After hearing such negative sexist talk directed towards a colleague, I would take several measures aimed at ensuring that the perpetrators of the act know that their actions are wrong and should not be repeated. I would also put effort in supporting Jim, who in this case is the victim, encouraging him and urging him to stay strong in a bid to make sure that he comes out a much stronger individual. The best means of communicating would be face-to-face communication as it is a rich channel that enables instant feedback and suitable for personal conversations (Cameron, p.68).
Meeting the Coworkers
I would first approach Dan and Jacob and make it clear to them that it is not appropriate to sexually harass a fellow human being. I would approach them politely and most preferably during an informal setting such as a coffee break. The meeting would be brief and would entail explaining to them the negative effects that sexual harassment has on an individual and urge them to stop. I would be assertive by putting an emphasis on my points and allowing Dan and Jacob space to talk back without making them feel intimidated. The meeting would also involve outlining to my coworkers the consequences of their unwelcome treatment of colleagues. Sexual harassment is a criminal offence hence is punishable by law. Dissemination of such information to the harassers would make them consider stopping their unfriendly treatment towards Jim. I would also let the culprits know that their behavior may have a detrimental impact on the organization hence affecting them too. A victim of sexual harassment is likely to have his productivity at work deteriorate which eventually affects the entire organization’s profits. It is also likely to change the moods of the victim which consequently affects that of the victim’s colleague’s as the victim may tend to distance themselves from the rest of the team. This damages team spirit and may lower productivity.
Meeting Jim
I would also approach Jim and assume compassionate grounds for his troubles. I would advise him to also make a point of approaching the culprits- Dan and Jacob- and asking them to refrain from targeting him. This would be a good move since it would let Dan and Jim know clearly how Jim feels about their behavior and hear it from him firsthand. I would encourage him to really tell them how their actions make him feel.
I would advise Jim to seek the services of a counsellor in case the discriminative behavior against him is adversely affecting him personally as well as his productivity. Sexual harassment can have personal effects on an individual such as causing anger and embarrassment which may make one lose their self-esteem, fear and intimidation, loss of appetite and insomnia as a result of stress.
I would urge Jim to document such occurrences as material in written form can be verified and can always be used for reference at a later date. This would enable him to recall the precise days or times that he has been targeted and the exact words that were uttered. I would also volunteer to act as his witness which would make his case stronger and give it credibility.
I would also advise Jim to complain to the supervisor in case the harassment persists. Most organizations do have policies regarding sexual harassment at the workplace. It would be important for Dan and Jacob to be sensitized on these policies. Appropriate action against the culprits could also be taken as stated by the organization’s policies. I would also urge the management of the organization to carry out a verification test. It could be carried out as a family IQ test, a public forum test or as dual treatment. The family IQ test entails determining whether the perpetrator would do the same in the presence of their own child or whether they would do the treat their own children in the same way. The public forum test involves determining whether the acts under investigation behavior would be appropriate to appear in the media such as newspapers. The dual treatment test gauges whether the act in question is frequently extended to both sexes. If found guilty of the offences, the harassers could be reprimanded, monitored, demoted, relocated, suspended or taken for counselling.
Transgender Issue
I would tell Jim not to be deterred by the negative reaction from his colleagues. He should not let the opinion of others determine his life decisions (Riggio et. al 83). I would encourage him to pursue his goal of becoming a transgender and show him that I understand. I would not be judgmental on him. It is important to respect the identity of the transgender and treat him like any other normal person (Fitzgerald, p.161). I would apply the use of ‘politically correct’ terms as I speak with him in order not to make him feel abnormal or discriminated against. I would strive to respect Jim’s privacy and only ask what is necessary in a respectful and appropriate way. I would listen to him carefully and exhibit emotion when talking about his situation. In the duration of our conversation, I would pay attention to what he is saying, be responsive, be open-minded and apply body language. This would facilitate effective communication which would enable the realization of the desired outcome.
Works Cited
Cameron, Deborah. "Globalization and the teaching of ‘communication skills’." Globalization and language teaching (2002): 67-82.
Riggio, Ronald E., et al. "The role of social and emotional communication skills in leader emergence and effectiveness." Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice 7.2 (2003): 83.
Fitzgerald, Louise F., et al. "The incidence and dimensions of sexual harassment in academia and the workplace." Journal of vocational behavior 32.2 (1988): 152-175.
