Welcome to NASA’s Diversity and Inclusion Blog and part 4 of our Anti-Harassment Campaign post! Certainly, preventing harassment is the right thing to do, and reflects our shared values as a Nation and as an Agency. However, harassment prevention is also just good business.
There is a compelling business case for stopping and preventing harassment. Harassment is incredibly expensive for organizations who disregard the issue at their own peril:
In 2015, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recovered $164.5 million for private sector workers alleging harassment.
In 1994, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board estimated sexual harassment led to a Government cost of $327.1 million, in addition to monies paid through settlements.
Further, harassment causes significant mental, physical, and economic harm to victims, and harms all workers and their organizations through its impacts, by decreased attendance, productivity, and morale; increased turnover; and reputational harm.
Which argument appeals to you more strongly – the ethical or the business case? Why? What benefits and/or shortcomings do you think might be inherent in either case? Is there an argument to be made for an amalgam of both?
I appreciate, as always, your insightful comments!
Steve Shih, Esq.
Associate Administrator
Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity