Video

T+D, Feb, 2003 by Valerie L. Smith

Patterns

Patterns is a three-part video that casts a critical eye on the behavioral issues surrounding sexual harassment. It addresses prevention as well as the skills needed to respond to potentially harassing situations. The three programs in the series are Preventing Sexual Harassment (for all employees); Responding to Sexual Harassment (for organizational leadership); and Rights and Responsibilities (a new-employee orientation program).

Preventing Sexual Harassment. The video opens with a discussion that defines sexual harassment but soon moves on to the behaviors associated with harassment and its effect on individuals and the organization.

At the video's heart is a series of vignettes that enable the audience to examine inappropriate patterns of behavior and the appropriate response to each. Clear and explicit examples of unsuitable workplace behavior are followed by comprehensive explanations of why each constitutes sexual harassment.

The video concludes with an overview of ways to address harassing situations, as well as reasons that people being harassed don't report. Retaliation is also discussed.

Responding to Sexual Harassment. Like the first, this video demonstrates several examples of sexual harassment. It covers unwelcome conduct based on gender and sexual interest and severe, pervasive, or offensive conduct. Again, each vignette is followed by effective and ineffective managerial responses.

Of note is the comprehensive discussion of ineffective management responses to inappropriate behavior. Attorneys and human resource professionals review each situation and present more-effective responses, presented in terms of animal behavior. For example, the ostrich avoids confronting inappropriate behavior; the wounded tiger stays away from the reporter of the incident. Retaliation is discussed at length.

The video concludes by reinforcing managerial responsibility: Managers are responsible for acting on any situation involving harassing behavior, and they must investigate in a fair and objective manner.

Rights and Responsibilities. For the benefit of new employees, this video gives a broad overview of sexual harassment. Everything about it is well done. The employees are diverse, and a good overview of what sexual harassment means is given. In addition, the discussion regarding impact is comprehensive. Viewers will understand how harassment damages the person being harassed, the harasser, and the organization. The program looks closely at employee rights and responsibilities.

This video provides a good discussion of intent versus impact. Impact is discussed with regard to the victim, others affected by the behavior, and the organization. The video concludes with a discussion about how respect allows everyone to do his or her best work.

Rights and Responsibilities would be a welcome addition to any new-employee orientation program. For maximum effectiveness, I recommend that organizations using the program also have a harassment-free policy, a harassment reporting mechanism, and someone skilled in facilitating harassment discussions.

Recommendation

I recommend this series as part of an organizational sexual harassment program. The videos are descriptive and entertaining. Production quality is outstanding, the actors diverse, and the dialogue realistic. The main caution I have concerns some problematic statements, such as the smitten harasser is the "easiest kind of harasser to rehabilitate"; an employee "can report [an incident] to a co-worker"; and the use of the word "feminazi." Each can pose a potential problem for a facilitator.

Patterns

****      Holds viewer interest
*** 1/2       Acting/Presenting
****                  Diversity
****         Production quality
*** 1/2        Value of content
*** 1/2     Instructional value
*** 1/2     Value for the money
*** 1/2          Overall rating

Course Details

Patterns, video, 2002, 62 minutes (3 tapes), Quality Media Resources: 800.800.5129, www.qmr.com. Purchase:

US$1187.50. Other material: facilitator guide, reproducible handouts, PowerPoint slides, CD with facilitation materials in PDF and Word formats. Available on DVD.

Valerie L. Smith is managing partner for the Organizational Development Group and an adjunct instructor at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations; valsmith@optonline.net.