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“Don’t Blush Baby”: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

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Submitted by Felicia Browne, Human Rights Advocate
Submitted by Felicia Browne, Human Rights Advocate

Sexual harassment is a form of workplace bullying. Workplace bullying is verbal, physical, social or psychological abuse by an employer, employee, colleague (or manager), or another person or group of people at work. […]

Workplace bullying can happen in any type of workplace, from offices to shops, cafes, restaurants, workshops, community groups and government organisations. According to the United Nations General Recommendation 19 to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (UN, 1992), sexual harassment includes: unwelcome physical contact, verbal remarks and sexual advances. Sexual harassment in the workplace may involve a demand for sex in return for a job benefit or other actions that create a hostile, humiliating or intimidating working environment for the victim.

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199 responses to ““Don’t Blush Baby”: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace”

  1. Artaxerxes Avatar
    Artaxerxes

    As usual, the AC consortium is spewing ill-informed views filled with incoherent rhetoric on this issue, proving once again how STUPID these individuals are. The more these monkeys climb, the more they show that they are indeed monkeys. No research has to be done to conclude Gayle’s behaviour was inappropriate.

    If “There are intentions and calculated impressions to coerce the mind into believing that certain cultural norms are unacceptable unless directed by Certain class or race” WERE RELEVANT to this PARTICULAR ISSUE, why would India, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Australia contract West Indians cricketers to play in their T20 tournaments and pay them such exorbitant fees?

    Chris Gayle has enjoyed fame in the international arena as a T20 SUPER STAR, a TITLE that was bestowed upon him by the same WHITE JOURNALIST that some jackasses are now accusing of racism. We have to agree that racism exists, but is it fair to label the results of every incident between blacks and whites as a racist motive, especially if one interprets that the result as not being in favour of the blacks?

    Come on, it’s time you think before you write the shiite you continually post to BU.

  2. ac Avatar
    ac

    Still waiting to be educated on where gayle statement is indictive of sexual harassment

  3. Artaxerxes Avatar
    Artaxerxes

    There are two different types of sexual harassment claims, although the manner in which a court will distinguish between the two for purposes of deciding whether harassment has occurred has become blurred in recent years:

    Quid Pro Quo: Sexual harassment that occurs when a supervisor or one in an authority position requests sex, or a sexual relationship, in exchange for not firing or otherwise punishing the employee, or in exchange for favors, such as promotions or raises.

    Hostile Work Environment: SEXUAL HARASSMENT that OCCURS THROUGH the presence of demeaning or SEXUAL photographs, JOKES or threats. The inappropriate behavior or conduct must be so pervasive as to, as the name implies, create an intimidating and offensive work environment. [Source: employment.findlaw.com]

    The following link also gives a thorough definition of sexual harassment:

    http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/pdf/whatissh.pdf

    It is very interesting to note the first item on page 2: “UNWANTED PRESSURE FOR DATES.”

    But, knowing the consortium, they will try desperately to “spin” the issue, when they know their bowling action has been suspect for a very long time.

    Neither you or me are attorneys at law and our opinions do not matter. However, it must be taken into consideration that Melbourne Renegades may have solicited a legal opinion so as to determine if they were within the law and what legal options/recourse was available to Gayle, before imposing the AUS$10,000 fine.

  4. ac Avatar
    ac

    Sir can you be more specific in your descrpition of work environment and how it is applied to law in this issue and to Gale interaction with the reporter

  5. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Hello! Because you hail someone as a sporting hero and admit him into your sporting arena does not mean you are inviting him into your bedroom. Places, everyone! Besides which I think one newspaper did label him the “Gayle Farce” and describe him sarcastically as the “West Indian saviour coming to take our money.” This was before the incident. I found THAT to be offensive to our region. Don’t hear them saying that about any of the other overseas players whether they perform or not. How about Kevin Pieterson? Nothing about the “English saviour coming to take our money.”

    Before we lose track of the main issue however, Gayle was wrong whether the lady was white, black or brown. My point was only that the outrage was probably greater because of her race.

  6. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Artaxerxes,

    Quite true we cannot bring race into every situation but do you recall reading a Nation Newspaper article by Tony Cozier in the days of Ridley Jacobs questioning the disparity in sanctions and fines meted out to West Indian players when compared to players from other teams? Racism is seldom far away. Don’t fool yourself!

  7. Artaxerxes Avatar
    Artaxerxes

    You are nit picking.

    Let me give you a simple example. Assume I was assigned to District E police station and after a report of a disturbance in Mullins was made, the sergeant on duty requested another officer and I to visit the scene of the alleged incident. When we arrived on the scene, we REPORTED FOR DUTY, even though WE WERE NOT in the STATION.

    We subsequently show our certificates of appointment, identified ourselves as police officers in plain clothes and try to get information on the matter from the complainant. In the course of conducting our investigations someone made a comment which we deemed as being inappropriate causing us to arrest the individual.

    Juxtapose the above scenario with the situation involving Gayle. TV reporter Mel McLaughlin, (perhaps under instruction from her supervisors), REPORTED FOR DUTY at THE CRICKET GROUND where she INTERVIEWED Gayle. So we can safely conclude that she “WAS ON THE JOB.” Gayle made his inappropriate comments to her while she was on DUTY in her capacity as a reporter. His remarks were INTERPRETED as being enough to make her feel uncomfortable while CONDUCTING her duties and merited the imposition of the fine.

  8. ac Avatar
    ac

    Sir you are confusing the issue. The police is an officer of law and is permitted by law to use actions with in the extent of law to arrest a persons only using guidelines satisfactory to law
    I would again like to ask where in the law adjacent to enviroment or use of language would Gayles comments on this issue be deemed sexual harassment
    To those who want to follow the script being handed in the public domain as pertaining to Gayle one must also not forget that there are histories where blackmen were lynched and hanged for just looking at a white by standards deemed inappropriate. The symbolism now being duplicated in the high tech lynch mob and degradation along with attacks of the wealth.
    Fear not the day is fast approaching when all the gains a rich black male or female was able to achieved would be easily retrive by smooth talking supermacist with clandestine actions.

  9. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    When you are a guest in someone’s country, you respect their decisions, is Gayle an Australian….no…he is a guest, allowed to enrich himself by use of his skills, as far as it goes, he was at work himself, at least show professionalism, flirt on your own time…if the people in Barbados tolerate ghetto rat behavior from any and everyone because they know no better, not everyone has to jump on board…..we live and learn Gayle paid 10K to learn what he already knew…..no sympathy here.

  10. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    And besides, Gayle already knows how he is preceived by Australians, he knows they are among the most racist in the world, after what they already said about him, why would he want anything more, joke or no, beside what he is being allowed, publicly. I am sure he has a private life, they would not have been able to fine him for anything he said or did privately within the law.

    It’s all about boundaries…..now he knows his.

  11. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    I always used to be pissed at Tony Cozier, he never said anything good about west indian players, always something nasty, insulting and critical and he is Bajan whatever, definitely minority and was never a world class cricketer, I never once heard black Bajans putting Cozier in his place for insults he used against them, without just cause and covering it up by calling himself a sports whatever or cricket commentator or something.. Ya cannot have it both ways, dude crossed his boundary….ya did not complain then, what are you complaining about now that the dude is deserving for violating certain standards they want to uphold.

    Someone else said it well, not many white men are getting away with that behavior….what makes Gayle so special, with his track record…I did not want to mention race and please dont pull the slavery card, cause not many of you can say you make Gayle’s salary…

  12. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Well Well,

    You never heard Tony Cozier saying anything good about West Indian cricketers? You only tuned in lately, I guess. Well there really isn’t much good to say these days. But in the days when we actually produced cricketers rather than models of cricketing gear Tony used EVERY superlative to describe them. Have you got the right person? I have been an ardent fan since the age of ten and I can assure you that you do Tony Cozier a GREAT disservice here! Putting Cozier in his place? Are you kidding me?!!!!

  13. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Not complaining. Just making observations. If you had read my posts you would have realized that the behavior of Chris Gayle really annoys me. Not my kind of man.

  14. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Not you Donna…the usual on here trying to justify stupid actions and then trying to introduce race, slavery and every other idiocy to justify, just as they do for the equally dumbass politicians.

  15. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Someone should have put Cozier in his place years ago, he was not even a top class cricketer, if he was a Gary Sobers, fine, but don’t insult those you cannot play better than and as he knows, everyone has bad spells, for years. I remember when England was playing crap, did not hear English people insulting them, same for other cricketing teams what they did was remake their strategies, and it worked.

  16. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    You didn’t hear the English insulting them? Then you weren’t listening.

  17. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    To be honest Donna…cricket is not my thing. I just believe that Cozier kept going beyond boundaries. A certain level of restraint and professionalism should be displayed at all times. I have seen basketballers lose away games over and over, baseballers lose a whole series with contracts in the hundred of millions, you go insulting these people incessantly in the newspapers as a commentator and going past those boundaries, you will be penalized, if not fired.

    So they played badly, it’s up to their managers to up the game, not some fly by night commentator who knows he could get away with insulting behavior in an island who does not set boundaries..

  18. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    http://ow.ly/X7MWS

    And if ya’ll think majority white countries are going to stop protecting their own people because ya’ll feeling hurt…..think again. Take a looksee at Germany in the above link.

  19. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Fly by night??????

  20. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Look, Cozier don’t impress me, am sure he has his fans, am just not one of them. There is no law says I have to be impressed by Cozier or anyone else who does not rock my boat. He’s no Denzil or Keanu or…..he does nothing for me. I am sure other females will say the opposite….matter of preference.

  21. The Gazer Avatar
    The Gazer

    Think we share the same opinion. I have been expressing it differently. The Caribbean man has to learn that some of his behavior is just not appropriate.

  22. ac Avatar
    ac

    Set ups and scandals

  23. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    All he got to do is sue the newspapers, he said from the beginning he did not expose himself. He paid 10K for mouthing off to another woman, like he never saw a beautiful, white, black, asian, indian woman before, now someone else can pay him for lying on him.. Dude made himself a target to the wrong people. Let that be a lesson.

  24. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Well Well & Consequences January 15, 2016 at 4:04 PM
    That was always the MO of the Germans towards,especially British Troops serving in BOAR. Just about every building of entertainment in Garrison towns carried a prominent OUT OF BOUND sign. In fact I once saw a building under construction, with an OUT OF BOUNDS corner stone . And treated even worse than the troops, were the Gast-Arbeiter from Italy and Turkey.
    (But to give the Germans their due, I was never once prevented from entering any establishment.)

  25. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Everyone has to set boundaries Colonel, some do go overboard, but boundaries must be set or you will get what you are seeing a Barbados now…total abuse of the public trust, when a supreme court judge can be seen across cyberspace accused of taking bribes from known crooks, as I have been hearing about this particularly judge for years, you know the island has hit rock bottom…that is what happens when there are no boundaries, everyone does as they like and eventually compromise a whole country and the daily lives of the people.

    That is what people who are aware, try to avoid. Boundaries are very important. Your supreme court should be the paramount entity out of bounds for corrupt behaviors, but who will set those boundaries, when as it is, everything goes and when other countries set and apply their boundaries, some in Barbados have the nerve to want to complain….hmmm..

  26. ac Avatar
    ac

    Superb and spectacular moment of Chris gayle at his best doing what he does best earning a living

  27. David Avatar
    David

    Your hignorance knoweth no bounds.

    It must be the weave.

  28. ac Avatar
    ac

    Woman today has become high tech whores impostors seeking fame and fortune off the backs of the wealth of mostly black men .This new phenomenon is wrapped up in sinister motives with Chris Gayle now being added to this growing list of ‘So called” rapist and sexual predators including names like bill cosby tiger Woods people with great reputations whose have been specifically targeted because of their financial power and influence

  29. ac Avatar
    ac

    david why don’t you go back to sleep your ignorance shone brightly when you step out of your bounds and onto St;Lucia back yard

  30. ac Avatar
    ac

    i dare say that if Chris gayle had been interviewed by a male reporter known to be a homosexual and had made a similar comment the out cry of negativity would have been an after thought making way for perceptions and arousal of the mind to his sexual preference …Chris would have been heralded as a trumpeter for the homosexual agenda with out a blot or a stain carried over to his reputation far less having to see some of his monies so easily siphoned
    Surely there is also a double standard at play which can not be voided or disconnected if one wants to put in play the sexual harassment cards

  31. David Avatar
    David

    For 10 marks please explain the difference between a real situation and one which is hypothetical

    JA

  32. David Avatar
    David

    Three more charged for British teen’s murder including pregnant woman and her mother

  33. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Case against Cosby may fall apart because of agreement made by previous prosecutor, Cosby gave up his 5th amendment rights on the understanding that his testimony in the Civil case would not be used against him in a criminal matter.

    http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/15/us/bill-cosby-email-sexual-assault-charges-pennsylvania/index.html

  34. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    And he paid out handsomely for for having admitted what he did to the female, can’t get back that money though…something in the evidence caused the charge….anyway, don’t matter, he is done, that is all anyone will remember.

  35. chad99999 Avatar
    chad99999

    You have to be pretty careless or not very bright to say that Bill Cosby “admitted” to anything egregious. All Cosby admitted to was (1) giving sleep-inducing over-the counter medications to a woman who said she was sleep-deprived and needed a good night’s rest, and (2) buying pills (Quaaludes) that he intended to give to women WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND PERMISSION. In case you don’t knows the score, in the 1970s and 1980s, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, Quaaludes, and many other drugs were used by literally MILLIONS of Americans in big cities to “loosen the inhibitions”, and enhance sexual pleasure.
    Many of the women accusing Cosby are probably gold-diggers who see a man with diminished credibility who has political enemies and a big bank account ripe for plunder. Some are liars. Others are revising and distorting the facts to serve their interests. It is pathetic that so many intellectually feeble men are unable to see how feminist ideology is turning prominent males into victims.

  36. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Chad…none of what you say does Cosby any good. Cosby is only a make believe doctor on a tv show. Did you give him a medical license to dispense sleeping aids to females and how is it no males are coming forward stating he drugged them or he ‘helped’ them sleep., is he only interested in the sleeping habits of women. How come it’s only women he wants to ‘help’ go to sleep.

    Evidence allowed him to be charged, it was strong enough. More than one victim said they never knew he gave them drugs. As I said, that’s all he will be remembered for………

  37. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    http://ow.ly/XaIoh

    And men still drug women without their consent in 2016. It’s called date rape.

  38. Artaxerxes Avatar
    Artaxerxes

    You are the one who is missing the point and it just goes to show you don’t know the meaning of juxtapose. The point is, similarly to how police officers do NOT have to be in a station to perform their duties, reporters do not have to be in a news room to their duties as well. Anytime a reporter is on the job and interviewing someone and the interviewee makes a comment or action that makes the interviewer uncomfortable as a result, such action or comment can be deemed as harassment.

    Gayle has made an inappropriate comment to a BLACK FEMALE JOURNALIST in ANTIGUA, and was admonished for doing so. So I guess that was racism as well?

    You are just being IGNORANT as usual. LIKE IT OR NOT, Chris Gayle is bad behaved loud-mouth idiot who thinks he is bigger than cricket, hence he calling himself “The World Boss” and he displayed the jackass he is by making inappropriate comments to a BLACK female journalist and subsequently to a white female journalist.

    AS I WROTE IN A PREVIOUS POST, IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE WOMAN WAS BLACK, WHITE, YELLOW, BROWN, RED, POLKA DOT OR MULTI-COLOURED, GAYLE WAS WRONG.

  39. ac Avatar
    ac

    @ Artaxerxes Sir your are building an emotional case based on what ? simply saying that Gayle was wrong does not make You Right
    If you read some of my comments my reason is not one of supporting Gayle but also not in support of the reasons given for the backlash reasons which led to the excessive fines 2, and the notion that his comments were indicative of ;Sexual harassment
    i would not replay what i said however i will remain steadfast and focused of what i intuitively recognized as a new formed of racism which is building against wealthy black man
    That is my focus as such evidence is being played out in the media,
    Saying Gayle was wrong is not enough of a conviction to convince that the fines and reason of sexual harassment tagged was appropriate and justifiable to what Gayle said.
    Therefore as individual well knowledgeable of my history i refer to my history and sees clues and similarities as guidelines to make a differentiating stance
    Whether one agrees or not! does not phase me as i have history as a reference an the backbone to revisit and learn

  40. Artaxerxes Avatar
    Artaxerxes

    Seriously, do you think things through before posting your comments. Your contribution is just a set of emotional incoherent rhetoric.

    I think you should ask yourself that question: “You are are building an emotional case based on what ?”

    By referring to the KKK, Rosa Parks, lynch mobs and a whole set of shiite that happened years ago makes “YOU RIGHT?”

    However, this is a free world and you are entitled to your opinions.

  41. ac Avatar
    ac

    Yes i read! maybe in your intellectual you see the world through rose colored glasses however do not as evident by a Rosa Park who saw things with a difference and a KKK who believe that a God giving right of difference was only mandated to their way of thinking
    Sir i might not be a Rosa Park but i am guided by the lessons learned from a Rosa Park and a Martin Luther who did not run and hide out of fear or appeasement or to be politically correct ,Bro it is time you take off those rose colored glasses especially on entry to this not so pristine dog eat dog world ,
    Have a good day

  42. ac Avatar
    ac

    enjoy haters

  43. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Lol….I believe Rosa Parks was a born and bred US citizen and had all inalienable rights to challenge the system that for centuries denied her and her people that right.

    I wonder what’s Gayle’s excuse.

  44. ac Avatar
    ac

    enjoy haters

  45. Artaxerxes Avatar
    Artaxerxes

    “Rose coloured glasses,” shiite… you should be telling yourself it’s time to take of those DLP blinkers.

    What irritates is that whenever an issue comes up between Blacks and other races, people of your ilk always shout “racism.” People like you just like to talk shiite and quote from history to give yourself the impression that you are standing up for BLACK people. However, when the occasion arise for you to do so, you always find some excuse to “run and hide out of fear or appeasement.”

    You are NOT “guided by the lessons learned from a Rosa Park and a Martin Luther who did not run and hide out of fear or appeasement or to be politically correct.” In Parks’ case black people boycotted the bus system; people like you are the first ones to support the white man’s businesses, trust things form the “Coolie man;” shop in stores owned by Syrians and Lebanese, such as Abed’s, Bionic Man Shop or Flame Shop; support Chefette and S.Y Adam, but shout racism because it is “politically correct” when it suits your agenda.

    When the white manager of Bizzy Williams’ hardware store assaulted a BLACK customer and was not terminated, only one man went to protest, which meant NONE of you were there to protest in solidarity.

    You are just another hypocrite who varies your thoughts on matters/issues according to how it fits into your agenda, politically or otherwise. Here you are condoning Gayle doing shiite, but then again you are supportive of measures/policies implemented by this DLP administration, irrespective of how unfavourably they may affect your fellow BLACK Barbadians.

    Bottom line is, Gayle did shiite, he was fined accordingly and I am happy with the situation. Unfortunately, a similar fine was not imposed on him in Antigua.

    You MUST always have the last word.

  46. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    If a 10K fine does not act as a deterrent, nothing will.

  47. ac Avatar
    ac

    Sir you continue to read my reasons with a jaundice eye indicating my support of Gayles action whi h so far o have said yea or nay. As a matter of fact my response went above and beyond what he said but took issue with the actions taken pertaining to Gayles comments. Actions taken which in might opinion were overblown and not warranted a ten thousand dollar fine

  48. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Yeah well, he paid the fine…why did he not appeal the decision.

  49. Artaxerxes Avatar
    Artaxerxes

    @ WW&C

    Duh shud uh fine he $100, 000.

    Some people can be so stupid. You disagree with Gayle’s is interpreted to mean you are a “Gayle hater.” Then again, similar logic is used to imply if you are critical of the DLP, it automatically means you’re a member and supporter of the BLP.

  50. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Art…next time Gayle pulls a stunt like that, his wannabe enablers will see the consequences he will feel. This is the very last chance he has been given and he did come off easy, the fine was small, he knows it, unfortunately there are people too dumb to see what is in front of them until it bites them, hard.

    Judging from the current water issues on the island, this lot and their supporters are not the brightest bulbs or sharpest knives in the drawer. The coming months will tell the tale.

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