Did AB1825 Do Anything to Prevent Sexual Harassment?
Article on California’s new law AB1825 by Gregory CoveySexual harassment is certainly a problem in the workplace and needs to be addressed immediately and correctly when a claim is made. Although there are laws already on the books, California decided to enact another law on sexual harassment called AB 1825. This only frustrates me since companies already have to deal with existing laws not only on sexual harassment, but numerous others. Why reinvent the wheel? I can speak from experience when I tell you that I dealt with one of the most complex sexual harassment claims ever when I was a Human Resources Director at a California hotel. This situation took place long before AB 1825 was ever even thought about, and the new law would not have changed anything about what took place. The sexual harassment policies that were a part of our organization and the training I conducted with our supervisors and regular staff was outstanding and more than complied with the laws on the books at the time. Because it was a supervisor that she was accusing of raping her, the new AB1825 law would probably not made a difference since... I’ll never forget the day that employee came into my office and blurted out that her supervisor had raped her! I almost didn’t know how to react but what I was able to do was to ask her if she would like a female supervisor present while we discussed what had happened. I was very glad to hear her say yes to that question. Because it was a supervisor that she was accusing of raping her, the new AB1825 law would probably not made a difference since it is targeted at teaching supervisors what to try and prevent in the workplace. 
The new law AB 1825 is directed at super visors being educated about sexual harassment and how to prevent it. When it came to the employee claiming she had been raped by her supervisor the law would not have mattered. Sexual harassment claims can get very complex depending on the situation and in this case it was extremely complex so getting at the truth was very important. People’s careers and emotions were at stake.Getting at the truth anytime a charge of sexual harassment is made is a very important part of my job as Manager. Getting at the truth anytime a charge of sexual harassment is made is a very important part of my job as Manager. As an example if we handle the charge incorrectly and charge someone with sexual harassment that didn’t really do anything wrong they may lose their family over it. On the other hand if we take it too lightly and do nothing the emotional state of the person being violated could have an impact on them for the rest of their lives. Getting at the truth is critical and sometimes very difficult. The new law really does nothing to address that anymore than the other ones that are already on the books I have always believed that everyone should be free from any type of harassment in the workplace. When I person is at work they should always feel safe and companies have much to gain from making sure of that. When individuals feel good about their workplace and safe they are more likely to produce more and produce it better. For whatever reasons the California government decided that they should create another law like AB1825 to cloud the issue of sexual harassment even more.
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