Grassley pushing for mandatory harassment training

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico




'Sexual harassment training is vitally important to maintaining a respectful and productive work environment in Congress.'

By ELANA SCHOR 11/01/2017 05:35 AM EDT

Sen. Chuck Grassley, chief author of the law that established a system for handling workplace misconduct on Capitol Hill, is urging that sexual harassment training be made mandatory, not voluntary, for all upper-chamber employees.

In a Tuesday letter to the Senate Rules Committee, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO, Grassley, an Iowa Republican, proposed that the panel circulate a letter announcing a new policy that Senate employees be required to attend sexual harassment training — a step that's currently voluntary. Grassley's request comes after a POLITICO report outlined congressional staffers' sparse awareness of the Office of Compliance, the harassment-handling entity created in 1995 by the Grassley-backed Congressional Accountability Act.

"I am convinced that sexual harassment training is vitally important to maintaining a respectful and productive work environment in Congress," Grassley wrote.

The Iowan, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, noted that "my understanding is that many offices require their staff to participate in sexual harassment training" offered by the OOC. "But as this training is not mandatory, some may not be receiving it," Grassley added.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/01/grassley-congress-harassment-training-244395

[OnDoutside]

1. But but big government...... Freedum..

[Liberalagogo]

2. There's no need for training...

They've got sexual harassment elevated to an art now!


Seriously, it's sad that people have to be TAUGHT not to sexually harass.

[keithbvadu2]

3. Congress has different rules for sexual harassment

Congress has different rules for sexual harassment


How Congress plays by different rules on sexual harassment and misconduct


https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-congress-plays-by-different-rules-on-sexual-harassment-and-misconduct/2017/10/26/2b9a8412-b80c-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html?utm_term=.c2fad8a6a2d8&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1



If Whitehouse had chosen to pursue a complaint against the senator, she would have
discovered a process unlike other parts of the federal government or much of the private
sector. Her complaint likely would have been thrown out because interns have limited
harassment protections under the unique employment law that Congress applies to itself.

Congress makes its own rules about the handling of sexual complaints against members and
staff, passing laws exempting it from practices that apply to other employers.

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When settlements do occur, members do not pay them from their own office funds, a
requirement in other federal agencies. Instead, the confidential payments come out of a
special U.S. Treasury fund.

>>>>>>>>>> (much more at the article)