IOWA VIEW
Here's how to end costly sexual harassment cases: Fix the culture in state government
Kirsten Anderson
Iowa View contributor
The year 2019 will be remembered for many things. One memory we don't want is Iowa going broke paying out multi-million-dollar sexual harassment and retaliation settlements.
Iowans are left holding the short end of the stick because elected officials didn't fix the broken culture in government the first time this occurred. Unfortunately, the result is that we are seeing another costly mistake play out now. Last week, the state of Iowa agreed to pay nearly $3 million to settle sexual harassment or discrimination claims. Last month, the Iowa Appeals Board agreed to pay $4.15 million to settle two claims of sexual harassment in an governmental organization.
These will not be the last settlements and, thanks to some persistent inquiries, Iowans know there are at least six other cases of harassment being investigated by the Department of Administrative Services.
You can tout a policy and implementation of "zero-tolerance" but it does not change a culture that is broken. It does not eliminate fear or risk associated with bravely coming forward. And it does not reassure or eliminate mental anguish a worker experiences when facing discrimination, bullying or harassment. A "stated" policy does not change the reality that imbalanced power structures and broken culture exist in many corners of workplaces and, most egregiously, in government. A policy is only as good and effective as the leader who implements it.
Someone once said, you cannot legislate decency. That is absolutely true. You can, however, legislate accountability. A lack of perpetrator accountability has led to Iowans footing the bill in these settlements. When consequences are clearly outlined, a different kind of understanding exists and is followed.
It is unfortunate that accountability measures have not been part of the discussion in state government workplaces. Instead Iowans have seen a lot of chatter around placing blame and rooting out perpetrators, who have been left to run amok because the culture has been unattended by state leaders and broken for a long time.
Instead, what our state leaders can and should do is focus on accountability. They can infuse accountability into a workplace. They can appropriately discuss and work through everyone's role in changing workplace culture. The culture can empower and reassure workers that it is okay to intervene, support, and back up their colleagues who are marginalized, belittled and bullied.
Kirsten Anderson: A year after #MeToo, change is still needed
Cronyism enables misconduct, sexual harassment in government
Workplace leaders can address harassment, bullying and retaliation face-to-face with employees rather than retreating to the protection of their high offices and simply mandating directives. These measures cost nothing other than time, effort, and a commitment to providing a safe workplace. When workers know they are valued, listened to and have each other's back, they foster a culture of accountability that will be balanced.
If leaders and officials continue to ignore and refuse to put time and effort into creating better workplace cultures, the alternative will continue to be costly. And, unfortunately, Iowa taxpayers will continue to foot the bill.
Interested in more hard-hitting opinion columns? Subscribe to the Des Moines Register today atdesmoinesregister.com/deal
Kirsten Anderson is an advocate for harassment-free workplaces after being fired from her job as communications director for Iowa Senate Republicans, where she spoke out about repeated sexual harassment and retaliatory behavior by staff and lawmakers at the Iowa Statehouse.