Sensitivity Training at work
By paidreader
@paidreader (5143)
United States
March 28, 2009 11:48am CST
The other day the company I work for had sensitivity training for all the employees. Since I have had this type of training at other companies I work for I didn't mind attending to see if anything had changed since the last time I took it. I have to say I was in for a surprise. The trainer covered most of the usual things but this time I was informed that "intentional touching" could be considered harrassment. When I asked if tapping someone on the shoulder (to get their attention) could be considered harrassment I was told YES! It woulod be better to tap their desk to get their attention instead of a tap on the shoulder. I have to say I consider this to be a little extreme. How about you?
3 people like this
7 responses
@baileycows (3665)
• United States
28 Mar 09
I think we are seeing this because more people will begin sueing for stupid crap because the economy is bad and we are in a recession almost depression. The corporations are the ones that will have to pay out but they will fail as well if they have no one to work and have to spend all their money. However I find it dumb, but dang it just tap their desk I guess. LOL!
3 people like this
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
28 Mar 09
Actually they said we could be fired if they can prove it & then we would be responsible for hiring an attorney to defend ourselves. 
My daughter now sits next to me at work so when we discussed it after the training, I asked her since she had never objected to me tapping her on the shoulder before, would she have a problem with it if I continued. Luckily she said that would not cause a problem. Now I just need to ask the other 100 people I work with to determine which ones I would need to tap the desk instead. 
My daughter now sits next to me at work so when we discussed it after the training, I asked her since she had never objected to me tapping her on the shoulder before, would she have a problem with it if I continued. Luckily she said that would not cause a problem. Now I just need to ask the other 100 people I work with to determine which ones I would need to tap the desk instead. 2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160779)
• United States
28 Mar 09
Someone else will say you are harassing or disruptive for tapping the desk. Just stand in the middle of the room and yell "Attention, please!"
2 people like this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
29 Mar 09
Wouldn't that be 'Disturbance of the peace'? 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160779)
• United States
28 Mar 09
I think that harassment is in the perception of the person receiving the attention. Someone, somewhere, must have filed a complaint about being tapped on a shoulder, and filed a suit. For some it is the intent of the touch as well. Yes we are getting more and more extreme in what is harassment. But believe me, if you needed their attention to protect them from a hazard, and you did not tap their shoulder or somehow attempt to get it, you would be accused of neglect.
2 people like this
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
3 Apr 09
You are absolutely right. It is good to know that if there are inappropriate situations that it would not be tolerated. In the case of a dangerous situation I'm sure they would prefer calling their name real loud versus touching them.
@creationhub (3066)
• Malaysia
29 Mar 09
This sort of training sounds sensible indeed. I would wish that governments make it mandatory for all senior managements of every organizations to attend.
Most of the harrassments of such nature usually has the guilty partner in the senior managements. Good discussion here.
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
3 Apr 09
Yes, they gave us several examples of cases that had been lost so the training was understandable. I have to say I was impressed to hear how they handled a big clients representative when he was reported for harrassment. The company stood up for the employee even at the risk of the client. They presented the case, along with evidence, to the client and told them that they needed to send a different representative in future. The guilty rep never came back and the company maintained the client. 
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
29 Mar 09
I had a manager who walked into a room with both males and females in it, He said 'Hi Guys, how is it going?' He got counseled for not asking the females how it was going.
I see 'Hi Guys' as a generic thing.. And felt that someone was being overly sensitive.
1 person likes this
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
3 Apr 09
At least he was just counseled about it. In many cases "Guys" can be considered a gender neutral term but someone must have complained about it. 
@yushen1008 (357)
• Philippines
29 Mar 09
we don't have sensitivity training on our company but i think that even tapping a shoulder can be considered as harassment is quite overacting.
1 person likes this
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
3 Apr 09
I agree. Needless to say I'm still asking several of my co-workers if it's ok if I tap them on the shoulder or not. So far no one has objected but I've gotten quite a few laughs when I ask.
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
29 Mar 09
Everything is getting so out of control nowadays. This is such an exageration.
Soon even glancing at another collegaue will be harassing too.
Oh how it was all so much simpler years ago when everyone got on with thei job and was friends with evryone else.
Oh and does that count only during working hours? Would tapping on a collegue's shoulder on the bus on the way home be considered as harrassing too?
1 person likes this
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
3 Apr 09
I guess it would depend on how lascivious the glance was. 
It is a shame that things haven't remained as simple as they used to be but I suppose that enough court cases have been fought that corporations are just trying to be pro active now.
Hmmmmm, I guess that would depend on whether any of your other co-workers were on the bus too. If they validated an accusation of inappropriate behavior then possibly. Guess other bus riders could do the same thing if you knew who to have the investigation team question.1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
3 Apr 09
Surely if I tap a person on the shoulder on a bus just to acknowledge them OUTSIDE working hours that's not liable as an offence at work? 
@BarBaraPrz (47453)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
28 Mar 09
I think that's oversensitivity training.
1 person likes this
