Readers' Comments
Total Comments: 22
Page 1 of 3
Page 1 of 3
« Previous | Next »
Love in the Federal Workplace
Total Comments: 22
Page 1 of 3
Page 1 of 3
« Previous | Next »
Free Email Newsletter
| Close | Change | YTD | |
| G | $12.6407 | +0.0013 | +2.94% |
| F | $12.1372 | -0.0503 | +1.74% |
| C | $11.4287 | -0.6930 | -30.99% |
| S | $13.6726 | -0.8353 | -30.91% |
| I | $15.5558 | -0.5904 | -37.17% |
| Close | Change | YTD | |
| L 2040 | $13.2999 | -0.5876 | -27.08% |
| L 2030 | $13.2719 | -0.5131 | -23.77% |
| L 2020 | $13.3354 | -0.4274 | -19.91% |
| L 2010 | $13.9552 | -0.2255 | -9.73% |
| L Income | $12.8027 | -0.1371 | -4.95% |
October 8, 2008
Search:
Custom Search
Home | About Us | FAQ's |
Site Map | Terms of Use |
Privacy Policy |
RSS 
© 2008 FedSmith Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Legal Lottery? Excuse me?
USAF
Tue May 6, 2008 9:18 AM
Post Reply
You remark that filing a successful sexual harrassment lawsuit is akin to winning the legal lottery is offensive. If it wasn't for sexual harrassment lawsuits women would still be percieved as "toys" by some men in the workplace and women would still be held back from applying for jobs. I recall some experiences I suffered through as a young women in the 1970's: the attempted back rubs and tickling, the suggestions that I should wear a shorter skirt, or a tighter blouse. And then there was the time that I was denied a job because I was of child-bearing age. I certainly did not feel like I would ever be taken seriously or have a career working for organizations that allowed this type of behavior. I appreciate what the sexual harrassment lawsuits have done to open up opportunities for women in the work place. Perhaps if you had to endure the indignities that many woman have endured in the workplace you would rethink your comment.
Re: Legal Lottery? Excuse me?
DOI
Tue May 6, 2008 1:21 PM
Benefits of sexual harassment?
Interiof
Tue May 6, 2008 9:39 AM
Post Reply
I am appalled and disgusted that you would publish an article equating sexual harassment and fortune. If a person was highly compensated for injuries resulting from sexual harassment, the only fortunate ones are those whom the harasser is dissuaded from harming in the future. Most of the harassment victims I've known seek compensation only as a last resort to gain the attention of a management that does too little to stop the harassment and provide a safe work environment. Their initial request is merely for the harassment to stop, and often for the harasser to be removed from their work environment. Harassment is an abuse that can lead to life-long stress disorder and end or irreparably sidetract the victim's career.
free speech is not allowed
USDA
Tue May 6, 2008 11:00 AM
Post Reply
I was amused to see your comment about the legal lottery. Didn't you know that making a statement like that was illegal? Well, not illegal, but it will bring down the vitriol and name-calling from the interest groups that inhabit every agency and use everything within their power to ensure that any ideas that could possibly be construed as making any remark that could be construed as being politically incorrect. We do that on our college campuses and probably in every federal agency as well.
Personally, I love it--having seen some people actually win in the legal lottery--all the while decrying their status as victims and destroying careers and reputations of others who dare say anything about their financial fortune whether justified or not.
Perhaps free speech is not completely dead; but I am sure that no current federal employee would dare ever say anything like that without killing a career for voicing an opinion outside the tight circle of political correctness. It inhibits ideas and creates its own set of problems but we are not allowed to talk about it without quaking in our boots knowing that we will be called names and the subject of retaliation for having an independent though.
Love in the Federal Workplace
EPA
Tue May 6, 2008 11:08 AM
Post Reply
I disagree with your closing statement, suggesting that she get off without serious penalty.
We are government employees, using government equipment. Everytime we log on at my agency, and I assume other agencies have something similar, we get a popup reminding us that "Unauthorized use of this software and computer is a criminal offense under Title 18 United States Code, Section 641, and may subject violators to a fine, or imprisonment of up to 10 years or both.
I grow weary of seeing people looking for homes, shopping online, ordering from Snapfish, etc.
Unfortunately, she was scammed, while on the government's payroll, and also subjected her Agency to the possibility of spyware.
If she was self-employed, how would she feel about her employee using her business equipment for her lovelife?
Sorry, but I have no sympathy for her.
Sexual Harrasment
USDA
Tue May 6, 2008 12:53 PM
Post Reply
As you can see from your first two respondents the femipowers are alive and well.
Personally I have seen more women use the threat of a nonexistent sexual harassment claim as a step on the career ladder than I have ever seen it actually practiced.
The Actual Intent of the Article was
Agency
Tue May 6, 2008 12:55 PM
Post Reply
Beware of Phishing, even at your government computer.
Yet, this seems to have gotten lost in all the other agenda items.
Yes, Sexual Harassment is wrong. No one should suffer from it and if compensation is the ultimate management wake up call, then so be it. BUT, in the overall world of EEO, there are many who do attempt to line their pockets at the expense of others, including their own families whom they ignore while questing for the magic pot of gold. To some, it is a lottery, and they do it for gain, and care less about fixing things.
Yes, computers are for work, but if everyone was fired for using it at work for non-work, well, a couple of people left to run the entire country would be a bit difficult. And some agencies do permit minimal use.
Bottom line, the article was told of a bad use that actually turned worse. Warning, Warning, Warning.
And read the last paragraph closely. Did not say she would get off. Said she might. Big difference. Read carefully. Bye
Phishing and Sexual Harassment
USDA
Tue May 6, 2008 1:30 PM
Post Reply
I think Mr. Smith did everyone a disservice by combining the two topics of phishing and sexual harassment. this article was about someone being scammed using romance as a front rather than bank information, etc. It has nothing to do with sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is alive and well in the workplace, but the legislation has diminished it considerably.
Re: Phishing and Sexual Harassment
Dod Agency
Tue May 6, 2008 1:40 PM
Phishing, using fake identities, misleading people in some way through email are all scams that we are subject to and, potentially, can be used to put agency data at risk.
Sexual harassment is a very minor part of the article--hardly the main point at all. I think you saw the phrase that was meaningful to you for some reason and you took that as the main point when it had very little to do with the rest of the article.
The author did a good job of reminding us that our personal and agency data can be put in jeopardy. Everything else is just to illustrate that point.