#METOO: SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE NONPROFIT WORKPLACE

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1 #METOO: SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE NONPROFIT WORKPLACE March 7, 2018 KATELYN N. BREWER PRESIDENT AND CEO DARKNESS TO LIGHT

2 QUICK INTRO Who is Katelyn Brewer? Non-profit professional Fundraiser Go-getter Empath Business minded I love coffee. Really. Love. Coffee.

3 QUICK INTRO Who is Katelyn Brewer? Non-profit professional Fundraiser Go-getter Empath Business minded I love coffee. Really. Love. Coffee. Why Sexual Harassment? Sexual abuse and sexual harassment have similar power structures Stigma associated with abuse and harassment are equal It s all about culture. Trauma-informed, victim-oriented culture

4 DEFINITION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT The South Carolina Human Affairs Law prohibits all public employers and private employers of 15 or more persons from discriminating in employment because of sex, including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and against women affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Sexual harassment is considered a form of sex discrimination (SC Code Sec et seq.).

5 DEFINITION HARASSMENT To create an unpleasant or hostile situation for especially by uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct Merriam-Webster

6 HOW PREVALENT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT? Eighty-five percent of women have reported some form of sexual harassment in the workplace.

7 COMMON NONPROFIT EXAMPLES Recruiting female development professionals primarily on the basis of their looks and attractiveness to funders Philanthropists spreading malicious rumors about women who won t yield to their advances Attend meetings and position their hands on thighs, or proposition sexual favors in exchange for donations Organizational leaders describing their employees in inappropriate ways to funding partners, such as ascribing value to younger, female employees based on how presentable the person is (as a euphemism for attractive )

8 COMMON NONPROFIT EXAMPLES Inappropriate comments from donors being met with the excuse from professional leadership that He s just an old man, he s from a different generation or He s from another country, it s a different culture, which not only diminishes /negates the woman s experience, but dismisses the behavior as acceptable Representatives of national organizations saying inappropriate things when running trainings for professionals locally Donors, when meeting front-line program staff, converting a handshake to a kiss on the cheek, saying I ll never turn down a kiss from a pretty lady

9 HOW HAS #METOO INFLUENCED THIS CONVERSATION Society has moved from a culture of silence to a culture of empowerment C-Suite Executives can no longer tick a box with training 2018 is a year of reflection and culture change in many companies

10 SO HOW CAN WE AS NON-PROFIT LEADERS ADDRESS #METOO IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY?

11 REFLECT ON YOUR ROLE AS NONPROFIT LEADERS Do you condemn flirty donors and then ask your staff for their check? Do you continue to experience unaddressed harassment from Board members or donors? Do you speak about this often or just at your annual training?

12 LEADERSHIP FOSTERS STAFF ENGAGEMENT Identifying values Knowledge does not equal behavior Fostering a culture of communication for disclosures to be taken seriously Deal with issues immediately Be public about your zero-tolerance policy

13 IDENTIFY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING CLAIMS Theoretically your Human Resource Manager. Realistically the Finance Person (Or Operations). Why? Because they do payroll!

14 LADIES AND GENTS. THIS IS BAD! A significant risk to the non-profit Not a person who can create policy or translate into practice There is not transparency or systemic solution to reports

15 A FEW LOW COST SOLUTIONS Cost share the employee with other organizations in your community Procure the services of an outside consultant Place a member on your Board who assists with policy and procedure (not involved in conflict resolution!)

16 ADDRESS DONOR/FUNDRAISER POWER DYNAMIC Offer training to your staff during on-boarding Be clear with your team that no money is worth their dignity Establish values early on in the conversation with your donor Remind your donor of values throughout the conversation Be confident walking away

17 IDENTIFY ACCELERATORS - ALCOHOL Alcohol use should be sparingly External event - You are always selling and always promoting You can t do that when you re drunk Internal event some people have drink tickets/have a policy Basically, this is not a free for all

18 USE #METOO TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS People are talking about it outside of work Prepare yourself and make suggestions to leadership Leadership bring it up in staff meeting Be comfortable in your discomfort