Sexual harassment

[Nell 23]

I am also very glad this topic has been raised. It is, unfortunately, present in commercial archaeology today.
I am still fairly new to this profession with just under a years worth of field work employment, yet within this time, in fact, my first job within this profession I along with two other young females starting out or gaining voluntary experience were subjected to varying degrees of sexual harassment. This situation was as trowlfodder described ...

'just starting out in your career, you are incredibly vulnerable and may find it difficult to walk the line between banter and feeling uncomfortable but afraid to speak up'

After a period of a month or so, when I had enough courage to make it clear that such behaviour and advancements were unwanted I was then subjected to systematic bullying, predominately in the form of a passive aggressive nature, until eventually I was forced to leave when the bullying climaxed to such an extent I did not feel safe working and living alongside that same person.
Myself and another raised the bullying with our employer but I feel it was not taken seriously - I.e. In the first instance, we were asked by the employer to 'carry on working to get the job done' despite our concerns. In most other professions allegations of that nature lead to temporary suspension of the person concerned, this was not done and we had to have our meeting with the employer on site, instead of on neutral ground, with the person concerned in the room next door.

Although I knew at the time (and has been confirmed since working for other companies) that this was perhaps not representative of employment within archaeology, I have not yet been with a company that has been forthright in providing inductions on sexual harassment and bullying. This might seem like an inconvenience as some employees are only on jobs for a matter of weeks - but I feel, given my experience, that this is too important not too.

[BAJR]

Thank you Nell. You bring up and highlight the biggest issues.

• The employer not taking it seriously.
  
• A company that has been forthright in providing inductions on sexual harassment and bullying and having a written policy available for examination
  
• The inadequate training for an employer in how to conduct an investigation
  
• the real danger of continued bullying and harassment
  

Like trowelfodder, I would urge anyone who is subject to this foul activity to write it down, get witnesses, and contact the BWA - if they would act as an intermediary - or the IfA or even myself ( as a last resort ).
Archaeology is no place for Harassment ! It is not a joke

[BAJR]

it can be a thin line between banter and bullying or harrassment, and we need to be aware of the impact that this can have on our colleagues.

well said Weegie. People should think first. if you feel it may be inappropriate, then it probably is.

[Unitof1]

Nell23 It seems to me that the issue is still with the company.Has the company/employees formally acknowledged any fault? You might want to get them to acknowledge that their response was inadequate and wrong. You seem to have suffered backlash to you reporting the situation to the extent that you left. Did you inform the company of your reason?

In some ways the offence is such that people should really go straight to the police. The most obvious thing about sexual harassment at work is that it is a threat to employment, future and present, what is daft is that the company or employer gets to act in the first place as some kind of adjudicator. In your case, as you have resigned I imaging that you should go to an employment tribunal although I dont know enough to say what you might have best done before resigning. Have you talked to citizens’ advice?

[Nell 23]

No, fault was never truly acknowledged - the employee responsible for such behaviour (the bullying - note I did not mention the sexual harassment as I wanted to gage the employers response to that first) . I received the most pathetic apology I have ever heard from the individual concerned saying that it was all 'banter' and a misunderstanding. The employer was keen to echo similar sentiments but his response and general lack of regard was most clearly demonstrated by not taking any action (i.e. temporary suspension, a meeting on neutral and asking myself and another to carry on working, alone, alongside this individual).

[Wax]

Even when procedures are in place it takes a lot of guts to follow through with a complaint, we all have to support each other and even if you personally are not being bullied or harassed you must support colleagues who are. I cannot imaging that the sort of beheaviour Nell 23 is describing was in isolation her work colleagues must have had some inkling of the bully's beheaviour. I am afraid Nells story is depressingly familiar, where were the rest of the work force when this was going on?

[Unitof1]

Nell23 I have just come accross a site which says that you should fill a complaint within three months of the incident http://www.safeworkers.co.uk/sexualharassmentwork.html
although the circumstances are vauge. I dont see why there should be a three month limit, in fact I cant believe it. I would go to the citizens advice bureau asp.

[Kiwi12]

Like Nell 23 I also have been subjected to serious sexual harassment whilst working on an excavation last summer. Over a period of 4 months, the site manager in question subjected myself and the other female on site to daily sexual harassment that progressed for one of us to quite considerable bullying. Personally, and as an outspoken individual, I was able to put a firm stop to the bullying aspect, but the sexual harassment continued throughout regardless of my very obvious objections. This thread has done well to highlight sexual harassment in all its forms. Personally, I could 'tick off' all of the examples given as something that I was subjected to. I had comments regarding my clothing, questions regarding sexual preferences, requests to wear particular clothing on site, numerous sexual jokes (many of extremely bad taste), constant innuendoes and physical assault - more specifically, attempting to kiss me, daily unwanted hugging, prodding in the stomach, under the ribs and stroking. One particularly distressing instance was when the individual 'suggested' that with no one else on site (as the others were leaving to continue paperwork in the office), no one would have been able to hear me scream! Naturally, I find any suggestion of rape - even as 'banter' absolutely unforgivable. At every instance, I made my objection perfectly clear. This objection turned immediately into spiteful behaviour, rumour spreading, a bombardment of insulting text messages during the night and extremely malicious behaviour on site. On several occasions, I was also made to believe that my job would be in question if I didn't move closer to the individual.


As you can imagine, it was incredibly difficult to deal with, more so due to the fact that there was absolutely no route of complaint available as the the company owner was related to the man in question. Naturally, I had no intention of losing my job in such a difficult climate and so simply put up with the Borderline criminal behaviour. The end came when the individual finally went overboard, started screaming and shouting obscenities at myself and the other woman whilst alone in the site office and threw a scale ruler at us, fractionally missing my colleague. Without hesitation, we left, whilst he continued to kick around chairs. We packed our belongings and went home.

After emailing the owner, there was no serious response nor was there any form of repercussion for the site manager. Though I am not surprised by the blazay attitude, the less than adequate apology or the complete unwillingness to admit to the issue, I am appalled by this companies absolute disregard for the female staff. Since I terminated my contract, I have since learnt of a number of other female that have been subjected to the same sexual harassment by the same individual. What I hope to highlight is the issues that surround working for a family run organisation and the absolute lack of avenues available to females that are subjected to such disgusting behaviour.

[Unitof1]

have you rung the police as it sounds like this could still be going on to others. It sounds like you have wittnesses, are they willing to help you?

would you like the organisation to be named here on bajr?

[Nell 23]

where were the rest of the work force when this was going on?

The rest of the people on site where indeed aware of his behaviour, some of whom were recent graduates others who have been in the profession for over 20 years. Although my other colleagues were sympathetic, one of whom tried to stand up for me on one occasion which lead to him being bullied by the same individual (site manager), my most senior colleague's advise was to 'keep your head down' and recognise ' that I was lucky [as a recent graduate] to get a 'break' into commercial archaeology'.

So as you can see, other than the other female on site who was also subjected to similar harassment and bullying, no one else supported me.