Confluent Management
https://www.everydayhealth.com/
Fostering
a Culture
of Respect,
Decency and
Harassment-
Free Work
Environment
By Ed S. Teovisio
W
ork—whether virtual, in brick and
mortar, in the seas, land or air—is the
bedrock of man’s self-worth. It is the
avenue where most humans can tap
his/her potentials, demonstrate his/her
capabilities, and be recognized. Yet, the
workplace can also be where one’s worth
could shatter.
A woman sexually harassed by
a company officer in exchange of
regular employment. Another was disallowed to take a leave of absence
to undergo a gynecological condition. Still another, a gay man was
ostracized publicly by co-employees. Acts of humans characterized by
exploiting the inferior, undermining the self-esteem of a subordinate,
belittling the opposite sex, or ridiculing gender differences, and many of
its variants. Acts that spring from stereotype notions, prejudices, biases,
and instinctual drives of humans where there is no need to think of ethical
consideration, social mores, or plain respect for a human person. It tends
to be self-serving, and you bet, it is so easy to do. But not for long.
In the last three decades, we witnessed the victorious assertions of
human rights and Gender and Development (GAD) advocates in the
workplace. Proof is, a host of laws had been signed and promulgated
which people in organizations should be aware of. Every leader and every
employee should know how to propagate a workplace culture that is
guided by these laws and bills that will soon be signed into new laws.
1. The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 covers the submission to
or rejection of the act or series of acts used as basis for any employment
decision including hiring, job security, promotion, raise in salary, benefits
and any other personnel action. Acts that have the purpose or effect
of interfering with the complainant’s work performance, creating an
intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. And, acts that
might reasonably cause discrimination, insecurity, discomfort, offense or
humiliation to a complainant who may be a co-employee, job applicant,
customer, a trainee, apprentice, intern, tutee or ward of the person
complained of.
2. The Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta for Women provides
comprehensive women’s human rights law that seeks to eliminate
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discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and
promoting the rights of Filipino women, especially those in marginalized
sector which of course includes women seafarers.
3. The Republic Act No. 9262 known as Anti-Violence Against Women
and Their Children Act of 2004 which refers to any act or a series of acts
committed by any person against a woman who is his wife, former wife,
or against a woman with whom the person has or had a sexual or dating
relationship, or with whom he has a common child, or against her child
whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the family abode,
which result in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm
or suffering, or economic abuse including threats of such acts, battery,
assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
4. The Senate Bill 1558 or the "Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017
seeks to penalize unwanted comments, gestures, and actions forced on
a person in a public place without their consent, and is directed at them
because of their actual or perceived sex, gender, gender expression, or
sexual orientation and identity. These acts include, but not limited to,
unwanted cursing, wolf-whistling, cat-calling, leering, sexist, homophobic
or transphobic slurs, persistent requests for someone’s name, number
or destination after clear refusal, persistent telling of sexual jokes, use of
sexual names, comments and demands, flashing, public masturbation,
groping, and stalking, among others. This Act is regarded as an expansion
of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act.
5. House Bill 815 or the Anti-Office Bullying Act of 2016 which seeks to
generate policies inhibiting employees and employers in government and
non-government offices from performing acts that would cause lasting
damages to their peers and co-workers. This will mandate all offices to
adopt a policy on anti-bullying in workplace and to promote workplaces
that are free from any form of discrimination, judgment, free from any
influence of one’s race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender
identity, social status, or age.
These imply that if one misbehaves privately or publicly, it can be
grounds for harsh administrative and legal consequence. What if some
freedom-loving people would argue that it is a form of repression? Is
instilling social order and discipline repression? It appears restrictive but
neither it is deprivation nor discrimination. There is a part of the civil world
that is constantly evolving towards strengthening the grip and grit of