Wow, there is so much to unpack here! But let’s break it down into how the NY Governor’s office could impact your workplace: micro-aggressions. Yes, you do not need a touchy-feely, creepy, bullying boss to develop a hostile, sexually-charged workplace. All you need to do is tolerate a wink here, an off-color remark or question there and before you know it, your workplace has opened the floodgates to bad behavior. That is how it starts and while it may not end in Andrew Cuomo behavior, it is a slippery slope from professional office to frat party.
In Cuomo’s case, he used the microaggressions (and some macro) as his DEFENSE: I always kiss people–everybody! I often say “Ciao Bella!” I always hold someone’s face in my hands! Yeah, well that is what led to the problem. Intention does not matter: you might think it is nice to call someone sweetie but this is a workplace. Your good intentions are the road to hell, as the Sisters of Mercy would tell us.
It is not hard to keep a workplace professional, any workplace. Zero tolerance is key: Do not allow inappropriate comments. Full stop. Better yet, model good behavior. And here it comes: train your workforce, preferably all together, as a show of how important it is to address even the “little” remarks.
Finally, women do not need to hear, “You look pretty today!” to like their workplace. Respect and fair pay will take care of that.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.