Lawyer teaches students about sexual
harassment and discrimination in the workplace
During the seminar, lawyer Erin Foley presented the various forms of harassment that people may encounter in the workplace.
During the seminar, lawyer Erin Foley presented the various forms of harassment that people may encounter in the workplace.
The DuPage campus held a sexual harassment and discrimination seminar on Monday, Jan. 8. Erin Foley, a senior associate with Seyfarth Shaw, LLP, presented an overview of the various
federal laws impacting
discrimination and harassment claims in the workplace.
At Seyfarth Shaw, LLP, Foley mainly represents
management and companies that have been sued for
harassment or discrimination. She also counsels and coaches companies with respect to their Human Resource related policies and procedures.
“I explained the basics of harassment and discrimination law under the various federal statutes, such as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. I also told some ‘war stories’ from my eight years of practice,” said Foley.
English Instructor James Baltrum had Foley come in to speak to his English 225 class, because they are currently studying gender politics in the American workplace. He
wanted Foley to lecture the
students on various forms of harassment that can happen in the workforce, and what needs to be done when it happens.
“I hope the students gained a very relevant perspective on an important issue that faces the American workplace today. It’s one thing, for example, for my students to hear me lecture on a topic or follow me through a discussion of a chapter reading from the textbook. These activities are useful and undoubtedly important, but there’s something uniquely valuable in my ability through the college’s Cultural Connections program and Gerry Wozek’s Project Passport to bring in a lawyer who specializes in harassment lawsuits to cite specific information from her experience that we can then relate to the larger unit topic of gender relations/politics in the workplace,” said Baltrum.
The students thought that Foley’s presentation was extremely relevant and beneficial to the objectives of their class. This seminar was particularly connected to the topic of gender relations in the workplace.
“I thought that the sexual harassment seminar was very informative and shed light on a problem that is very dominant in today’s workplace. Ms. Foley informed us all of the different types of harassment and there are so many things that I had never heard of. Overall, the seminar gave me a new appreciation for people who have been violated and fought the system to bring this problem to the forefront,” said Graphic Arts student Damon Helvie.
Baltrum was very impressed with the great wealth of statistics Foley shared, as well as the thoroughness of her presentation.
“I was shocked by some of the statistics Ms. Foley provided for us in her presentation. If I remember correctly, she cited a report that stated something like 88% of Americans, both men and women, have admitted to being harassed at their place of work. Some of these are reported and some of them are not. Again, shocking, if not downright scary,” said Baltrum.
Although there are many points that Foley wants to stress to everyone about sexual harassment and discrimination in the work place, the main issue she would like to emphasize is to be careful and always think before you act.
“One main point I would like to stress to the students is to be careful about what you say or do in the work force. The ‘Platinum Rule: if you think your mom, dad, grandparent, or child might be distressed or embarrassed about what you said or did at work, don’t do it,’” said Foley.