Ethics hits Ohio

From 13 ABC – Toledo, OH (3/10/07):

People doing business with the state [of Ohio] must sign a statement promising not to break ethics laws and many government officials, employees and appointees will receive ethics training…

The new policy requires chief ethics officers in state agencies to participate in seven hours of training each year. Members of the governor’s cabinet and certain members of the governor’s staff must take a three-hour training session each year.

Upon review of the Ohio Ethics Commission website, I was unable to find the “statement” mentioned in this mandate. While the training is a great step for CEO’s and cabinet members, I question how much impact the statement will have on those doing business with (or in?) Ohio. What are the ramifications if one does not act ethically? Is there any training to support the policy, or will this simple be a “sign and file” document that gets packaged into a government bid?

Harassment award cut… to $1.1MM

From the Chicago Tribune (3/9/07):

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber in Chicago entered a final judgment in a sexual-harassment case the EEOC successfully pursued against a suburban trucking firm last year. In November, a federal jury ruled that three saleswomen at Northlake-based Custom Companies Inc. should be awarded a total of $2.3 million. Leinenweber reduced the award to about $1.1 million.

The EEOC had charged that the three female sales representatives at Custom Companies were subjected to unwelcome groping, lewd sexual language, sexual propositions, and pornography. EEOC attorney Deborah Hamilton added:

“The jury sent a big message this afternoon, not only to Custom Companies but to all employers. The message is that sexual harassment is just not acceptable period. Employers who don’t get that are courting trouble the kind of trouble that can strike hard at the bottom line.”

I couldn’t agree more. The award was likely reduced since under the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the maximum amount which may be recovered on any particular claim in such cases is $300,000.

Do you know your SME? – AB 1825 Updated

On February 27th, 2007, the Fair Employment and Housing Commission has just issued revised regulations regarding AB 1825 – California’s mandatory harassment training law. The revisions speak to the qualifications of those who conduct and develop training… your treasured SMEs.

How do these revisions impact your training program? Let’s look specifically at the qualifications required of your Subject Matter Expert (SME):