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No appeal from a woman who was stopped from suing the church for retaliation

Mary Linklater, a Maryland church official, was not allowed to sue her pastor for allegedly harassing her sexually. The high Court did not give her an opportunity to file an appeal against the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, Md. Not only that, her retaliation complaint was also thrown to the air by the Court of Appeals of Maryland due to the ministerial exception clause.

This ministerial clause is what shields the pastor from being sued for the sexual harassment case. Though, generally it protects both of them as she is the minister of music of the church. This was the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion which is meant to shield churches and their activities. It is to protect them from being affected by some laws especially when their employees are involved. Therefore, it’s not only her case that was thrown to air; the church also attempted to appeal to the court to dismiss her sexual harassment claims but was declined by the Court.

All these scandals involving the honorable Pastor Rufus Lusk III and Mary Linklater would not have come up if they had not neglected sexual harassment classes. Most people think religious employees and employers are saints, and so they cannot be involved in this kind of act, but the issue of sexual harassment extends more than that.

Since they are human beings and to man is to err, no one should think he or she is too religious to enroll in sexual harassment classes. If you think you can never harass an employee sexually, we completely understand. However, think what will happen if you fall victim. It is important for the religious houses to organize these classes for their church officials. Both employees and employers need to be prepared in case sexual harassment happens – even in a church.

One thing that makes this case very strange is the fact that the victim was neither given the chance to file a complaint, nor to talk of given the opportunity of filing a suit against the perpetrator of this act. This is due to the law of freedom of religion which shields the religious houses and their employees. This law will serve as a gateway to perpetrating this act in the religious houses and nothing will be done to it. This is unfair. The victim will be left depressed and also probably will lose his or her job.

This is a one-sided law, and it will surely turn the religious houses to places where nobody should be trusted as there is liberty to do and undo. Another amazing fact about this issue is that the church administrators have not been able to train employees on ways and methods of avoiding sexual harassment. They did, however, go ahead to file an appeal to dismiss the victim’s sexual harassment claims; this is shameful.

They got into a very shameful act just because they failed to organize Maryland sexual harassment classes for their employees at a time when sexual harassment classes are prominent online. Nowadays, they are various online sexual harassment classes that will give you the complete package of sexual harassment avoiding tips without leaving your office or place of work. These classes can be done right in your desired place at your own desired time. These are classes where the church administrators and their employees will learn manners of interacting in the religious houses without stepping on each other’s toes, ways of improving productivity through shunning sexual harassment and a lot of things that will help keep individuals and the religious houses safe. 

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Headquarters hold a Sexual Harassment Training

Penultimate Wednesday, the 18th day of April witnessed a sexual harassment and assault training for military personnel and civilian, as well. This was organized by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) headquarters to its members. It was held as part of the month's Navy's National Sexual Assault Awareness campaign.

This training was held in order to educate the Navy personnel on sexual assault and harassment issues and to teach them ways and manners of avoiding it in the command. It has been observed by the deputy commander of the Navy command that sexual harassment and assault in the command can greatly affect individuals, organizations and also hinder achieving their naval missions. So, they have to fight this menace in the command to save the country.

The fact, that Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command is a special fleet in the US command, does not isolate them from the effects and problems of sexual harassment and assaults. They had to organize these sexual harassment classes in order to create awareness about the act, so that it could be prevented.

Equipped with the understanding of the dangers of sexual harassment and assault in the command, the highest echelon of the Navy command decided to eliminate the menace completely, and also create a good working condition for itself and its employees. In this training, the management of the Navy command was made to know, that it is on them to take up any sexual harassment and assault issue whenever it is brought to their notice. They should make sure they are not negligent about these problems whenever they crop up in the command. Navy officers and their shipmates were told to come together to fight this menace in the command and to keep watch on each other in order to prevent harming one another through assaults and harassments.

More so, as part of the aggressive move of the Department of Navy to prevent sexual harassment and assault in the command, they have promised to give support to sexual harassment victims and also to bring those who are found guilty of this act to book.

In this training, sailors were taught how to intervene into matters when things are going wrong among them, and also people who they have to refer such matters to. It is observed, that an average of one naval shipmate becomes a victim of sexual harassment every day. Even in an environment where there is a high level of discipline, sexual harassment still finds its way. That’s why the only solution is to learn about sexual harassment and ways of avoiding it, irrespective of the kind of environment.

In recent times, individuals, several organizations and institutes realize the importance of educating themselves and their employee about sexual harassment and assault. Most of them are now enrolling into online sexual harassment classes in order to achieve their personal and collective goals. For those institutes and organizations, they have been sponsoring their employees to online sexual harassment classes in order to prevent the imminent danger which may come up due to ignorance of manners of avoiding sexual harassment in the workplace by their employees. They know very well that it won’t only affect their employees but will also affect the company’s productivity and subsequently run the company into a great loss. Sexual harassment classes are now very affordable and accessible. You can register for classes online with a click on your mouse and you will be opened to an ample opportunity of learning at your own convenient time. It’s on you to choose your time and venue. It may be your reading room or even your bedroom, just anywhere your computer is, you can always have your sexual harassment classes.

Source: http://www.dvidshub.net

Bobby Petrino and the Sexual Harassment Charge

The recent news about the exit of Bobby Petrino as the Arkansas coach could be described as horrible. Not that the step taken by the University of Arkansas was cruel, but the alleged action of the coach was totally uncalled for. Bobby was alleged of sexual harassment with one of the school staff Jessica Dorrell last week. After the school had fired the coach, he claimed not being guilty of the crime.

It is very unfortunate that the issue of sexual harassment is now rampant among high ranked personalities in the society. Not too long ago was a golfer being accused of sexual harassment with a waitress. Many other personalities like former presidents, evangelical preachers, and a lot of public figures were apprehended of this illicit affair.

During the recruitment of Arkansas for the post of athlete development coordinator, out of the 159 applicants who applied, Jessica Dorrell was the only one picked. Therefore, he made her closer to him as she became his student athlete development coordinator. It was then known recently that both Bobby Petrino and Dorrell are into a romantic affair.

Could we say that the step taken by the school authority was too harsh, while Petrino was fully aware of the school's stand on any member of staff forming a romantic relationship with any of the student? It is clearly stated in the school's code of conduct on sexual related matters that there must be no any consensual romantic affair between any faculty and students of the faculty. This step is necessary in preventing manipulations of results and other inappropriate acts within the faculty. Also, this will preserve the integrity of the faculty.

In the school's Section 3.6 of the school's code of conduct, it is clearly stated that there would be appropriate charges of sexual harassment in case the school's authority get to know.

With all this, Bobby Petrino was totally told off by the authority; likewise many football fans in the University were really ashamed of the act. How could it stoop so low on him? Bobby was also alleged of paying a huge sum of $20,000 for the 25-year old Jessica.

Although the school has taken the decision, in his reaction to it, the school's athletic director Jeff Long defended Bobby against the charge of the illicit relationship. He claimed that Petrino had been into a relationship with Dorrell before she joined the staff. To him, Bobby Petrino has committed no offense for that, as the act is not against the policy of the school. However, Long condemned the act of Bobby to have hired Jessica Dorrell and yet not informing the authority about their relationship.

Nemesis wouldn't have caught up with Bobby, had it not been for the accident he had on April 1. While riding on his motorcycle with Dorrell on the back seat, the motorcycle crashed. Bobby sustained serious injury as he got four of his ribs broken. Although, Petrino did not disclose that he has any relationship with Jessica, the whole truth was later blown open. Both Petrino and his family also tried to do a cover up, but he later informed Long about the whole show.

Bobby, 51, who is a married man with four children, has now been dismissed by the authority for the offence of sexual harassment and lying. He has been denied of the supposed $18 million buyout of a contract, although Jessica Dorrell still remains on staff. Her salary is not affected. Bobby, after realizing his mistake, made steps to apologize to the authority for the uncouth act.

Democratic Party Director Resigns Over Sexual Harassment Issues

The innumerable benefits of participating in online sexual harassment classes cannot be overemphasized. The fact that it saves you from public embarrassment is enough to make you enroll for one of these classes. Well, if you are yet convinced of the importance of these classes, let us share with you a very recent drama that occurred recently.

It's a story of an executive director who resigned from his hallowed position due to alleged sexual harassment scandal.

Jay Parmley, the executive director of the ruling party of the United States, got himself into a cluster of controversies as he was accused of sexually harassing an employee. Not only that, he went ahead to make a cover up for the whole scandal by secretly bribing the employee in order to sweep the whole scandal under the carpet.

This issue sniffed into limelight penultimate Friday within the party through internal party emails. The party also plans to take up the issue at Democratic conventions that are to be held in the county. The scandal should not have brought uproar within the party if not for the fact that it seems to be an impediment to the success of the party's present mission and agenda.

 This issue came up at the wake of the party's preparation and mobilization to bring President Barack Obama back to the White House coupled with the 2012 convention in Charlotte. Not only that, this is a time when the party is struggling to maintain the Governor's Mansion and also win a proposed bid to reaffirm the ban of same-sex marriage in the state. Indeed, this allegation against the executive director of this powerful party came in the wrong time.

Though, Parmley denied harassing his employee and also seek not to be a distraction to the party's agenda, so he decided to resign. Parmley leaving the party at this moment did little to making the issue clear to the party members. The party chairman did not also help the matter; he failed to address the bribery and nondisclosure agreement that Parmley had with his former employee when he complained of being sexually harassed. The former employee was fired, and nothing came out of the issue.

From various reactions that were observed from party executives and loyalties, people think Parmley did the right thing by resigning from being the executive director of the Party. Some also believe that there are more party members and executive that are involved in this shameful act. They opine that these people should also toll the path of Jay Parmley.

This is just one of the various cases of sexual harassment, which should not have occurred if sexual harassment classes were attended by the parties involved. In this case, the employee who was sexually harassed has been fired since November and the other party involved, the executive director of the party also resigned.

Ignorance of sexual harassment prevention tips has caused them their jobs. One thing that surprises people, taking sexual harassment classes is how easy the classes are to attend to. These classes are done at very flexible periods. You have the opportunity of choosing the best time for yourself. The fact that you are a party chairman, or a party executive, does not mean you can’t schedule a class for yourself; regardless of how tight your schedule may be. As the saying goes, ’what you are ignorant of will surely be your master’.

Why don’t you schedule an online sexual harassment class for yourself and your employees? This will save you a lot of money and frustration. A report of the above issue has been filed to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and if Parmley is found guilty of these allegations, he would have to pay through his nose to the employee irrespective of his resignation from the party.

Source: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/16/3557509/nc-democratic-party-director-steps.html

Library of Congress and the Sexual Harassment

For long, there has been an on-going sexual harassment claim within the Library of congress which recently took another dimension. An allegation of discrimination at work has been filed against John Mech, the boss of Peter TerVeer. TerVeer claims that Mech is somewhat sentimental about him as a gay. He told to the chairman of the Committee, Sen. Charles Schumer, that since his boss found out that he is a gay, the working environment has been harsh. He maintained that such sexual orientation should not be tolerated.

TerVeer who was employed as Library analyst in 2008 has received promotion twice between that time and 2009. According to him, he said that he noticed the atmosphere of the office to have changed since his boss had passed a discriminating comment on him about his sexual orientation. Things have not been running smoothly for TerVeer at the office. He claimed, that Mech came to know about his sexual orientation when he added his daughter as his Facebook friend.

As a Christian, Mech sees that homosexuality is the peak of immorality that can ever happen in a society. TerVeer claims that towards changing his orientation, Mech has sent him many messages about the unacceptability of homosexuality on various occasions. So to TerVeer, it is as if Mech is imposing his religious belief on him.

To corroborate his claims, Terveer presented some copies of the messages to the chairman, Schumer. Although Scuhmer promised to investigate further into the issue, much is still awaited from Mech. Since the allegation has been made, Mech has not said anything about the issue. However, he will be expected to say his side to prevent the greater evil of false accusation. There may be more on the issue than what has been presented.

TerVeer said that he had noticed the hostility in the office from late 2009 till 2010. As a result, he did not sign his review on annual performance for that year, claiming that the review lacked accurate display of his work. He strongly believed that the issue has been allowed to creep into the review; hence manipulated. Therefore, in 2011, he went on a voluntary, but unpaid leave from work. He stated that he needed to have a break from the work stress. To work under hostile environment could be dangerous for him psychologically. “TerVeer could not present any medical report from doctor for the extension of leave because he was financially incapacitated due to the unpaid leave”, his spokesperson said.

Reacting to this, a spokesman for the congress said, that the congress can not get involved in such matters. The library of Congress does not see to inter personal issue like that. However, as regards the discrimination at the workplace, then there is a fixed provision for that under the Title VII of the human Civil Right Act. He, therefore, said that appropriate measures should be taken regarding that, and anyone who feels to have a claim for related issues should report to the internal administrative for due processes.