Harassment

Doing my little training gigs all across New York State and as part of the safety training I have had to do sexual harassment training as dictated by the state.

It’s always a rough sell to construction personnel and I get a lot of comments about ‘this sucks’.

I know a lot of guys who roll their eyes when told they can’t make fun of someone who is changing their sex or want to be known by a different gender.

The video is long.

The test is cumbersome and the participants absolutely hate it.

Then I am asked to sell it to them a little…

…which is difficult because I have been in the business for a lot of years.

I’ve heard it all.

I’ve traded playful insults with a lot of guys and have never had my feelings hurt…

…but as I told the class.

“It’s a real issue, and many people have had their lives ruined by a boss or a coworker who didn’t stop.”

“Don’t cross the line. Don’t be an asshole.”

The class laughed.

“You should write all the safety rules,” one of them said.

And, in a world where it seems that people are trying to be as cruel as they can to one another…

…it truly isn’t the worst advice.

Treat people right.

We shouldn’t have to make laws about it.

Just don’t be an asshole.