It is now necessary that Jamaican companies develop a clear understanding of the issues surrounding Sexual Harassment. This understanding should include the legal, psychological, and financial implications for individuals and organizations. As a workforce, we need to increase our awareness of male-female communication differences along with differing perceptions of sexual harassment. This will serve to provide short and long-term solutions for the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace.

In a recent article, I previewed the impact that the reduction of the US birth rate relative to the birth rate of developing country is likely to have. Irrespective of the politics being presently played out with immigration policies, the US will have to attract large numbers of skilled and educated persons to replace its aging work force. In addition to this, the shift in the sex ratio towards female dominance in educational institutions will add some interesting features. In Jamaica, females dominate enrolment at all educational levels. For every four college graduates, three are female.

Prevention is the best tool to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace. We encouraged employers to take the necessary steps to prevent sexual harassment from occurring. Companies should clearly communicate to employees that sexual harassment will not be tolerated. Companies can do so by establishing an effective complaint or grievance process by taking immediate and appropriate action when an employee complains. The US Military has a very clearly stated policy on Sexual Harassment:

Despite Tiger Woods’ dominance of  the golf game over the past few years, many Jamaicans still harbour the mistaken notion that this is a game only for rich, old, white men. Well Nicole Dixon, a poor, young, Black girl is also a golfer. In fact golf has given her the option for a future that was beyond her wildest imagination. Last week Monday when I sat down for dinner at Breezes Runaway Bay hotel, a bright eyed young lady filled my water glass and inquired if I would be having wine. This I affirmed, white and dry.

Thomas L. Friedman has written an incredible book  that demonstrates the process by which the convergence of technology and events allowed India, China, and so many other countries to become part of the global supply chain for services and manufacturing. This creating an explosion of wealth in the middle classes of the world's two biggest nations giving them a huge new stake in the success of globalization. This "flattening" of the globe requires us to run faster in order to stay in place or get left behind.

Growing up in Jamaica, it is accepted as a given that nothing ever starts on time and that people will always be late. We advertise an event to start at 9:00 a.m. but feel no embarrassment at being two hours late. In many work places, it is after you clock in that you go to get breakfast.  Unless you are placed in a cross-cultural context, you could go through life not even thinking that any other option is possible.

Recently I had the privilege of addressing the graduating class at Porter’s Centre for Knowledge. I am sharing the presentation with others of you who are in transition to the next phase of your academic life.

Where does the primary responsibility for the education of the children of Jamaica lie? Parents, Teachers or the State? I am disturbed by the narrow framework within which this discussion is occurring.  Unless we understand what and how each side should contribute to the process, we could be pursuing policies that are working at cross purposes with each other. The data is now quite clear; how far you will go in life is directly related to how far you go in school. I know that there are always exceptions to this rule, but the exceptions also serve to prove the rule.

This column is for employers and employees. It is not a "how-to" column, but rather basic advice on how to prevent you from embarrassing yourself and/or your company at some point in the near future.

Why Do You Need Email Etiquette?

Every company needs to implement etiquette rules for at least two (2) reasons:

Last week we looked at some of the legal ramifications of sending email and made recommendations about its general use. This week we offer some more basic advice to help prevent you from embarrassing yourself and/or your company at some point in the near future.