Stories of the Workplace

HTDigest

Issue: November 2016

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If you are like me, you are inundated with email messages, alerts, and notifications. 

Maybe you are able to keep up.  Or maybe you just want someone else to wade through the pile, and pull out the good stuff. 

In the HTDigest, we include our favorite articles related to the workplace.   We love articles that give “best practices”, lessons learned and actionable tips or steps that we can use to improve our workplace environment.  We hope you will find the nuggets that you can utilize.

 In This Issue

• Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Threat To Victims, A Quandary For Bystanders
• 4 Personality Traits that Create Conflicts in The Workplace
• Michelle Obama Was Right About the History of Workplace Sexual Harassment
• Black Women and the Burden of Success: How to Get Around ‘Black Tax’ and Protect Your Emotional Health at Work

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ENVIRONMENT:  Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Threat to Victims, A Quandary For Bystanders

According to an article written by Yuki Noguchi,  we need to look at the challenges that workers face when they witness sexual harassment – or any harassment for that matter – in the workplace.   In the article, Yuki describes the feedback from experts to consider.  Specifically,  Dr. Gail Stern suggests,  “Calling out that behavior in that moment and making a joke, pointing out the absurdity of it — like, ‘Seriously, you’d really say that? I hope this is satire, right?’ That’s a way of both calling attention to the comment, signaling to the witnesses you heard it, you didn’t let it slide and it gives permission for the person who said it to go, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, OK.’ “  Read more here…

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TEAM CONFLICT: 4 Personality Traits that Create Conflicts in The Workplace

We don’t have the luxury to always avoid the difficult persons in our lives – whether at home, family holiday gatherings or at work. When diverse personalities work together, whether deliberately or by accident, the results can be disruptive. Can you plan for the challenges?  Within this article, the author, Anand Mishra, examines the personality traits to look for.  Which one are you?  Read more here…

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#WomenInBusiness:  Michelle Obama Was Right about the History of Workplace Sexual Harassment

While speaking on the campaign trail, First Lady Michelle Obama, spoke out against harassment and frequent microaggressions that women experience in the workplace.

In an article written by Olivia B. Waxman, entitled “Michelle Obama Was Right About the History of Workplace Sexual Harassment, the notion that sexual harassment behavior is acceptable is challenged by Michelle’s statement, “It reminds us of stories we heard from our mothers and grandmothers about how, back in their day, the boss could say and do whatever he pleased to the women in the office,” Obama said, “and even though they worked so hard, jumped over every hurdle to prove themselves, it was never enough.”  Read more here…

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Black Women and the Burden of Success: How to Get Around ‘Black Tax’ and Protect Your Emotional Health at Work

Whether acknowledged or not, there are prices to be paid to exist in corporate America’s offices and boardrooms.  When you are African American in the workplace, it is understood that you will be perceived differently, expectations and opportunities may not be equal.  The constant micro-aggressive behavior and challenges can take a heavy toll and impact health, productivity, and workplace success.  When Makini Aziza Young had a question about professionalism and black hair styles in her organization, she sought the advice of other African American women in her firm. Makini indicated that these women gave her pointed advice, including, “‘You keep your locs, you wear it how you want to wear it, and you know your resume.”  Read more of the article by Tamara E. Holmes here…

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Summary

More than anything else, we spend more hours on our jobs than we do with our family and friends.  Our workplaces are changing rapidly. 

We can take a stand to be aware, recognize the behavior, and document the behaviors whenever we can. Suit up and take a stand.

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