Weinstein case shows need for harassment victims to speak out: local consultant

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Condemnations continue to pour in after the downfall of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual harassment by at least eight women.

But a local consultant suggests the high-profile spectacle serves as an encouraging example for victims everywhere.

“The advice is to speak out if you can,” says Stephen Hammond, president of Harassment Solutions Inc. in Victoria.

“For a lot of people, it’s difficult. We know from the news how much debt level there is in the country, so if someone even has the slightest fear that they’ll be out of a job, sometimes people aren’t in the position to be doing that.”

Hammond admits it can be awkward to report a colleague for sexual harassment, pointing to Jian Ghomeshi as an example where senior CBC managers had to be fired because they knew claims were made against the popular host, but they didn’t act on them.

“You may find yourself in a situation where you do talk to the right people and they are not going to listen to you. I always encourage people to do what you can, speak to someone in authority. Most people in human resources or a position of authority are going to want to do something.”

If they don’t, Hammond says you can call a lawyer.

Weinstein hasn’t responded to the accusations against him, though he has apologized for his actions and, subsequently, commented that he comes from an older generation, where “things were different.”

Hammond calls out Weinstein for that explanation, pointing out there are problems across all age groups in the workplace.

“The difficulty that I have found — and I’ve been doing this kind of work for 25 years — is that so many of us will actually say ‘Oh well, when the older generation retires, then things will change.’ I continue to be amazed and surprised at how much of this same behaviour that goes on with the younger generation,” he tells NEWS 1130.

The labour union SAG-AFTRA has issued a statement, condemning disgraced movie producers’s alleged sexual harassment and acknowledged it is an issue that is prevalent in the entertainment industry.

The organization said Monday that everyone has the right to work in an environment free of discrimination and harassment and pledged to do more to ensure the safety of women.

Weinstein was fired Sunday night from the production company he co-founded following an expose in the New York Times which revealed decades of sexual harassment complaints from both actresses and employees.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today