Seeking changed behaviour: When sorry never comes...

Thank GOD for the beautiful people; the kind, compassionate, reflective and agentic folk out there who restore our faith in humanity and remind us of all the good in the world. We must get in amongst them, shine light on the work they do, learn from them and keep them close. These folk are imperfect, as are we, but how they 'show up' in this world is guided by doing the right thing, kindness and compassion. When they get things wrong, as each of us invariably does, they acknowledge the part they played and seek to make it right. But what of the others who walk amongst us, outwardly appearing 'normal' (let's remember that's just a drier setting....) yet wrecking havoc on the physical health and safety of others in workplaces and within communities? What if 'sorry never comes'? If acknowledgement and accountability are key drivers of behavioural change (in both individuals and organisations) then what are the ongoing risks and liabilities 'when sorry never comes'? When there is no acknowledgement? When the harm is never explored? Easy. The threat remains alive and he/she is licensed to harm all over again.

In the case of serious criminal harm in a workplace, what if justice is never served? Without acknowledgment nor ownership of the harm inflicted on another, is behaviour change even possible? I say NO. You will see no shift, no long-term change. You might see a period of calculated, tactical 'good behaviour', motivated by the need to go 'undetected' or avoid culpability, but we must remember that past behaviour informs future behaviour. If the harm has never been explored, if the voice of a victim, never heard, if there has been no expectation of the harm-do'er having to 'make it right' or help/support has never been sought for the perpetrator, then an organisation has just lit another smouldering fire, waiting to blow. And what is the role of an ethical organisation, operating within the legislative requirements of the Health and Safety Act, to investigate harm when it has been reported? What does it say about those who would prefer to make something go away or attempt to punish the victim for reporting the incident in the first instance? Who cares enough to ensure that the full extent of the harm is explored, an investigation is rigorously conducted with procedural fairness and that accountability is ensured in order to contribute to changed behaviour? Can changed behaviour be assured in any other way? Need I even answer that?

I, for one, am growing tired of hearing, as I work through the horror stories of women in workplaces as part of my research, whose sexual harassment, sexual assault and bullying reports have failed to be investigated or a 'light touch' method has been applied with clear pre-determinated outcomes met (pretty obvious to spot when witnesses are not interviewed or files are 'misplaced'...). I am growing tired of hearing the stories of the character assassination and mobbing of victims of sexual harassment and bullying and whistle-blowers being driven from their jobs for acting as ethical bystanders and calling out bad behaviour. It's getting very, very old. But 'old content' and predictable themes feed my research...and my research feeds my drive and unrelenting determination like a rich, glorious sustenance, to demand accountability and justice served to those who harm. It is precisely this sort of 'disruption' or 'intervention' that is required, plus support, tools, strategies and rehabilitation to ensure that a harmful individual changes their behaviour.

I'd like to think that what's stopping most organisations from addressing such malignant behaviour in their workplace is a degree of unconscious incompetence in not knowing where to start, what to do or what sort of expertise is required to be called in to help. If this is you, just get started. Getting started will immediately make you more virtuous and honest than those who don't. Get curious, seek to learn and understand. Get help from experts. Treat the root cause. Be courageous. However, for those who know what is lurking in the sewers of their workplace and who repeatedly fail to act, I am afraid you go in to the 'bad guys' category and deserve the ensuing public scrutiny, public condemnation and the attention of regulatory bodies. You noticed the crack in the pavement widening, and you just let your people fall in. Not ok. I don't know if it's just me, but I like to go to bed at night knowing I have not harmed another nor turned a blind eye to harm. #timeisup