Do you know what I find frustrating? Laws.
I find them frustrating because the effort to follow the law often
neglects to bring resolution to the problem it’s intended to resolve. My clients often engage me for this very
reason. They want to bring real change, but
simply keeping with the law doesn’t get them there.
Take for example AB1825, a law enacted in 2007 requiring Sexual Harassment training. While businesses dutifully follow it, thereby
demonstrating legal compliance, there has been no discernable drop in the
prevalence of sexual harassment claims in the decade since its inception. The EEOC study report on these findings was
released this summer. They also found that policies to address
discrimination and harassment, though less studied, have similarly poor
results.
Sadly, none of this information surprises me. Why?
Because AB1825 gave employers a single answer to a multi-faceted
problem. Much like many other laws, the
outcomes were an afterthought. And, once
this ‘solution’ is given, businesses no longer have the same responsibility to
figure it out for themselves.
Of even greater concern, the law helps insulate the businesses
from legal action. As a result, businesses
who are not inclined to improve, have even less reason for doing so. The EEOC found evidence of this. In fact, some of the most pernicious forms of
discrimination and harassment were largely ignored by organizations as they
were done at the hands of a “superstar”. Rather than risk the loss of this
rainmaker, businesses found ways to work around the problem, often by
transferring victims or taking other steps to mollify them.
So, what can a business owner or HR do? Here is my multi-faceted suggestion that you
can use to bring change to your workplace.
Clarify the Problem
As each business environment is as unique as the people working
in it, begin by identifying the people or circumstances that are at the center
of complaints. Then ask yourself, What
would need to be different for the problems to stop? What could make the problems resurface? As you ask these questions, you begin to hone
in on what needs to be done.
Get Creative
Begin by brainstorming – with a small team of thoughtful
individuals. Initial ideas may look like
those tried in the past, write them down but keep going and explore alternative
ideas. Create the goal of generating 10
new ideas. Doing so forces
out-of-the-box thinking and is likely to bring you novel and workable ideas.
Test the Success
Enact the best solutions and see what happens. Does change come? Are there unexpected consequences? Continue to work between creativity and
testing out solutions until you find one that yields desired results without
dire consequences.
Share Outcomes
The business world needs more ideas – so share what
works. Blog, speak or Post your ideas
below!
