HR Can't Watch #metoo From the Sidelines

I challenge other HR leaders to take a stand on #metoo and set the tone of ZERO tolerance of sexual harassment in your company. This is all employee email I sent to my 4000 ACI colleagues last week.

"Over the past two weeks, three of my former female colleagues wrote "#MeToo" on their Facebook pages. I was saddened and surprised. Saddened to learn that they have had to endure sexual harassment during their respective careers. Surprised because each of them is strong, confident and assertive and, if they have kept this secret, how many more female friends have had to deal with some form of sexual harassment in the workplace? 

A new ABC News-Washington Post poll shows why the #MeToo campaign resonated with so many women: Sexual harassment, especially in the workplace, is rampant. It found that more than half of all American women—54%—have experienced "unwanted and inappropriate sexual advances" at some point in their lives. The "Me Too" hashtag exploded on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Those two words have been used by more than 4.7 million people in 12 million Facebook posts in the last few weeks. 

The statistics reveal sexual harassment is pervasive across the globe, which means incidents of inappropriate conduct are likely happening in every large organization. That type of conduct is reprehensible and antithetical to our core values as a business and is an affront to basic human decency. 

Let this be clear: ACI has ZERO tolerance for sexual harassment. 

You may think, "Well of course the head of HR would say this," but we all have the responsibility to understand our anti-harassment policies and create a work environment that is rooted in respect. It is easy to mindlessly click through our anti-harassment online training, which is part of our annual compliance training. Next time, I ask you to do more. When you have an opportunity to learn more about harassment prevention, focus on why it matters. Think about a daughter, sister, wife or mother being subjected to unwelcomed behavior of a sexual nature. 

We must completely eliminate sexual harassment at ACI. No ACIer should be a "Me too."

If you feel that you are the recipient of inappropriate or unwelcome conduct or see a colleague subjected to this sort behavior, take action immediately. Tell the individual to stop. Should you feel uncomfortable telling the individual to stop, go to your manager, your HR contact or call me directly on my personal cell number, +1-404-791-4459.