transparency could not be more self-evident than in this case.
1
Lawyers in many cases are just another layer of criminality protecting criminals.
31
How can you talk about breaking a sexual harassment story, and NOT talk about trump, and the women who have accused him of sexual harassment. This should have been the biggest story of the year - Instead, it was swept under the rug and trump given a free pass.
16 women accused trump of sexual harassment - 13 accused Weinstein. Maybe time to revisit the trump accusations ?
94
Dont forget Clinton
I agree.
But, I believe that the infuriating reality - that Trump could boast of grabbing women by their genitals and then be elected our President might be part of the fuel that gave these women the strength to come forward with their own stories.
Congress and the press has so far been unable or willing to send Mr Trump and
his family home in shame. But these courageous women might be part of that beginning.
2
If you think Weinstein had high-priced flacks and lawyers out for blood....
1
“Getting people to speak on the record about these painful experiences requires time, patience and establishing trust,” said Matt Purdy, a deputy managing editor at The Times.
getting people to speak on the record about anything requires time, patience and establishing trust. loyalty and being a "team player" are often at a premium, not just in hollywood but at many institutions (including government institutions).
a lot of communication, especially about sexual matters, is reading between the lines, off-the-record, open to subjective interpretation, at the water cooler, at happy hour, outside formal channels, more than what formal documents say.
...
“Until reporting on this, I didn’t realize the extent that these settlements and these confidentiality agreements played in this whole ecosystem,” Ms. Steel said. “As soon as a woman signs this, she can’t talk about her allegations ever again.”
confidentiality agreements generally require this, for women and for men, and are often faster and cheaper than a formal lawsuit. criminal courts are often clogged with more serious cases like murder, rape, robbery, theft in general, extortion. civil courts can be just as busy and are no guarantee for a just settlement.
1
Rape is among the accusations in more than one of these investigations.
1
Weinstein has been accused by 13 women of sexual harassment.
Trump has been accused by at least 16 women of sexual harassment.
FOX defends the presidents actions and comments despite very similar harassment claims, while lambasting any Democrat who ever even talked to Weinstein.
Great job breaking the Weinstein story NYT - your organization has integrity. How about devoting a little more coverage to other high profile sexual predators (trump/o'reilly/ailes) - You know FOX won't.
56
OK, you've made your point, now take a breath.
Thanks to the Times for continuing to put resources into these stories. You may not have personal enmity toward your subjects, but you do hugely valuable work in establishing a paper trail that will ultimately save the lives and emotional health of many, many potential future victims as well as getting past victims a sense of peace. (I say this as someone whose friend was hospitalized for an eating disorder related to being assaulted by a college professor. The impact of these episodes is often long-lasting and frustrating and sad.)
It's important to understand that women who sign these non-disclosure agreements usually do it after they are confronted with the proverbial "army of lawyers" that is mentioned here. ("You will never win. We will sue you and take everything you have. Or you can take 50K now and shut up about it and still have a career and a home and a life.") The women who signed the NDAs deserve a lot more understanding than they have been given in some circles. I'm sure it was presented to them as their only choice by a lot of powerful people. It is only strength in numbers that allows so many of them to come forward now.
49
Whoa. Absent the good work of NYTimes staff -- Angelina Jolie's father is the movie actor Jon Voight. Gwyneth Paltrow's family is a very well-known Hollywood family. Ashley Judd's mother has sold tens of millions of CDs.
A few well-placed calls and USPS snail-mail drops 20 years ago, a PR fire-storm would have been created. Ditto, the old AOL Instant Messenger, which help found social media.
1
I noticed the same thing re some of Harvey's victims - daughters of famous parents (I'll add Alyssa Milano). My take was - in his mind he got extra points for trying to 'get' the child of an important person.