Sunday, September 8, 2019

Sexual Harassment of Library Staff: Webinar by Dr. Steve Albrecht

Finally some training on sexual harassment of library staff that directly addresses sexual harassment of librarians by library patrons and how library management responds.  I will attend this training to see if it directly mentions viewing of Internet p-rn as a cause.

Recall ALA calls that "dubious" and says in never really happens.  Recall librarians so fear their management after being sexually harassed by p-rn-viewing patrons that they are constructively discharged and fear saying anything for years.

In the meantime, below is where I learned about this opportunity, and I'm reprinting it here so you can learn about it as well and perhaps join.

Follow @DrSteveAlbrecht and @stevehargadon.




WEBINAR: Sexual Harassment of Library Staff


"SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF LIBRARY STAFF: RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS BY PATRONS OR OTHERS"

A 60-minute webinar, recorded in a special Library 2.0 series with Dr. Steve Albrecht, held live on Tuesday, September 17th, 2019, at 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. 

Register to attend live or to have access to the recordings by clicking on the JOIN WEBINAR button to the top right. You will need to be logged into Library 2.0--if you are not yet a member, you can join for free here.

OVERVIEW: The following questions come up in libraries around the country: “Why didn’t you tell your boss you were being sexually or racially harassed by a patron? Do your co-workers know about this? Why did you wait so long to report this? Can we ban a patron for this type of repeated behavior?”

The short answers are: “I was afraid or embarrassed”; “Yes, and they have their own stories to tell about being harassed”; “I didn’t want to cause problems; I just wanted it to stop”; and “Yes!”

Library staff members have the right to work in a workplace environment where the directors, managers, and supervisors: pay attention to harassment situations; listen to employee concerns; intervene and investigate as necessary; and use various HR or Code of Conduct-related tools, based on the severity of the incidents, to stop the problem.

Library leaders must create the kind of culture where employees aren’t afraid of or are unsure of how to report patron harassment; to help to manage staff fears on this issue; and be ready to take the right steps on behalf of their staffs. Staff members must have the courage to know how and when to tell their bosses (or HR, or their city/county/agency attorneys, among others) if they are being harassed by other patrons. In other words, we can’t fix what we don’t know about.

This 60-minute webinar-based training program is suitable for all library directors, managers, supervisors, and (full and part-time) employees.

KEY LEARNING POINTS DURING THE WEBINAR:

  • Pre-Quiz
  • The Big Picture: Boundaries, Behaviors, Support, and Consequences
  • The New Workplace: Expanding the Concept of “Protected Classes”
  • Hostile Work Environment Examples
  • Multiple Channels of Reporting
  • Harassment and Bullying by Patrons: Enough is Enough
  • When Does Flirting Go Too Far?
  • Stalking or Staring Behaviors by Patrons
  • Reviewing Your Agency Policy
  • Defining Sexual and Racial Harassment
  • Quid Pro Quo Harassment
  • Defining Workplace Bullying
  • The Perils of Gossip
  • Organizational Red Flags
  • The Supervisor’s Intervention Process
  • The Employee’s Reporting Process: Having the Courage to Tell the Truth
  • Avoiding Litigation
  • Safe E-Mail and Social Media Usage

COST: $99/person - includes access to the recording and access to the attendee discussion forum. For group discounts, to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email steve@learningrevolution.com.

TO REGISTER: Click on the JOIN WEBINAR button to the top right. You will first need to be a member of Library 2.0 (free) and be logged in. Please click "Sign Up" on the top right and we'll approve you quickly.



DR. STEVE ALBRECHT 

DR. STEVE ALBRECHT

As a trainer, speaker, author, and consultant, Dr. Steve Albrecht is internationally known for his expertise in high-risk HR issues. He specializes in workplace and school violence awareness and crisis response programs for private-sector firms, municipal and state government, K-12 schools, and colleges and universities. His clients include the two biggest municipal insurers in California.

In 1994, Dr. Albrecht co-wrote Ticking Bombs: Defusing Violence in the Workplace, one of the first business books on workplace violence. Besides his work as a conference presenter and keynote speaker, he appears in the media and on the Internet, as a source on workplace violence, security, and crime. His 21 business and police books include Library Security; Tough Training Topics; Added Value Negotiating; Service, Service, Service!; and Fear and Violence on the Job.

He holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.A. in English, and a B.S. in Psychology. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat assessment.